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Q&A Home > C > Challenges the Church has Faced and Still Faces I am an Orthodox Christian and have recently been greatly blessed through reading Fr. Matthew the Poor's book on Orthodox Prayer and Fr. Mark Gruber's (OSB) book of experiences among the Coptic monasteries of Egypt, now dated by a few years.Â
May God be greatly praised for the blessing and example of the Coptic Church to all who would see. It is a subject of history that Islam dominates Egypt. I wonder if any Coptic source has written about this given the distress which the Coptic Church lives under in its homeland. Similarly, of course, most Patriarchates are now found in lands dominated by Islam.Â
Humanly speaking, this is easy to understand. In Divine terms, for me, it is difficult to understand. What is God's message to us for His Church. Repent and return to the course I set down for you? Something else? God's message is clear. His church will overcome every challenge. The fact that Coptic Christians still exist, although they have never gained nor sought to achieve political power, have lived as a minority throughout most of their history, have often been subjected to horrendous persecutions, do not enjoy legal privileges nor rights even until this day in their homeland, and yet their prosperity lies in their stalwart faith in God who has never let them down is enough evidence of God's presence in His Church in Egypt and throughout the Coptic Orthodox communities abroad. This is a miracle in which the world can witness the words of Christ. His church is alive and well in the land of Egypt and in the hearts of the Coptic Christians all over the world. God has graciously revealed to you His strength in our many years of meekness, and thus you seek Him in the same place that others may have mistakenly thought He no longer exists. Despite the many difficult circumstances, Copts love Egypt, all Egyptians, Christians, and Muslims. We have grown together side by side throughout these years. The Copts are determined to continue to bear Christ's name as a badge of honor in the core message of His ministry, LOVE. Christ never said it would be easy to carry the cross and follow Him. He showed us how to love Him, how to love others, and how to follow Him. Indeed the road may have some thorns, but never more than the thorns He willingly allowed to be placed on His Holy head. Therefore, we are rich and strong in Him and need nothing else: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).
The following books and links are examples of some historical literature. I hope this is helpful for you.
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