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The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is also known as the Church of Egypt. According to tradition, the apostle Mark established this church in the middle of the 1st century roughly around 42 AD. The church belongs to the Oriental Orthodoxy and it has been a distinct church body since the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. The head of the church is the Pope and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of Saint Mark. More than 95% of Egypt's Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Features of Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria - Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is now more than nineteen centuries old. Many prophecies in the Old Testament refer to this church. Isaiah the prophet, in Chapter 19, Verse 19 says "In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at its border."
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is based on the teachings of Saint Mark who brought Christianity to Egypt during the rule of the Roman emperor Nero in the first century.
- Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Saint Mark's arrival in Alexandria as is clear from the New Testament writings.
- Pope Shenouda III is the current Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of Saint Mark.
- Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria is acknowledged by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church as their honorary Superior since the Church of Alexandria is technically their Mother Church.
- Both Patriarchs, the Ethiopian and the Eritrean, upon their selection must receive the commendation and communion from the Holy Synod of the Apostolic See of Alexandria before their enthronement.
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has contributed to the Christendom in many ways.
- Right from the beginning, it played a pivotal role in Christian theology and especially in protecting it from the Gnostics heresies.
- The Coptic Church produced thousands of texts, biblical and theological studies which are significant resources for archeology.
- Coptic Orthodox Church believes that the Lord is perfect in both His divinity and humanity, but His divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called ‘the nature of the incarnate word’ which was re-affirmed by Saint Cyril of Alexandria.
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