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The Coptic Church was
established in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the
city of Alexandria around 61 A.D. The church adheres to the Nicene
Creed. St. Athanasius (296-373 A.D.), the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church
effectively defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ's Divinity at the
Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. His affirmation of the doctrine earned him the
title; "Father of Orthodoxy" and St. Athanasius "the Apostolic".
The term "Coptic" is derived from the Greek "Aigyptos" meaning "Egyptian". When
the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians
"qibt". Thus the Arabic word
"qibt" came to mean both "Egyptians" and "Christians".
The term "Orthodoxy" here refers to the preservation of the "Original Faith" by
the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous
attacks aimed at it.
The Coptic Orthodox Church
believes that the Holy Trinity: God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy
Spirit, are equal to each other in one unity; and that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the only Savior of the world. Less changes have taken place in the Coptic Church
than in any other church whether in the ritual or doctrine aspects and that the
succession of the Coptic Patriarchs, Bishops, priests and Deacons has been
continuous.
Fr. Marcus Halim Mansour
Fr. Marcus Mansour is the priest for
St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church.
H.H. Pope Shenouda III ordained him
priest for St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ on June 11, 1995 at
the recommendation of H.G. Bishop Youssef. Fr. Marcus has been serving within
the Diocese of the Southern United States since June 11, 1995. We pray that the
Lord will continue blessing his
service.
Fr. Marcus Mansour can be contacted
by telephone at 480-206-3786 or by email at
frmarcus@gmail.com
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