Christianity in the East:

Coptic Christians of Egypt:

The city of Alexandria was one of the 5 leading cities of early Christianity (we already know that it was an important city –created by Alexander the Great, home of many Egyptian, Greek speaking, Roman citizens, and major library). When Rome accepted Christianity, the Patriarch of Alexandria became an important political and religious leader. As the larger Roman Empire crumbled, Egypt remained part of the Byzantine Empire for a time but was then conquered by newly converted Muslim Arab armies. The Christians were not forced to convert- though many did for religious reasons (for some it seemed that God was on the side of the victors) and for others, it was politically or economically convenient or advantageous.

Over time, the Patriarch of Alexandria broke with the Patriarch of Constantinople over church doctrine. It was another “what is the true nature of Christ?” argument- all man, all God? Half God, half man? Made by God or always a part of God? etc. the church theology arguments are so complex…..and people used to argue about these things in the streets- at the bakery, in the theater etc. The enthusiasm for such debates was particularly strong in the East where the legacy of Ancient Greek philosophy was strong. Many of the Christian academics were also well versed in Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates etc. and they applied Christian theology to the philosophical frameworks of the ancient philosophers.

At any rate, as a result of the schism with Constantinople, the Coptic Church became its own church with its own doctrines and traditions. The Coptics have long spoken a language that is directly descended from Ancient Egyptian (remember them from middle school? With the pyramids? The Christians wiped out the last practicing Ancient Egyptian religious sanctuary on an island in the Nile in the 500s). Now almost all the Coptic Christians speak Arabic as their main language but they still use the old language for religious reasons. The Coptic Christians are still an important minority in Egypt today- about 10% of the Egyptian population. Over the centuries, they have faced persecution and prejudice from the Muslim majority, but they have also frequently held positions of power and influence in the Ottoman Empire (which controlled the region for centuries), and in the modern Egyptian government. Ancient and modern Christian Churches are readily found in the heart of Egypt’s major cities and are bustling with an active population.

Recently, however, the Coptic Christians have been under a new threat. Egypt has gone through great political instability in recent years. Protestors in Cairo overthrew a harsh, secular (meaning- not very religious) dictator and attempted to bring democracy to Egypt. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a conservative political Islamic group who wanted to make the country adhere to religious laws, won the election and began to pass laws that restricted the rights of women and minorities. He also couldn’t keep stability. A popular military general staged a military coup (meaning he took over the government) has ousted the Muslim Brotherhood. But he has also severely cracked down not only on the Muslim Brotherhood and its followers but anyone who speaks up against the government- including the protestors who want democracy for Egypt. He hasn’t been able to stabilize the economy, however, and many Egyptians have had to look for work abroad- including Coptic Christians. Meanwhile, Isis- the group who calls themselves “the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” has been active in regions around Egypt. Recently they captured and brutally beheaded a group of Coptic Christians who had gone to Libya- the country next door- to look for work.

How does the Coptic Church show continuity in Egyptian History- how do they link the past and present?

Read the following Article and answer the questions:

What are the main events of this article? (list three)

What was new to you in this article? What are your thoughts?

Christianity in Ethiopia:

The Kingdom of Axum was on the Red Sea and was an important trading partner with Rome. Apart from itself, Rome saw Axum and the Persian Empire as the most important kingdoms in its world (it didn’t know much about China or India). Axum was a wealthy area from trade (they provided many of Rome’s exotic animals, ivory, fur, etc.) but they were also wealthy because they had sophisticated agricultural practices- i.e. they used plows, farmed effectively. Many of the people there had long been influenced by Judaism as well- again, because of the trade routes.

Around 300, a Christian Roman man visited the area with his two nephews. He was killed at sea and his nephews were taken to become slaves for the king of Axum. One boy was particularly educated and became the tutor for the young prince. When they prince grew up and became King Ezana, he spoke fluent Greek and converted to Christianity in 330. Of course he had all of his subjects convert as well- around the same time as Constantine (so really early on- I always think that this is surprising, doesn’t it go against all of our stereotypes of sub-Saharan Africa?). King Ezana briefly expanded his empire into Southern Arabia (this will have an impact on young Muhammad when we study Islam) but this expansion was short lived. Rome declined, the trade routes shifted, the agricultural soil became less productive from overuse, and Axum became weaker over time. When Islam developed and spread out of the Arabian Peninsula, Axum was surrounded by Muslim neighbors. Nevertheless, this ancient Christianity remained in the Ethiopian highlands the Christian tradition continues today the modern country of Ethiopia – it is about 60% Christian.

For many years the Ethiopian Church was linked to the Coptic Church but they are now separate. There is a tradition that the Ark of the Covenant (from the Bible- also from Indiana Jones movies) is in Ethiopia. Another tradition holds that that the Queen of Sheba (from the Bible – and also from the expression, “who does she think she is, the Queen of Sheba?”) was from Ethiopia. Rastafarianism, a belief influenced by Christianity, developed in Jamaica, and popularized by musician Bob Marley, holds that King Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (who tradition holds is a descendant of the Queen of Sheba- made king in 1930) is the second coming of Christ.

Assyrian Christians:

Assyrian Christians in Syria and Iraq have been under major persecution in recent years- especially under ISIS who have taken over whole sections of Iraq and Syria. They have been brutally attacking Christian villages who have been settled there for centuries. In some cases, they are the last remaining speakers of Aramaic- the language of Jesus. The have been brutally killed and forced into exile.

What happened?

What is ISIS calling the people it has captured? What does that tell you about their point of view (especially their view of religious history?)