VV(5) - Coptic Optics 1

[David Morris]

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(84)Eyes made ipossibly huge with mascara, nose slightly hoooked and bowed, 
two vertical dimples on either side of the mouth, crocheted shawl covering 
hair and back, high cheekbones, warm brown skin
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http://www.coptic.net/
"The word Copt is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, which was, in turn, 
derived from "Hikaptah", one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of 
Ancient Egypt. The modern use of the term "Coptic" describes Egyptian 
Christians, as well as the last stage of the ancient Egyptian language 
script. Also, it describes the distinctive art and architecture that 
developed as an early expression of the new faith.

The Coptic Church is based on the teachings of Saint Mark who brought 
Christianity to Egypt during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero in the 
first century, a dozen of years after the Lord's ascension. He was one of 
the four evangelists and the one who wrote the oldest canonical gospel. "

"Under the authority of the Eastern Roman Empire of Constantinople (as 
opposed to the western empire of Rome), the Patriarchs and Popes of 
Alexandria played leading roles in Christian theology. They were invited 
everywhere to speak about the Christian faith. Saint Cyril, Pope of 
Alexandria, was the head of the Ecumenical Council which was held in Ephesus 
in the year 430 A.D. It was said that the bishops of the Church of 
Alexandria did nothing but spend all their time in meetings. This leading 
role, however, did not fare well when politics started to intermingle with 
Church affairs. It all started when the Emperor Marcianus interfered with 
matters of faith in the Church. The response of Saint Dioscorus, the Pope of 
Alexandria who was later exiled, to this interference was clear: "You have 
nothing to do with the Church." These political motives became even more 
apparent in Chalcedon in 451, when the Coptic Church was unfairly accused of 
following the teachings of Eutyches, who believed in monophysitism. This 
doctrine maintains that the Lord Jesus Christ has only one nature, the 
divine, not two natures, the human as well as the divine.

The Coptic Church has never believed in monophysitism the way it was 
portrayed in the Council of Chalcedon! In that Council, monophysitism meant 
believing in one nature. Copts believe that the Lord is perfect in His 
divinity, and He is perfect in His humanity, but His divinity and His 
humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate 
word", which was reiterated by Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Copts, thus, 
believe in two natures "human" and "divine" that are united in one "without 
mingling, without confusion, and without alteration" (from the declaration 
of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy). These two natures "did 
not separate for a moment or the twinkling of an eye" (also from the 
declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy).

The Coptic Church was misunderstood in the 5th century at the Council of 
Chalcedon. Perhaps the Council understood the Church correctly, but they 
wanted to exile the Church, to isolate it and to abolish the Egyptian, 
independent Pope, who maintained that Church and State should be separate."



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