St. Antonious Coptic Orthodox Church's submissions to Mahragan El Keraza 2010, Always Faithful, have been uploaded. Check Them HERE!
The Church New Year Eve Celebration 09-10 has been uploaded HERE!
Church membership form has been added, check here
New Sunday School Kids' crossword puzzles and picture puzzles are now available.
Basic Schedule:
Sunday:
Liturgy + Services (9am-2pm)
Wednesday:
11+12th hr Prayers + Fr. Mekhail accepts confessions (7:30pm-8pm)
Friday:
Youth Bible Study (7:30pm-9pm)
Saturday:
Vesper prayers + Midnight praises (7pm-9:30pm)
The Church is located at 4422 SE 65th Ave., Portland, OR 97206
For Directions from Downtown Portland;
Take 1-84 East
Take exit 6 to I 205 South
Take exit 19 towards Powell Blvd.
Turn left at 82nd Ave.
Turn right at Holgate St.
Continue to SE 65th Ave.
The church is on your right.
| Introduction to the Coptic Church |
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The Coptic Orthodox Church was established in the
name of Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of
Alexandria around 43-61 A.D. It is one of the oldest four Churches in
the world: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome.
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It was St. Athanasius, the 20th Patriarch of the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, who participated in the formulation of
the Creed. |
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In the land of the Pharaohs, the ancient Egyptians
believed in life after death. They also believed in judgment after
death, which paved the way for Christianity to spread rapidly in Egypt
upon hearing Saint Mark's preaching. The Egyptians easily related to
Saint Mark's teaching about the Holy Trinity, the resurrection of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, and His Second Coming to judge the living and
the dead. |
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In a relatively short time Egypt became a Christian
land, which was called "Aigyptos" in Greek. Many Egyptians
converted to Islam, however, when Egypt came under the Arabic rule in
the 7th Century AD and mingled in marriage with the Arabs. Being unable
to pronounce the word "Aigyptos", the Arabs corrupted it and pronounced
it as "Gypt" or "Kipt". The Egyptians who remained Christians preserved
their Egyptian bloodline and therefore, were called Copt. |
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In the early church, Alexandria was considered the
seat of the highest learning and scholarship center in the world. The
famous 'Theological School of Alexandria' with its leading theologians,
philosophers, scholars, and teachers was established in the 1st century.
By the 4th century, Alexandria became the seat of Christian learning of
the entire world, proudly hosting the 'Library of Alexandria', the
largest in the world at that time. |
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The Coptic Church is deeply spiritual and
conservative. It kept the doctrine and the rituals as handed down by St.
Mark and the successive Popes until today. No changes have taken place
in the Church of Egypt compared to any other Church in the world. |
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The succession of Coptic patriarchs, bishops,
priests, and deacons has been continuous. His Holiness Pope Shenouda
III, the 117th successor of St. Mark is the present Pope of Alexandria
and the Patriarch of the Sea of St. Mark. |
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Egypt
is the only land in the world to be blessed and honored by a long visit
of the 'Holy Family' (about 3 years). "When he [Joseph] arose, he took
the young child [Jesus] and His mother [Mary] by night, and departed
into Egypt. And remained there until the death of Herod; that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying 'Out of
Egypt have I called my Son'" (Matt 2: 14-15).