Who are the Copts

In the time that Jesus was born, Egyptian as well as whole world (Jewish excluded) were pagan. The country was occupied by Romans. In year 60 AD, Apostil San Mark reaches Alexandria breeching the Holly Bible. In about 200 years, Egypt becomes a Christian country. The Church of Alexandria was one of the first five churches initiated by Apostils. So calling Egyptian Christians Arabs is wrong and unfair to them, its more appropriate recognize Copts with the Christians Egyptian native. Actually, Copts living in Egypt represents between 15-20% of the total living Population in Egypt.

Copts belongs to the Orthodox Church are more than 95% of the total Egyptian Copts. The remaining 5% are divided between the Coptic Catholic and the Coptic Protestant Churches. The Copts are by far the largest Christian community in Middle East.

The word "Coptic" is an English word and literally means Egyptian.

The Greek word “Egyptos” came from the ancient Egyptian words "Hikaptah" (Ha-Ka-Ptah). . The Arabs, after their conquest of Egypt in 641 AD called the population of Egypt “Gypt”, from the Greek word “Egyptos”

The known history of the Copts or Egypt starts with King Mina or Menas the first King, who united the northern and southern kingdoms of Egypt circa 3050 B.C. The ancient Egyptian civilization under the rule of the Pharaohs lasted for approximately 3000 years. Many Copts accepted the teachings of Christianity, possibly because the ancient Egyptian religions believed in life after death. This is evidenced by their elaborate efforts to preserve the bodies of the dead by embalming or mummification.

Like other early Christians throughout the Roman Empire, the Copts suffered from the persecution perpetrated against the new religion.

Many Copts shed their blood in testimony for Jesus Christ. Saint Mina or Menas is one of the major Coptic saints. He was martyred 309 A.D.