HISTORY OF THE COPTIC MUSEUM Interest in Coptic art was revived at the end of the 19th century when Mr. Gaston Maspero, a French Egyptologist, brought together many pieces in dedicated rooms of the Egyptian museum. In 1908, Marcus Simaika Pasha, having obtained the approval of Patriarch Kyrillos V, succeeded in getting the Coptic Museum […]

COPTIC LETTERING Coptic is the name used to refer to the last stage of the written Egyptian language. Coptic should more correctly be used to refer to the script rather than the language itself. The Hieroglyphic, Hieratic, Demotic and Coptic are different scripts to one language, which is the Egyptian language. The ancient Egyptians devised a […]

THE COPTIC LANGUAGE     The Coptic Language is the Egyptian Language in its last phase. It was written with the letters of the Coptic alphabet which is derived from Greek letters and Demotic Egyptian signs. It differs in some respects from the classic Egyptian language due to common language modifications over thousands of years. […]

INTRODUCTION: COPTIC LANGUAGE by Dr. Kamal Farid Isaac The Coptic Language is the Egyptian Language in its last phase. It was written in the Coptic alphabet which was derived from Greek letters and Demotic Egyptian signs. It differs in some respects from the classic Egyptian language due to normal language changes over thousands of years. […]

COPTIC MUSIC The Copts trace themselves back to an early stage of Egyptian history. The self-designation “Copt” respectively “Copts” or “Coptic” points to these origins, as derived from the Greek word “Aigyptos”. Coptic tradition ascribes the founding of its church to the Evangelist Mark. Ecclesiastical Coptic music is the language of the soul to praise […]

ep Church in the keep, Baramus, Wadi el-Natrun rridor in the keep, Baramus, Wadi el-NatrunCo Entrance to the keep, Baramus, Wadi el-Natrun Vessels in the keep, Baramus, Wadi el-Natrun Well in the keep, Baramus, Wadi el-Natrun

THE COPTIC MONASTERIES TODAY The monastery is a school for spirituality. Many people visit the monastery to receive the blessings by attaining the liturgy in the monastery, or to visit the holy place and enjoy peace. Others stay for a few days in the guest house in the monastery, especially the youth who stay at […]

COPTIC MONASTICISM Origin and Rise of monasticism Christian monasticism is a way to perfection. It started in Egypt in the first century. The first monks were the disciples of St. Mark the apostle of Jesus and the gospel writer. St. Mark started to preach Christianity in Egypt immediately after his arrival to Alexandria, to the […]

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS BAPTISM Women deliver their babies either in a hospital or at home. After seven days, relatives and friends visit the new mother. The father purfies the child by washing him/her in a washbowl and prays the “Salat elTist”, Prayer of the Washbowl. The whole process of baptism takes about half an hour. […]

CONTEMPORARY COPTIC ART Coptic Art acquires its characteristics from the Ancient Egyptian Art mixed with the new Christian beliefs in Egypt.The Art came in different forms relating to the religious architecture and the daily life. Some historians classify Coptic Art as Folk Art. The wood work, arabesque, pottery and textile were the main arts continued […]