Religion:Copts

From HandWiki
Short description: Ethnoreligious group in North Africa
Copts
ⲛⲓⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ
Coptic diaspora map.png
Coptic diaspora
Total population
4–20 million[1][2] (estimates vary)
Regions with significant populations
Traditional areas of Coptic settlement:4–20 million
Egypt4–20 million (estimates vary)[4]
Sudan<400,000 (2008)[5]
Libya60,000[6]
Diaspora:1–2 million (estimates vary)
United Statesc. 200,000 – 1 million[7][8][9][10][11]
Canadac. 200,000[1][12]
Australiac. 75,000 (2003)[13]
Francec. 45,000 (2017)[14]
Italyc. 30,000[15]
United Kingdom25,000–30,000 (2006)[16]
United Arab Emiratesc. 10,000[17]
Netherlandsc. 10,000[18]
Jordan>8,000 (2005)[19]
Kenya>8,000[20][21]
Lebanon3,000–4,000 (2012)[22]
Germany3,000[citation needed]
Austria2,000 (2001)[23]
Switzerland1,000 (2004)[24]
Israel1,000 (2014)[25]
Languages
Coptic (liturgical and ancestral)
Religion
Coptic Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Coptic Catholic Church

Copts (Coptic: ⲛⲓⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ, romanized: niremənkhēmi; Arabic: الْقِبْط) are a Christian ethnoreligious group indigenous to North Africa[26] who have primarily inhabited the area of modern Egypt and Sudan since antiquity. Most ethnic Copts are Coptic Oriental Orthodox Christians.[27] They are the largest Christian denomination in Egypt and the Middle East,[28] as well as in Sudan[5] and Libya.[29] Copts in Egypt account for roughly 5–15 percent of the Egyptian population;[30][31] Copts in Sudan account for 1 percent of the Sudanese population, while Copts in Libya similarly account for 1 percent of the Libyan population.[6]

Originally referring to all Egyptians,[32] the term Copt became synonymous with native Christians in light of Egypt's Islamization and Arabization after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century.[33] Copts have historically spoken the Coptic language, a direct descendant of the Demotic Egyptian that was spoken in late antiquity.

Following the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 639–646 AD, the treatment of the Coptic Christians who refused to convert ranged from relative tolerance to open persecution.[34][35][36][37] Historically, the Copts suffered from "waves of persecution giving way to relative tolerance in cycles that varied according to the local ruler and other political and economic circumstances".[33] Persecution is significantly involved in the Copts' ethnic identity due to historic and current conflicts.[38] Most Copts adhere to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, an Oriental Orthodox Church.[39][40][41] The smaller Coptic Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church, in communion with the Holy See of Rome; others belong to the Evangelical Church of Egypt. The Copts played a central role in the Arab Renaissance as well as the modernization of Egypt and the Arab world as a whole;[33] they also contributed to the "social and political life and key debates such as pan-Arabism, good governance, educational reform, and democracy",[33] and they have historically flourished in business affairs.[42]

While Coptic Christians speak the same dialects and are culturally similar to other Egyptians, they strongly oppose Arab identity and associate it with Islam and Islamism.[43][44] In Egypt, Copts have a relatively higher educational attainment, a relatively higher wealth index, and a stronger representation in white-collar job types, but limited representation in military and security agencies. The majority of demographic, socio-economic, and health indicators are similar among Christians and Muslims.[45]

Etymology

The English language adopted the word Copt in the 17th century from Neo-Latin Coptus, Cophtus, which derives from the Arabic collective qubṭ / qibṭ قبط‎ "the Copts" with nisba adjective qubṭī, qibṭī قبطى‎, plural aqbāṭ أقباط‎; Also quftī, qiftī (where the Arabic /f/ reflects the historical Coptic /p/) an Arabisation of the Coptic word ⲁⲓⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲛ aiguption (Bohairic) or ⲕⲩⲡⲧⲁⲓⲟⲛ kuptaion (Sahidic). The Coptic word in turn represents an adaptation of the Greek term for the indigenous people of Egypt, Aigýptios (Αἰγύπτιος).[46]

The Greek term for Egypt, Aígyptos (Ancient Greek:), itself derives from the Egyptian language, but dates to a much earlier period, being attested already in Mycenaean Greek as a3-ku-pi-ti-jo (lit. "Egyptian"; used here as a man's name). This Mycenaean form is likely from Middle Egyptian ḥwt kꜣ ptḥ (reconstructed pronunciation /ħawitˌkuʀpiˈtaħ/ → /ħajiʔˌkuʀpiˈtaħ/ → /ħəjˌkuʔpəˈtaħ/, Egyptological pronunciation Hut-ka-Ptah), literally "estate/palace of the kꜣ ("double" spirit) of Ptah" (compare Akkadian āluḫi-ku-up-ta-aḫ), the name of the temple complex of the god Ptah at Memphis (and a synecdoche for the city of Memphis and the region around it).

The term Aigýptios in Greek came to designate the native Egyptian population in Roman Egypt (as distinct from Greeks, Romans, Jews, etc.). After the Muslim conquest of Egypt (639-646) it became restricted to those Egyptians adhering to the Christian religion.[47]

The Coptic name for Egyptians, remənkhēmi (Coptic: ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ), is realized in the Fayyumic Coptic as ⲗⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲕⲏⲙⲉ lemenkēmi and as ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲕⲏⲙⲉ remənkēme in the Sahidic dialect; cf. Egyptian rmṯ n kmt, Demotic rmṯ n kmỉ.

The Arabic word qibṭ "Copt" has also been connected[by whom?] to the Greek name of the town of Kóptos (Koinē Greek: Κόπτος, now Qifṭ; Coptic Kebt and Keft) in Upper Egypt. This association may have contributed to making "Copt" the settled form of the name.[48]

In the 20th century, some Egyptian nationalists and intellectuals in the context of Pharaonism began using the term qubṭ in the historical sense.[49]

History

Coptic icon of St. Mark

The Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. Although integrated in the larger Egyptian nation state, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community forming around 5 to 20 percent of the population,[50][40][51][52] though estimates vary. They pride themselves on the apostolicity of the Egyptian Church whose founder was the first in an unbroken chain of patriarchs. The main body has been out of communion with the Roman Catholic Church (in Rome) since the 5th century AD.[53]

Foundation of the Christian Church in Egypt

According to ancient tradition, Christianity was introduced within present day Egypt by Saint Mark in Alexandria, shortly after the ascension of Christ and during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius around 42 AD.[54] The legacy that Saint Mark left in Egypt was a considerable Christian community in Alexandria. From Alexandria, Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Saint Mark's arrival in Alexandria, as is clear from a fragment of the Gospel of John, written in Coptic, which was found in Upper Egypt and can be dated to the first half of the 2nd century, and the New Testament writings found in Oxyrhynchus, in Middle Egypt, which date around the year 200 AD. In the 2nd century, Christianity began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local language, today known as the Coptic language, but known as the Egyptian language at the time. By the beginning of the 3rd century AD, Christians constituted the majority of Egypt's population, and the Church of Alexandria was recognized as one of Christendom's four Apostolic Sees, second in honor only to the Church of Rome.[citation needed] The Church of Alexandria is therefore the oldest Christian church in Africa.

Contributions to Christianity

The Copts in Egypt contributed immensely to Christian tradition. The Catechetical School of Alexandria was the oldest catechetical school in the world. Founded around 190 AD by the scholar Pantanaeus, the school of Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by scholars such as Athenagoras, Clement, Didymus, and Origen, the father of theology who was also active in the field of commentary and comparative Biblical studies. However, the scope of this school was not limited to theological subjects; science, mathematics and humanities were also taught there. The question-and-answer method of commentary began there, and 15 centuries before Braille, wood-carving techniques were in use there by blind scholars to read and write.

Another major contribution made by the Copts in Egypt to Christianity was the creation and organization of monasticism. Worldwide Christian monasticism stems, either directly or indirectly, from the Egyptian example.[citation needed] The most prominent figures of the monastic movement were Anthony the Great, Paul of Thebes, Macarius the Great, Shenouda the Archimandrite and Pachomius the Cenobite. By the end of the 5th century, there were hundreds of monasteries, and thousands of cells and caves scattered throughout the Egyptian desert. Since then pilgrims have visited the Egyptian Desert Fathers to emulate their spiritual, disciplined lives. Saint Basil the Great Archbishop of Caesarea Mazaca, and the founder and organiser of the monastic movement in Asia Minor, visited Egypt around 357 AD and his monastic rules are followed by the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Saint Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin, came to Egypt while en route to Jerusalem around 400 AD and left details of his experiences in his letters. Saint Benedict founded the Benedictine Order in the 6th century on the model of Saint Pachomius, although in a stricter form. Coptic Christians practice male circumcision as a rite of passage.[55]

Coptic Greeks

Further information: Coptic Greeks
An Εgyptian Greek man with Anubis

It is estimated that as much as 30 percent of the population of Faiyum was Greek during the Ptolemaic period, with the rest being native Egyptians;[56] the Faiyum mummy portraits reflect the complex synthesis of the predominant Egyptian culture and that of the elite Egyptian Greek minority in Faiyum.[56]

By the Roman period, much of the "Greek" population of Faiyum was made up of either Hellenized Egyptians or people of mixed Egyptian-Greek origins,[57] and by the time of Roman emperor Caracalla in the 2nd century AD, ethnic Egyptians could be distinguished from Egyptian Greeks only by their speech.[58]

Egyptian Greek is the variety of Greek spoken in Egypt from antiquity until the Islamic conquest of Egypt in the 7th century. Egyptian Greek adopted many loanwords from Egyptian language; there was a great deal of intracommunity bilingualism in Egypt.[59][60]

The following is an example of Egyptian Greek language, used in the Coptic Church:

ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ ⲩⲓⲱ: ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ ⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ: ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉⲱⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ
Δόξα Πατρὶ κὲ Υἱῷ κὲ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, κὲ νῦν κὲ ἀῒ κὲ ἰς τοὺς ἐῶνας τῶν ἐώνων. Ἀμήν.
Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
An Egyptian Greek centurion
An Egyptian Greek woman

According to Walker, early Ptolemaic Greek colonists married local women and adopted Egyptian religious beliefs, and by Roman times, their descendants were viewed as Egyptians by the Roman rulers, despite their own self-perception of being Greek.[61] The dental morphology[62] of the Roman-period Faiyum mummies was also compared with that of earlier Egyptian populations, and was found to be "much more closely akin" to that of ancient Egyptians than to Greeks or other European populations.[63] Victor J. Katz notes that "research in papyri dating from the early centuries of the common era demonstrates that a significant amount of intermarriage took place between the Greek and Egyptian communities".[64]

Ecumenical councils

The major contributions that the See of Alexandria has contributed to the establishment of early Christian theology and dogma are attested to by fact that the first three ecumenical councils in the history of Christianity were headed by Egyptian patriarchs. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) was presided over by St. Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, along with Saint Hosius of Córdoba. In addition, the most prominent figure of the council was the future Patriarch of Alexandria Athanasius, who played the major role in the formulation of the Nicene Creed, recited today in most Christian churches of different denominations. One of the council's decisions was to entrust the Patriarch of Alexandria with calculating and annually announcing the exact date of Easter to the rest of the Christian churches. The Council of Constantinople (381 AD) was presided over by Patriarch Timothy of Alexandria, while the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) was presided over by Cyril of Alexandria.

Council of Chalcedon

In 451 AD, following the Council of Chalcedon, the Church of Alexandria was divided into two branches. Those who accepted the terms of the Council became known as Chalcedonians or Melkites. Those who did not abide by the council's terms were labeled non-Chalcedonians or Monophysites and later Jacobites after Jacob Baradaeus. The non-Chalcedonians, however, rejected the term Monophysites as erroneous and referred to themselves as Miaphysites. The majority of the Egyptians belonged to the Miaphysite branch, which led to their persecution by the Byzantines in Egypt.

Arab conquest of Egypt

Main page: Religion:Islamization of Egypt
The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo

In 641 AD, Egypt was conquered by the Arabs who faced off with the Byzantine army. Local resistance by the Egyptians however began to materialize shortly thereafter and would last until at least the 9th century.[65][66] Despite the political upheaval, Egypt remained mainly Christian, but Coptic Christians lost their majority status after the 14th century,[67] as a result of the intermittent persecution and the destruction of the Christian churches there.[35] From the Muslim conquest of Egypt onwards, the Coptic Christians were persecuted by different Muslim regimes,[34] such as the Umayyad Caliphate,[68] Abbasid Caliphate,[69][70][71] Fatimid Caliphate,[72][73][74] Mamluk Sultanate,[75][76] and Ottoman Empire; the persecution of Coptic Christians included closing and demolishing churches, forced conversion to Islam,[36][77][78] and heavy taxes for those who refused to convert.[79]

Copts in modern Egypt

President Nasser welcomes a delegation of Coptic bishops (1965)

During the Ottoman period, Copts were classified alongside other Oriental Orthodox and Nestorian peoples under the Armenian millet.[80]

Under Muslim rule, Christians paid special taxes and had lower access to political power, but were exempt from military service. Their position improved dramatically under the rule of Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century. He abolished the Jizya (a tax on non-Muslims) and allowed Egyptians (Copts) to enroll in the army. Pope Cyril IV, 1854–61, reformed the church and encouraged broader Coptic participation in Egyptian affairs. Khedive Isma'il Pasha, in power 1863–79, further promoted the Copts. He appointed them judges to Egyptian courts and awarded them political rights and representation in government. They flourished in business affairs.[81]

Some Copts participated in the Egyptian national movement for independence and occupied many influential positions. Two significant cultural achievements include the founding of the Coptic Museum in 1910 and the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in 1954. Some prominent Coptic thinkers from this period are Salama Moussa, Louis Awad and Secretary General of the Wafd Party Makram Ebeid.

In 1952, Gamal Abdel Nasser led some army officers in a coup d'état against King Farouk, which overthrew the Kingdom of Egypt and established a republic. Nasser's mainstream policy was pan-Arab nationalism and socialism. The Copts were severely affected by Nasser's nationalization policies, though they represented about 10 to 20 percent of the population.[82] In addition, Nasser's pan-Arab policies undermined the Copts' strong attachment to and sense of identity about their Egyptian pre-Arab, and certainly non-Arab identity which resulted in permits to construct churches to be delayed along with Christian religious courts to be closed.[82]

Socioeconomic

In Egypt, Copts have relatively higher educational attainment, relatively higher wealth index, and a stronger representation in white collar job types, but limited representation in security agencies. The majority of demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators are similar among Copts and Muslims.[83] Historically; many Copts were accountants, and in 1961 Coptic Christians owned 51% of the Egyptian banks.[84] A Pew Center study about religion and education around the world in 2016, found that around 26% of Egyptian Christians obtain a university degree in institutions of higher education.[85]

According to the scholar Andrea Rugh Copts tend to belong to the educated middle and upper-middle class,[86] and according to scholar Lois Farag "The Copts still played the major role in managing Egypt's state finances. They held 20% of total state capital, 45% of government employment, and 45% of government salaries".[87] According to scholar J. D. Pennington 45% of the medical doctors, 60% of the pharmacists of Egypt were Christians.[88]

A number of Coptic business and land-owning families became very wealthy and influential such as the Egyptian Coptic Christian Sawiris family[89] that owns the Orascom conglomerate, spanning telecommunications, construction, tourism, industries and technology.[90][91] In 2008, Forbes estimated the family's net worth at $36 billion.[92][93][94][95] According to scholars Maristella Botticini and Zvi Eckstein argue that Copts have relatively higher educational attainment and relatively higher wealth index, due to Coptic Christianity emphasis on literacy and that Coptic Christianity encouraged the accumulation of human capital.[96]

Pharaonism

Many Coptic intellectuals hold to Pharaonism, which states that Coptic culture is largely derived from pre-Christian, Pharaonic Egyptian culture. It gives the Copts a claim to a deep heritage in Egyptian history and culture. Pharaonism was widely held by Coptic and Muslim scholars in the early 20th century, and it helped bridge the divide between those groups. Some scholars see Pharaonism as shaped by Orientalism.[97][98]

Church affairs

Egyptian Coptic monks at the American Colony, Jerusalem, between 1898 and 1914.[99]

Today, members of the non-Chalcedonian Coptic Orthodox Church constitute the majority of the Egyptian Christian population. Mainly through emigration and partly through European, American, and other missionary work and conversions, the Egyptian Christian community now also includes other Christian denominations such as Protestants (known in Arabic as Evangelicals), Roman Catholics and Eastern Rite Catholics, and other Orthodox congregations. The term Coptic remains exclusive however to the Egyptian natives, as opposed to the Christians of non-Egyptian origins. Some Protestant churches for instance are called "Coptic Evangelical Church", thus helping differentiate their native Egyptian congregations from churches attended by non-Egyptian immigrant communities such as Europeans or Americans.[citation needed]

The previous head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, died 17 March 2012. On 4 November 2012, Bishop Tawadros was chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians. His name was selected from a glass bowl containing the three shortlisted candidates by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral.[100]

Copts in modern Sudan

Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Khartoum

Sudan has a native Coptic minority, although many Copts in Sudan are descended from more recent Egyptian immigrants.[5] Copts in Sudan live mostly in northern cities, including Al Obeid, Atbara, Dongola, Khartoum, Omdurman, Port Sudan, and Wad Medani.[5] They number up to 500,000, or slightly over 1 percent of the Sudanese population.[5] Due to their advanced education, their role in the life of the country has been more significant than their numbers suggest.[5] They have occasionally faced forced conversion to Islam, resulting in their emigration and decrease in number.[5]

Modern immigration of Copts to Sudan peaked in the early 19th century, and they generally received a tolerant welcome there. However, this was interrupted by a decade of persecution under Mahdist rule at the end of the 19th century.[5] As a result of this persecution, many were forced to relinquish their faith, adopt Islam, and intermarry with the native Sudanese. The Anglo-Egyptian invasion in 1898 allowed Copts greater religious and economic freedom, and they extended their original roles as artisans and merchants into trading, banking, engineering, medicine, and the civil service. Proficiency in business and administration made them a privileged minority. However, the return of militant Islam in the mid-1960s and subsequent demands by radicals for an Islamic constitution prompted Copts to join in public opposition to religious rule.[5]

Gaafar Nimeiry's introduction of Islamic Sharia law in 1983 began a new phase of oppressive treatment of Copts, among other non-Muslims.[5] After the overthrow of Nimeiry, Coptic leaders supported a secular candidate in the 1986 elections. However, when the National Islamic Front overthrew the elected government of Sadiq al-Mahdi with the help of the military, discrimination against Copts returned in earnest. Hundreds of Copts were dismissed from the civil service and judiciary.[5]

In February 1991, a Coptic pilot working for Sudan Airways was executed for illegal possession of foreign currency.[101] Before his execution, he had been offered amnesty and money if he converted to Islam, but he refused. Thousands attended his funeral, and the execution was taken as a warning by many Copts, who began to flee the country.[101]

Restrictions on the Copts' rights to Sudanese nationality followed, and it became difficult for them to obtain Sudanese nationality by birth or by naturalization, resulting in problems when attempting to travel abroad. The confiscation of Christian schools and the imposition of an Arab-Islamic emphasis in language and history teaching were accompanied by harassment of Christian children and the introduction of hijab dress laws. A Coptic child was flogged for failing to recite a Koranic verse.[101] In contrast with the extensive media broadcasting of the Muslim Friday prayers, the radio ceased coverage of the Christian Sunday service. As the civil war raged throughout the 1990s, the government focused its religious fervor on the south. Although experiencing discrimination, the Copts and other long-established Christian groups in the north had fewer restrictions than other types of Christians in the south.

Today, the Coptic Church in Sudan is officially registered with the government, and is exempt from property tax.[5] In 2005, the Sudanese government of National Unity (GNU) named a Coptic Orthodox priest to a government position, though the ruling Islamist party's continued dominance under the GNU provides ample reason to doubt its commitment to broader religious or ethnic representation.[5]

Copts in modern Libya

The largest Christian group in Libya is the Coptic Orthodox Church, with a population of 60,000.[citation needed] The Coptic Church is known to have historical roots in Libya long before the Arabs advanced westward from Egypt into Libya.

Demographics

Living in countries with Muslim majorities (Egypt, Sudan, Libya), the size of the population of Copts is a continuously disputed matter, frequently for reasons of religious jealousy and animosity.

The Coptic population in Egypt is difficult to estimate because researchers are forbidden by Egyptian authorities to ask a survey participant's religion,[102] although official estimates state that Coptic Christians represent 10 to 15 percent[39][40][51][103][104][105][106][107][108][109] while other independent and Christian sources estimate much higher numbers, up to 25 percent of the population.[39][40][51][103][104][110]

The Coptic population in Sudan is at about half a million or 1 percent of Sudanese population.[5]

The Coptic population in Libya is about over 60,000 or 1 percent of Libyan population.[111][failed verification]

Diaspora

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Bellaire, Texas (Greater Houston). There are about 1–2 million Egyptian born Copts living outside of Egypt, and are known as the Coptic diaspora.

Outside of the Coptic primary area of residence within parts of present-day Egypt (Copts in Egypt), Sudan (Copts in Sudan), and Libya (Copts in Libya), the largest Coptic diaspora population is located within the United States, Canada, and Australia. The numbers of the Censuses in the United States, Canada, and Australia are not fully correct since many Copts listed themselves in the 2011 Census mistakenly as either Egyptians, Sudanese, Libyans, Americans, Canadians or Australians and by this way reducing the Coptic population in the 2011 Census in the United States, Canada, and Australia respectively.

Nevertheless, the Coptic American (US) population is estimated to number about 200,000 (estimates of Coptic organizations ranging as high as a million).[7][9][10][11] According to published accounts and several Coptic/US sources (including the US-Coptic Association), the Coptic Orthodox Church has between 700,000 and one million members in the United States (c. 2005–2007).[112] The Coptic Canadian population is estimated to number about 50,000[113] (estimates of Coptic organizations ranging as high as 200,000).[1][12] The Coptic Australian population is estimated to number about 100,000[13][114] (estimates of Coptic organizations ranging as high as 100,000).

Smaller communities are found in Kuwait,[115] the United Kingdom,[116] France (45,000),[14] South Africa.[20][21]

Minor communities below 10,000 people are reported from Jordan (8,000 Copts),[117] Lebanon (3,000 – 4,000 Copts),[22] Germany (3,000 Copts),[citation needed] Austria (2,000 Copts),[23] Switzerland (1,000 Copts),[118] and elsewhere.

It is noted that Copts also live in Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

Persecution and discrimination in Egypt

Religious freedom in Egypt is hampered to varying degrees by discriminatory and restrictive government policies. Coptic Christians, being the largest religious minority in Egypt, are also negatively affected. Copts have faced increasing marginalization after the 1952 coup d'état led by Gamal Abdel Nasser. Until recently, Christians were required to obtain presidential approval for even minor repairs in churches. Although the law was eased in 2005 by handing down the authority of approval to the governors, Copts continue to face many obstacles and restrictions in building new churches. These restrictions do not apply for building mosques.[119][120]

The Coptic community has been targeted by hate crimes by Islamic extremists. The most significant was the 2000–01 El Kosheh attacks, in which Muslims and Christians were involved in bloody inter-religious clashes following a dispute between a Muslim and a Christian. "Twenty Christians and one Muslim were killed after violence broke out in the town of el-Kosheh, 440 kilometres (270 mi) south of Cairo".[121] In February 2001 a new Coptic church and 35 houses belonging to Christians were burned.[122]

In 2006, one person attacked three churches in Alexandria, killing one person and injuring 5–16.[123] The attacker was not linked to any organisation and described as "psychologically disturbed" by the Ministry of Interior.[124] In May 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported increasing waves of mob attacks by Muslims against Copts.[125] Despite frantic calls for help, the police typically arrived after the violence was over.[125] The police also coerced the Copts to accept "reconciliation" with their attackers to avoid prosecuting them, with no Muslims convicted for any of the attacks.[126] In Marsa Matrouh, a Bedouin mob of Muslims tried to attack Copts, with 400 Copts having to barricade themselves in their church while the mob destroyed 18 homes, 23 shops and 16 cars.[125]

Members of U.S. Congress have expressed concern about "human trafficking" of Coptic women and girls who are victims of abductions, forced conversion to Islam, sexual exploitation and forced marriage to Muslim men.[127]

Boutros Boutros-Ghali was a Copt who served as Egypt's foreign minister under President Anwar Sadat. Previously, only two Copts were in Egypt's governmental cabinet: Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali and Environment Minister Magued George during former president Mubarak's rule. There also used to be one Coptic governor out of 25, that of the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena, and is the first Coptic governor in decades due to the higher concentration of Copts in Upper Egypt. In addition, Naguib Sawiris, Nassef Sawiris[128] and Samih Sawiris,[129] who are extremely successful businessmen and one of the world's 100 wealthiest people, are Copts.[130] In 2002, under the Mubarak government, Coptic Christmas (January 7) was recognized as an official holiday.[131] However, many Copts continue to complain of being minimally represented in higher positions in law enforcement, state security and public office, and of being discriminated against in the workforce on the basis of their religion.[132][133]

While freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, according to Human Rights Watch, "Egyptians are able to convert to Islam generally without difficulty, but Muslims who convert to Christianity face difficulties in getting new identity papers and some have been arrested for allegedly forging such documents."[134] The Coptic community, however, takes pains to prevent conversions from Christianity to Islam due to the ease with which Christians can often become Muslim.[135] Public officials, being conservative themselves, intensify the complexity of the legal procedures required to recognize the religion change as required by law. Security agencies will sometimes claim that such conversions from Islam to Christianity (or occasionally vice versa) may stir social unrest, and thereby justify themselves in wrongfully detaining the subjects, insisting that they are simply taking steps to prevent likely social troubles from happening.[136] In 2007, a Cairo administrative court denied 45 citizens the right to obtain identity papers documenting their reversion to Christianity after converting to Islam.[137] However, in February 2008 the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the decision, allowing 12 citizens who had reverted to Christianity to re-list their religion on identity cards,[138][139] but they will specify that they had adopted Islam for a brief period of time.[140]

In August 2013, following the 3 July 2013 coup and clashes between the military and Morsi supporters, there were widespread attacks on Coptic churches and institutions in Egypt by Sunni Muslims.[141] [142] According to at least one Egyptian scholar (Samuel Tadros), the attacks are the worst violence against the Coptic Church since the 14th century.[143]

USA Today reported that "forty churches have been looted and torched, while 23 others have been attacked and heavily damaged". More than 45 churches across Egypt were attacked.[144] The Facebook page of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party was "rife with false accusations meant to foment hatred against Copts". The Party's page claimed that the Coptic Church had declared "war against Islam and Muslims" and that "The Pope of the Church is involved in the removal of the first elected Islamist president. The Pope of the Church alleges Islamic Sharia is backwards, stubborn, and reactionary."[relevant? – discuss] On August 15, nine Egyptian human rights groups under the umbrella group "Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights", released a statement saying,

"In December … Brotherhood leaders began fomenting anti-Christian sectarian incitement. The anti-Coptic incitement and threats continued unabated up to the demonstrations of June 30 and, with the removal of President Morsi … morphed into sectarian violence, which was sanctioned by … the continued anti-Coptic rhetoric heard from the group's leaders on the stage … throughout the sit-in."[145]

Coptic women and girls are abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry Muslim men.[127][146] In 2009 the Washington, D.C. based group Christian Solidarity International published a study of the abductions and forced marriages and the anguish felt by the young women because returning to Christianity is against the law. Further allegations of organised abduction of Copts, trafficking and police collusion continue in 2017.[147]

In April 2010, a bipartisan group of 17 members of the U.S. Congress expressed concern to the State Department's Trafficking in Persons Office about Coptic women who faced "physical and sexual violence, captivity ... exploitation in forced domestic servitude or commercial sexual exploitation, and financial benefit to the individuals who secure the forced conversion of the victim."[127]

According to the Egyptian NGO Association of Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance, between 2011 and March 2014, around 550 Coptic girls have been kidnapped, and forced to convert to Islam. According the same survey around 40% of the girls were raped prior to their conversion to Islam and married their captors.[148]

Language

Main pages: Social:Coptic language and Social:Egyptian language
Coptic and Arabic inscriptions in an Old Cairo church

The Coptic language is the most recent stage of the Egyptian language. Coptic should more correctly be used to refer to the script rather than the language itself. Even though this script was introduced as far back as the 1st century BC, it has been applied to the writing of the Egyptian language from the 1st century AD to the present day.[149] Coptic remained the spoken language of most Egyptians until it was slowly replaced by colloquial Egyptian Arabic in Lower Egypt and Sa'idi Arabic in Upper Egypt by the end of the 17th century, although it may have survived in isolated pockets for a little longer.[150]

Today Coptic is extinct but it is still the liturgical language of the native Egyptian Churches (the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church). It is taught worldwide in many prestigious institutions, but its teaching within Egypt remains limited.

Leaf from a Coptic manuscript, 6th-14th century, Metropolitan museum of art, NYC

Dialects of the Coptic language:

  • Sahidic: Theban or Upper Egyptian.
  • Bohairic: The dialect of the Nile Delta and of the medieval and modern Coptic Church.
  • Akhmimic
  • Lycopolitan (also known as Subakhmimic)
  • Fayyumic
  • Oxyrhynchite

Calendar

Main page: History:Coptic calendar

The Coptic calendar, also called the Alexandrian calendar, is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and also by Ethiopia as its official calendar (with different names). This calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar. To avoid the calendar creep of the latter, a reform of the ancient Egyptian calendar was introduced at the time of Ptolemy III (Decree of Canopus, in 238 BC) which consisted of the intercalation of a sixth epagomenal day every fourth year. However, this reform was opposed by the Egyptian priests, and the idea was not adopted until 25 BC, when the Roman Emperor Augustus formally reformed the calendar of Egypt, keeping it forever synchronized with the newly introduced Julian calendar. To distinguish it from the Ancient Egyptian calendar, which remained in use by some astronomers until medieval times, this reformed calendar is known as the Coptic calendar. Its years and months coincide with those of the Ethiopian calendar but have different numbers and names.[151]

Coptic year

Coptic Orthodox Cross with traditional Coptic script reading: 'Jesus Christ, the Son of God'

The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by special prayers in the Coptic liturgy. This calendar is still in use all over Egypt by farmers to keep track of the various agricultural seasons. The Coptic calendar has 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days, depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The year starts on 29 August in the Julian Calendar or on the 30th in the year before (Julian) Leap Years. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Julian Calendar so that the extra month always has six days in the year before a Julian Leap Year.[152]

The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic year. Its celebration falls on the first day of the month of Thout, the first month of the Egyptian year, which for AD 1901 to 2098 usually coincides with 11 September, except before a Gregorian leap year when it's September 12. Coptic years are counted from 284 AD, the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs").[citation needed] The A.M. abbreviation is also used for the unrelated Jewish year (Anno Mundi).[citation needed]

Every fourth Coptic year is a leap year without exception, as in the Julian calendar, so the above-mentioned new year dates apply only between AD 1900 and 2099 inclusive in the Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year is always 29 August, except before a Julian leap year when it's August 30. Easter is reckoned by the Julian Calendar in the Old Calendarist way.

To obtain the Coptic year number, subtract from the Julian year number either 283 (before the Julian new year) or 284 (after it).[153]

Genetics

According to Y-DNA analysis by Hassan et al. (2008), around 45% of Copts in Sudan carry the Haplogroup J. The remainder mainly belong to the E1b1b clade (21%). Both paternal lineages are common among other local Afroasiatic-speaking populations (Beja, Ethiopians, Sudanese Arabs), as well as the Nubians.[154] E1b1b/E3b reaches its highest frequencies among North Africans, Levantine Middle Easterners, and Ethiopid East Africans.[155] The next most common haplogroups borne by Copts are the European-linked R1b clade (15%), as well as the archaic African B lineage (15%).[154]

Maternally, Hassan (2009) found that Copts in Sudan exclusively carry various descendants of the macrohaplogroup N. This mtDNA clade is likewise closely associated with local Afroasiatic-speaking populations, including Berbers and Ethiopid peoples. Of the N derivatives borne by Copts, U6 is most frequent (28%), followed by the haplogroup T (17%).[156]

A 2015 study by Dobon et al. identified an ancestral autosomal component of Western Eurasian origin that is common to many modern Afroasiatic-speaking populations in Northeast Africa. Known as the Coptic component, it peaks among Egyptian Copts who settled in Sudan over the past two centuries. In their analysis, Sudan's Copts formed a separated group in the PCA, a close outlier to other Egyptians, Afro-Asiatic-speaking Northeast Africans and Middle East populations. The scientists suggest that this points to a common origin for the general population of Egypt, or Middle Eastern and North African populations. Copts in general shared the same main ancestral component with North African/Middle Eastern populations. They also associate the Coptic component with Ancient Egyptian ancestry, without the later Arabian influence that is present among other Egyptians.[157]

Hollfelder et al. (2017) analysed various populations in Sudan and observed that Egyptians and Copts showed low levels of genetic differentiation and lower levels of genetic diversity compared to the northeast African groups. Copts and Egyptians displayed similar levels of European or Middle Eastern ancestry (Copts were estimated to be of 69.54% ± 2.57 European ancestry, and the Egyptians of 70.65% ± 2.47 European ancestry). The authors concluded that the Copts and the Egyptians have a common history linked to smaller population sizes, and that Sudanese Copts have remained relatively isolated since their arrival to Sudan with only low levels of admixture with local northeastern Sudanese groups.[158]

An allele frequency comparative study conducted in 2020 between the two main Egyptian ethnic groups, Muslims and Christians, supported the conclusion that Egyptian Muslims and Egyptian Christians genetically originate from the same ancestors.[159]

Prominent Copts

Halim El-Dabh at a Cleveland festival in 2009
Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Some famous Copts include:

  • Hani Azer, prominent civil engineer
  • Halim El-Dabh, Egyptian-American musician and academic
  • Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations .
  • Rami Malek, an Egyptian-American actor of Coptic origins.
  • Mena Massoud, an Egyptian-Canadian actor.
  • Dina Powell, American Politician.
  • Fayez Sarofim, heir to the Sarofim family fortune.
  • Naguib Sawiris, the CEO of Orascom.
  • Samih Sawiris, is an Egyptian-born Montenegrin businessman, investor and billionaire.
  • Magdi Yacoub, Egyptian-British cardiothoracic surgeon.
  • Hossam Boutros Messiha Egyptian-French politician.

See also

  • Aegyptus, in Greek mythology
  • Coptic art
  • Coptic Catholic Church
  • Coptic diaspora
  • Coptic identity
  • Coptic language
  • Coptic literature
  • Copto-Arabic literature
  • Coptic Museum
  • Coptic Orthodox Church
  • List of Coptic saints
  • Coptology
  • Christianity in Egypt
  • Christianity in Sudan
  • Christianity in Libya
  • List of prominent Copts worldwide


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Coptic Orthodox Christmas to be low-key – Tight security: On alert after bombing in Egypt". Montreal Gazette. 4 January 2011. https://montrealgazette.com/life/Montreal+Coptic+Orthodox+Christmas/4054183/story.html. 
  2. ↑ "Copts". 19 June 2015. https://minorityrights.org/minorities/copts/. 
  3. ↑ "Egyptian Coptic protesters freed". BBC. 22 December 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4117831.stm. 
  4. ↑ Official population counts put the number of Copts at around 10-15% percent of the population, while some Coptic voices claim figures as high as 23 percent. Some scholars defend the soundness of the official population census (cf. E.J. Chitham, The Coptic Community in Egypt. Spatial and Social Change, Durham 1986), while other scholars and international observers assume that the Christian share of Egypt's population is higher than stated by the Egyptian government. Most independent estimates fall within range between 10 percent and 20 percent,[3] for example the CIA World Factbook estimated 10% are Christian "Egypt". The World Factbook. CIA. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/. , "The Copts and Their Political Implications in Egypt". The Washington Institute. 25 October 2005. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2386. , Encyclopædia Britannica (1985), or Macropædia (15th ed., Chicago). For a projected 83,000,000+ Egyptians in 2009, this assumption yields the above figures.
    In 2008, Pope Shenouda III and Bishop Morkos, bishop of Shubra, declared that the number of Copts in Egypt is more than 12 million. In the same year, father Morkos Aziz the prominent priest in Cairo declared that the number of Copts (inside Egypt) exceeds 16 million. "?". United Copts of Great Britain. 29 October 2008. http://www.unitedcopts.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3073&Itemid=71.  and "?". العربية.نت. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/08/28/55639.html.  Furthermore, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy "The Copts and Their Political Implications in Egypt". 25 October 2005. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2386.  Encyclopædia Britannica (1985), and Macropædia (15th ed., Chicago) estimate the percentage of Christians in Egypt to be up to 20 percent of the Egyptian population.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Sudan : Copts, 2008, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49749ca6c.html [accessed 21 December 2010]
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kjeilen, Tore. "Coptic Church". http://i-cias.com/e.o/coptic_c.htm. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 2009 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau "All Egyptians including Copts 197,160"
  8. ↑ According to published accounts and several Coptic/US sources (including the US-Coptic Association), the Coptic Orthodox Church has between 700,000 and one million members in the United States (c. 2005–2007). "Why CCU?". Coptic Credit Union. http://www.copticcu.com/WhyCCU.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Coptics flock to welcome 'Baba' at Pittsburgh airport". Pittsburgh Tribune (2007). http://sce.uhcl.edu/akladios/Magdy%20Akladios%20Website/Links%20For%20Church/Copticsflocktowelcome.doc. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "State's first Coptic Orthodox church is a vessel of faith". JS Online (2005). http://www3.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=373326. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Coptic Diaspora". US-Copts Association (2007). http://www.copts.com/english/CoptsDiaspora.aspx. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Limited, Elaph Publishing. "إجراءات أمنية إستثنائية تسبق إحتفالات "اقباط العالم" بعيد الميلاد". https://elaph.com/Web/news/2011/1/622635.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 In the year 2003, there was an estimated 70,000 Copts in New South Wales alone: "Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Act 1990". http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/cocpta1990518/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 In the year 2017, there was an estimated 45,000 Copts in France: "Qui sont les coptes en France ?". 16 March 2017. https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Orthodoxie/Qui-sont-coptes-France-2017-03-16-1200832369. 
  15. ↑ "La Chiesa copta". March 10, 2014. https://cesnur.com/la-chiesa-copta/. 
  16. ↑ Copts number at least 20,000 in Britain "Middle Killeavy Parish Web Site". http://www.middlekilleavy.com/index.php?artid%3D2631%26option%3Dcom_cifeed%26task%3Dnewsarticle.  plus another 5,000 – 10,000 Copts who are directly under the British Orthodox Church (1999 figures)
  17. ↑ Teller, Matthew (12 July 2015). "Free to pray – but don't try to convert anyone". BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33480115. "Ten-thousand or more live in the UAE, and young, bearded priest Father Markos, 12 years in Dubai, told me his flock are "more than happy – they enjoy their life, they are free."" 
  18. ↑ "'De Koptische kerk telt in Nederland ongeveer tienduizend leden, die grotendeels afkomstig zijn uit Egypte.'". 12 July 2015. https://gereformeerdebond.nl/de-waarheidsvriend/artikelen/welkom-welkom-2/. 
  19. ↑ "King commends Coptic Church's role in promoting coexistence". Jordanembassyus.org. June 3, 2005. http://www.jordanembassyus.org/06032005001.htm. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Come Across And Help Us Book 2". http://www.copticafrica.org/bookcomehelp3.htm. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "CopticMission". http://www.copticmission.org/copticmission. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Lebanon: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor – 2012 Report on International Religious Freedom". U.S. Department of State. 20 May 2013. https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/nea/208400.htm. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Austria 2004 Religious Freedom news
  24. ↑ "Orthodox Copts open church in Switzerland". Swissinfo.org. July 17, 2004. http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5090250. 
  25. ↑ "The ethnic origin of Christians in Israel" (in he). http://parshan.co.il/index2.php?id=11204&lang=HEB. 
  26. ↑ Minahan 2002, p. 467
  27. ↑ Held, Colbert (2018-10-03) (in en). Middle East Patterns, Student Economy Edition: Places, People, and Politics. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-97307-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=WyZhDwAAQBAJ&q=%E2%80%9CMost+ethnic+Copts+are+Orthodox+in+religious+affiliation%E2%80%9C&pg=PT163. 
  28. ↑ "Who are Egypt's Coptic Christians?". CNN. 10 April 2017. https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/09/middleeast/egypt-coptic-christians/index.html. "The largest Christian community in the Middle East, Coptic Christians make up the majority of Egypt's roughly 9 million Christians. About 1 million more Coptic Christians are spread across Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the World Council of Churches." 
  29. ↑ Coptic Orthodox Church Listings for Libya, p. 136
  30. ↑ "Egypt's Sisi meets world Evangelical churches delegation in Cairo – Politics – Egypt" (in en). http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/281789/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Sisi-meets-world-Evangelical-churches-deleg.aspx. 
  31. ↑ Hackett, Conrad (2011-02-16). "How many Christians are there in Egypt?" (in en-US). https://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/how-many-christians-are-there-in-egypt/. 
  32. ↑ Doorn-Harder, Nelly van (3 October 2017). Copts in Context: Negotiating Identity, Tradition, and Modernity. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 9781611177855. https://books.google.com/books?id=ens2DwAAQBAJ&dq=copts+originally+referred+all+egyptians&pg=PT14. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 Raheb, Mitri; Lamport, Mark A. (2020-12-15) (in en). The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Christianity in the Middle East. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2418-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=I1cBEAAAQBAJ&q=%22The+fortunes+of+Copts+rose+and+fell%22&pg=PA468. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Egypt : Copts of Egypt" (in en). https://www.refworld.org/docid/49749d2b2d.html. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Etheredge, Laura S. (2011). Middle East, Region in Transition: Egypt. Britannica Educational Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 9789774160936. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Lyster, William (2013). The Cave Church of Paul the Hermit at the Monastery of St. Pau. Yale University Press. ISBN 9789774160936. "Al Hakim Bi-Amr Allah (r. 996—1021), however, who became the greatest persecutor of Copts.... within the church that also appears to coincide with a period of forced rapid conversion to Islam" 
  37. ↑ N. Swanson, Mark (2010). The Coptic Papacy in Islamic Egypt (641-1517). American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 54. ISBN 9789774160936. 
  38. ↑ Deighton, H. S. "The Arab Middle East and the Modern World", International Affairs, vol. xxii, no. 4 (October 1946)
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "Egypt from "U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs"". United States Department of State. September 30, 2008. https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5309.htm. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 "Egypt from "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"". Foreign and Commonwealth Office -UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs. August 15, 2008. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/egypt. 
  41. ↑ Bailey, Betty Jane; Bailey, J. Martin (2003). Who Are the Christians in the Middle East?. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-8028-1020-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=xrGL7o69KBIC&pg=PA145. 
  42. ↑ Todros, ch 3–4.
  43. ↑ Britannica: Egyptian Christians - Copt, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Copt, retrieved 30 July 2023 
  44. ↑ Dobon, Begoña; Hassan, Hisham Y.; Laayouni, Hafid; Luisi, Pierre; Ricaño-Ponce, Isis; Zhernakova, Alexandra; Wijmenga, Cisca; Tahir, Hanan et al. (2015). "The genetics of East African populations: A Nilo-Saharan component in the African genetic landscape". Scientific Reports 5: 9996. doi:10.1038/srep09996. PMID 26017457. Bibcode: 2015NatSR...5E9996D. 
  45. ↑ Mohamoud YA, Cuadros DF, Abu-Raddad LJ. Characterizing the Copts in Egypt: Demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators, QScience Connect 2013:22 doi:10.5339/connect.2013.22
  46. ↑ Ackroyd, P. R.; Evans, C. F. (1963). The Cambridge History of the Bible: Volume 1, From the Beginnings to Jerome. Cambridge University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-521-09973-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=QnG2067meU0C&pg=PA27. Retrieved 16 October 2016. 
  47. ↑ "The people of Egypt before the Arab conquest in the 7th century identified themselves and their language in Greek as Aigyptios (Arabic qibt, Westernized as Copt); when Egyptian Muslims later ceased to call themselves Aigyptioi, the term became the distinctive name of the Christian minority." Coptic Orthodox Church. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2007
  48. ↑ OED s.v. "Copt".
  49. ↑ qtd. in M. Hussein. el Ittigahat el Wataneyya fil Adab el Muʻaṣir [National Trends in Modern Literature]. Vol. 2. Cairo, 1954.
  50. ↑ Hackett, Conrad (16 February 2011). "How many Christians are there in Egypt?". https://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/how-many-christians-are-there-in-egypt/. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 "Egypt from "The World Factbook"". American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). September 4, 2008. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/. 
  52. ↑ NLG Solutions <Online>. Egypt. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  53. ↑ OSB, Hugh Somerville Knapman (2018) (in en). Ecumenism of Blood: Heavenly Hope for Earthly Communion. Paulist Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-58768-744-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=-GObDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT87.  "The Coptic church, however, is not in communion with Rome due to the fifth-century Christological maelstrom of heresies that resulted from an attempt to more fully understand the identity of Christ."
  54. ↑ Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of Ecclesiastical History in the fourth century, states that st. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e., 41 or 43 AD. "Two Thousand years of Coptic Christianity" Otto F.A. Meinardus p. 28.
  55. ↑ "Circumcision". Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2011. http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/circumcision.html. 
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Bagnall, op cit.
  57. ↑ Bagnall, pp. 28–29
  58. ↑ qtd. in Alan K. Bowman, Egypt after the Pharaohs, 332 BC – AD 642, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996, p. 126: "genuine Egyptians can easily be recognized among the linen-weavers by their speech."
  59. ↑ Lennart Sundelin; Petra Sijpesteijn (2004). Papyrology and the History of Early Islamic Egypt. Brill. pp. 165. 
  60. ↑ Lennart Sundelin; Petra Sijpesteijn (2020). Varieties of Post-classical and Byzantine Greek. De Gruyter. pp. 447. 
  61. ↑ Walker, Susan, op cit., p. 24
  62. ↑ Dentition helps archaeologists to assess biological and ethnic population traits and relationships
  63. ↑ Irish JD (2006). "Who were the ancient Egyptians? Dental affinities among Neolithic through postdynastic peoples.". Am J Phys Anthropol 129 (4): 529-43
  64. ↑ Victor J. Katz (1998). A History of Mathematics: An Introduction, p. 184. Addison Wesley, ISBN:0-321-01618-1: "But what we really want to know is to what extent the Alexandrian mathematicians of the period from the first to the fifth centuries C.E. were Greek. Certainly, all of them wrote in Greek and were part of the Greek intellectual community of Alexandria. And most modern studies conclude that the Greek community coexisted [...] So should we assume that Ptolemy and Diophantus, Pappus and Hypatia were ethnically Greek, that their ancestors had come from Greece at some point in the past but had remained effectively isolated from the Egyptians? It is, of course, impossible to answer this question definitively. But research in papyri dating from the early centuries of the common era demonstrates that a significant amount of intermarriage took place between the Greek and Egyptian communities [...] And it is known that Greek marriage contracts increasingly came to resemble Egyptian ones. In addition, even from the founding of Alexandria, small numbers of Egyptians were admitted to the privileged classes in the city to fulfill numerous civic roles. Of course, it was essential in such cases for the Egyptians to become "Hellenized," to adopt Greek habits and the Greek language. Given that the Alexandrian mathematicians mentioned here were active several hundred years after the founding of the city, it would seem at least equally possible that they were ethnically Egyptian as that they remained ethnically Greek. In any case, it is unreasonable to portray them with purely European features when no physical descriptions exist."
  65. ↑ Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar (2 vols., Bulaq, 1854), by Al-Maqrizi
  66. ↑ Chronicles, by John of Nikiû
  67. ↑ Shea, Nina (June 2017). "Do Copts have a future in Egypt". Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/egypt/2017-06-20/do-copts-have-future-egypt. 
  68. ↑ H. Patrick Glenn, Legal Traditions of the World. Oxford University Press, 2007, p. 219.
  69. ↑ Goddard, Hugh (2000). A History of Christian–Muslim Relations. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 71. ISBN 1566633400. https://books.google.com/books?id=Bq2oLEvHzl8C&pg=PA71. Retrieved 20 January 2016. 
  70. ↑ Feder, Frank (2017). "The Bashmurite Revolts in the Delta and the ‘Bashmuric Dialect’". Christianity and Monasticism in Northern Egypt: Beni Suef, Giza, Cairo, and the Nile Delta. American University in Cairo Press. pp. 33–35. 
  71. ↑ Lapidus, Ira M. (1972). "The Conversion of Egypt to Islam". Israel Oriental Studies 2: 257. 
  72. ↑ Robert Ousterhout, "Rebuilding the Temple: Constantine Monomachus and the Holy Sepulchre" in The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 48, No. 1 (March, 1989), pp.66–78
  73. ↑ John Joseph Saunders (11 March 2002). A History of Medieval Islam. Routledge. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-1-134-93005-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=_d2KAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT109. 
  74. ↑ Marina Rustow (3 October 2014). Heresy and the Politics of Community: The Jews of the Fatimid Caliphate. Cornell University Press. pp. 219–. ISBN 978-0-8014-5529-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=MGWsBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT219. 
  75. ↑ Teule, Herman G. B. (2013). "Introduction: Constantinople and Granada, Christian-Muslim Interaction 1350-1516". in Thomas, David; Mallett, Alex. Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History, Volume 5 (1350-1500). Brill. p. 10. ISBN 9789004252783. https://books.google.com/books?id=dgy7SN3ZixsC&pg=PA11. 
  76. ↑ Werthmuller, Kurt J. (2010). Coptic Identity and Ayyubid Politics in Egypt, 1218-1250. American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 76. ISBN 9780805440737. 
  77. ↑ N. Swanson, Mark (2010). The Coptic Papacy in Islamic Egypt (641-1517). American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 54. ISBN 9789774160936. "By late 1012 the persecution had moved into high gear with demolitions of churches and the forced conversion of Christian ..." 
  78. ↑ ha-Mizraḥit ha-Yiśreʼelit, Ḥevrah (1988). Asian and African Studies, Volume 22. Jerusalem Academic Press. Muslim historians note the destruction of dozens of churches and the forced conversion of dozens of people to Islam under al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in Egypt ...These events also reflect the Muslim attitude toward forced conversion and toward converts.
  79. ↑ Conversion, Exemption, and Manipulation: Social Benefits and Conversion to Islam in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Forcing taxes on those who refuse to convert, https://www.medievalworlds.net/0xc1aa5576%200x00372f27.pdf, "ʿUmar is depicted as having ordered that "the poll-tax should be taken from all men who would not become Muslims"" 
  80. ↑ Suny, Ronald Grigor (2015). "They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else": A History of the Armenian Genocide. Princeton University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-4008-6558-1. 
  81. ↑ Todros, ch 3–4. [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 Nisan, Mordechai (2002). Minorities in the Middle East. McFarland. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7864-1375-1. 
  83. ↑ Mohamoud YA, Cuadros DF, Abu-Raddad LJ. Characterizing the Copts in Egypt: Demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators, QScience Connect 2013:22 doi:10.5339/connect.2013.22
  84. ↑ Catlos, Brian A. (3 October 2014). "Accursed, Superior Men: Ethno-Religious Minorities and Politics in the Medieval Mediterranean". Comparative Studies in Society and History (Cambridge University Press) 56 (4): 844–869. doi:10.1017/S0010417514000425. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/comparative-studies-in-society-and-history/article/abs/accursed-superior-men-ethnoreligious-minorities-and-politics-in-the-medieval-mediterranean/EB9A103390FE521CB065862F5918BA07. "In the mid-nineteenth century, Lane reported that many Copts were accountants, who served primarily in government bureaus. As late as 1961, Coptic Christians owned 51 percent of Egyptian banks.". 
  85. ↑ "Religion and Education Around the World". Pew Research Center. 19 December 2011. http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/12/21094148/Religion-Education-ONLINE-FINAL.pdf. 
  86. ↑ B. Rugh, Andrea (2016). Christians in Egypt: Strategies and Survival. Springer. p. 30. ISBN 9781137566133. 
  87. ↑ M. Farag, Lois (2013). The Coptic Christian Heritage: History, Faith and Culture. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 9781134666843. "The Copts, who were 7 percent of the population in the nineteenth century, still played the major role in managing Egypt's state finances. They held 20 percent of total state capital, 45 percent of government employment ..." 
  88. ↑ Pennington, J. D. (3 October 1982). "The Copts in Modern Egypt". Middle Eastern Studies (JSTOR) 18 (2): 158–179. doi:10.1080/00263208208700503. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4282879. 
  89. ↑ "Naguib Sawiris: 'If God wanted women to be veiled, he would have created them with a veil'". 11 November 2019. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/432946-naguib-sawiris-if-god-wanted-women-to-be-veiled-he-would-have-created-them-with-veil. 
  90. ↑ "Arabian Business: The Sawiris Family". http://www.arabianbusiness.com/richlist/profile/16. 
  91. ↑ "The richest men in Africa – 2009". http://www.clickafrique.com/Magazine/ST014/CP0000003388.aspx. 
  92. ↑ "#60 Naguib Sawiris - Forbes.com". https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Naguib-Sawiris_4MRK.html. 
  93. ↑ "#68 Nassef Sawiris - Forbes.com". https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Nassef-Sawiris_FWHQ.html. 
  94. ↑ "#96 Onsi Sawiris - Forbes.com". https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Onsi-Sawiris_PPZY.html. 
  95. ↑ "#396 Samih Sawiris - Forbes.com". https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Samih-Sawiris_L391.html. 
  96. ↑ Catlos, Brian A. (3 October 2014). "Accursed, Superior Men: Ethno-Religious Minorities and Politics in the Medieval Mediterranean". Comparative Studies in Society and History (Cambridge University Press) 56 (4): 844–869. doi:10.1017/S0010417514000425. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/comparative-studies-in-society-and-history/article/abs/accursed-superior-men-ethnoreligious-minorities-and-politics-in-the-medieval-mediterranean/EB9A103390FE521CB065862F5918BA07. 
  97. ↑ van der Vliet, Jacques (June 2009), "The Copts: 'Modern Sons of the Pharaohs'?", Church History & Religious Culture 89 (1–3): 279–90, doi:10.1163/187124109x407934 .
  98. ↑ Reid, Donald Malcolm (2003). "7". Whose Pharaohs?: Archaeology, Museums, and Egyptian National Identity from Napoleon to World War I. U. of California Press. pp. 258ff. ISBN 9780520240698. https://books.google.com/books?id=FeviPDy08e8C&pg=PA258. 
  99. ↑ Matson, G. Olaf (1925). The American Colony Guide-book to Jerusalem and Environs. Vester. p. 20. https://books.google.com/books?id=KMLTAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 7 September 2017. "Copts. A very small community representing the large Coptic Church in Egypt.[...] Abyssinian. Also represented by a Bishop in Jerusalem. They, like the Copts, are Monophysites" 
  100. ↑ "Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians". BBC News. 4 November 2012. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922. 
  101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 101.2 "Copts". http://www.sudanupdate.org/REPORTS/PEOPLES/COPTS.HTM. 
  102. ↑ Yerkes, Sarah (20 June 2016). "What Egypt under Sissi is really like for Coptic Christians". https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2016/06/20/what-egypt-under-sissi-is-really-like-for-coptic-christians/. "Egyptian authorities prevent surveyors from asking a participant's religion when doing research." 
  103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 IPS News . Retrieved 09-27-2008.
  104. ↑ 104.0 104.1 Chan, Kenneth. Thousands Protest Egypt's Neglect of Coptic Persecution". The Christian Post. December 7, 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  105. ↑ "The Copts and Their Political Implications in Egypt". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. October 25, 2005. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2386. 
  106. ↑ "Egyptian Coptic protesters freed". BBC. 22 December 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4117831.stm. 
  107. ↑ "Research in population and demography of France estimates the coptic population to be". Institut National Etudes Démographiques. http://www.asharqalawsat.com/leader.asp?section=3&article=157751&issueno=8872. 
  108. ↑ "Estimates of the size of Egypt's Christian population vary from the low government figures of 6 to 7 million to the 12 million reported by some Christian leaders. The actual numbers may be in the 9 to 9.5 million range, out of an Egyptian population of more than 60 million". The Washington Post. http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1097/9710087.html. 
  109. ↑ "Egypt from "msn encarta"". Egypt from "msn encarta". Encarta. September 30, 2008. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557408_3/Egypt.html. 
  110. ↑ "The Rise of the UAE and the Meaning of MbZ". https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/rise-uae-and-meaning-mbz. 
  111. ↑ "Reports on Religious Freedom: Libya". Jewish Virtual Library. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/libya-religious-freedom-report-2004. 
  112. ↑ "Why CCU?". Coptic Credit Union. http://www.copticcu.com/WhyCCU.html. 
  113. ↑ Column, Guest. "Protest Egyptian government allowing criminal attacks on Coptic Christians". https://canadafreepress.com/article/protest-egyptian-government-allowing-criminal-attacks-on-coptic-christians. 
  114. ↑ "Diocese of Australia". http://www.coptic.org.au/. 
  115. ↑ "Kuwait". U.S. Department of State. https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51603.htm. 
  116. ↑ Copts number at least 20,000 in Britain middle school ireland marriages family at middlekilleavy.com plus another 5,000 – 10,000 Copts who are directly under the British Orthodox Church (1999 figures)
  117. ↑ "King commends Coptic Church's role in promoting coexistence". http://www.jordanembassyus.org/06032005001.htm. 
  118. ↑ Burnand, Frédéric. "Orthodox Copts open church in Switzerland" (in en). SWI swissinfo.ch. http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5090250. 
  119. ↑ WorldWide Religious News. Church Building Regulations Eased . December 13, 2005.
  120. ↑ "Egypt: Church Building Regulations Eased". Compass Direct News. 13 December 2005. http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=4132. 
  121. ↑ "Egyptian court orders clashes retrial". BBC News. July 30, 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1465023.stm. 
  122. ↑ "Copts Under Fire". The Free Lance–Star. November 23, 2002. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9C0zAAAAIBAJ&pg=6308,5873985&dq=international-christian-concern&hl=en. 
  123. ↑ Miles, Hugh (April 15, 2006). "Coptic Christians attacked in churches". London: The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/1515829/Coptic-Christians-attacked-in-churches.html. 
  124. ↑ BBC. Egypt church attacks spark anger, April 15, 2006.
  125. ↑ 125.0 125.1 125.2 Zaki, Moheb (May 18, 2010). "Egypt's Persecuted Christians". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703745904575248301172607696. 
  126. ↑ "United States Commission on Int'l Religious Freedom". http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/resources/ar2010/egypt2010.pdf. 
  127. ↑ 127.0 127.1 127.2 Abrams, Joseph (April 21, 2010). "House Members Press White House to Confront Egypt on Forced Marriages". foxnews.com. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/house-members-press-white-house-confront-egypt-forced-marriages/. 
  128. ↑ Vinton, Kate. "African Billionaire Fortunes Decline On New FORBES List Of The Continent's Richest". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/01/09/african-billionaire-fortunes-decline-on-new-forbes-list-of-the-continents-richest/#6dc10049363d. 
  129. ↑ The World's Billionaires: #396 Samih Sawiris. Forbes. March 5, 2008.
  130. ↑ "Africa's Billionaires" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/africa-billionaires/list/. 
  131. ↑ ArabicNews.com. Copts welcome Presidential announcement on Eastern Christmas Holiday . December 20, 2002.
  132. ↑ Freedom House. Egypt's Endangered Christians.
  133. ↑ Human Rights Watch. Egypt: Overview of human rights issues in Egypt . 2005
  134. ↑ Human Rights Watch. World report 2007: Egypt .
  135. ↑ "Egypt: National Unity and the Coptic issue. (Arab Strategic Report 2004–2005)". http://www.ahram.org.eg/acpss/eng/ahram/2004/7/5/ARAB43.HTM. 
  136. ↑ Egypt: Egypt Arrests 22 Muslim converts to Christianity. November 03, 2003
  137. ↑ Shahine, Gihan. "Fraud, not Freedom". Ahram Weekly, 3 – May 9, 2007
  138. ↑ Audi, Nadim (February 11, 2008). "Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/world/africa/11egypt.html?ex=1360386000&en=03faf391c4592600&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. 
  139. ↑ Associated Press. Egypt court upholds right of converted Muslims to return to Christianity . 2008-02-09.
  140. ↑ AFP. Egypt allows converts to revert to Christianity on ID . February, 2008.
  141. ↑ Chulov, Martin (Aug 15, 2013). "Egypt's Coptic Christians report fresh attacks on churches: Christian leaders blame Muslim Brotherhood supporters for arson and other attacks, including shooting death of teenage girl". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/15/egypt-coptic-christians-attacks-churches. 
  142. ↑ Khairat, Mohamed (Aug 16, 2013). "Coptic churches burn amid violence in Egypt: Coptic Christians call for greater protection as wave of violence sweeps across Egypt". Egyptian Streets. http://egyptianstreets.com/2013/08/16/coptic-churches-burn-amid-violence-in-egypt/. 
  143. ↑ Gilbert, Lela (25 May 2015). "Egypt's Coptic Christians – Braced for Persecution". https://www.hudson.org/research/11318-egypt-s-coptic-christians-braced-for-persecution. 
  144. ↑ Egyptian Streets (16 August 2013). "Coptic churches burn amid violence in Egypt". Egyptian Streets. http://egyptianstreets.com/2013/08/16/coptic-churches-burn-amid-violence-in-egypt/. 
  145. ↑ "Joint Press Release: Non-peaceful assembly does not justify collective punishment – Rights groups condemn lethal violence against those in sit-in and terrorist acts of the Muslim Brotherhood". 15 August 2013. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. http://eipr.org/en/pressrelease/2013/08/15/1782. 
  146. ↑ "Christian minority under pressure in Egypt". BBC News. December 17, 2010. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12014779. 
  147. ↑ "Egypt: ex-kidnapper admits 'they get paid for every Coptic Christian girl they bring in'". World Watch Monitor. 2017-09-14. https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2017/09/egypt-ex-kidnapper-admits-get-paid-every-copt-christian-girl-bring/. 
  148. ↑ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Egypt: Situation of Coptic Christians, including treatment; state protection available (2014-May 2015)". https://www.refworld.org/docid/557e7e814.html. 
  149. ↑ "The Coptic Studies' Corner". http://www.stshenouda.com/coptlang/copthist.htm#Definition. 
  150. ↑ Allen, James P. (2010). Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-1-139-48635-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=lF78Max-h8MC&pg=PA2. Retrieved 19 May 2014. 
  151. ↑ "The Coptic Calendar of Martyrs". http://www.copticchurch.net/easter.html. 
  152. ↑ Declercq, Georges (2000). Anno Domini: The Origins of the Christian Era. Isd. p. 80. ISBN 978-2-503-51050-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=H8AZAAAAYAAJ. 
  153. ↑ "Coptic Orthodox Calendar / Easter Calculation". http://copticchurch.net/easter.html. 
  154. ↑ 154.0 154.1 Hassan, Hisham Y. (2008). "Y-chromosome variation among Sudanese: Restricted gene flow, concordance with language, geography, and history". American Journal of Physical Anthropology 137 (3): 316–323. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20876. PMID 18618658. https://www.academia.edu/download/45024883/Y-chromosome_variation_among_Sudanese_re20160423-13798-werau.pdf. Retrieved 14 October 2016. [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  155. ↑ Trombetta, Beniamino (2015). "Phylogeographic refinement and large scale genotyping of human Y chromosome haplogroup E provide new insights into the dispersal of early pastoralists in the African continent". Genome Biology and Evolution 7 (7): 1940–1950. doi:10.1093/gbe/evv118. PMID 26108492. 
  156. ↑ Mohamed, Hisham Yousif Hassan. "Genetic Patterns of Y-chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA Variation, with Implications to the Peopling of the Sudan". University of Khartoum. http://khartoumspace.uofk.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/6376/Genetic%20Patterns%20of%20Y-chromosome%20and%20Mitochondrial.pdf?sequence=1. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  157. ↑ Begoña Dobon (28 May 2015). "The genetics of East African populations: a Nilo-Saharan component in the African genetic landscape". Scientific Reports 5: 8. doi:10.1038/srep09996. PMID 26017457. Bibcode: 2015NatSR...5E9996D. "The North African/Middle Eastern genetic component is identified especially in Copts. The Coptic population present in Sudan is an example of a recent migration from Egypt over the past two centuries. They are close to Egyptians in the PCA, but remain a differentiated cluster, showing their own component at k = 4 (Fig. 3). The Coptic component at k = 4 peaks highest among Copts and makes up most of their distribution while it is not predominant among Egyptians. K = 2 to K = 5 (Fig. 3) shows Egyptians distribution resemble Qatar more than Copts. Copts lack the influence found in Egyptians from Qatar, an Arabic population. It may suggest that Copts have a genetic composition that could resemble the ancestral Egyptian population, without the present strong Arab influence". 
  158. ↑ Hollfelder, Nina; Schlebusch, Carina M.; Günther, Torsten; Babiker, Hiba; Hassan, Hisham Y.; Jakobsson, Mattias (2017-08-24). "Northeast African genomic variation shaped by the continuity of indigenous groups and Eurasian migrations" (in en). PLOS Genetics 13 (8): e1006976. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006976. ISSN 1553-7404. PMID 28837655.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  159. ↑ Taha, Tarek; Elzalabany, Sagy; Fawzi, Sahar; Hisham, Ahmed; Amer, Khaled; Shaker, Olfat (August 2020). "Allele frequency comparative study between the two main Egyptian ethnic groups". Forensic Science International 313: 110348. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110348. ISSN 1872-6283. PMID 32521421. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32521421/. 

Further reading

External links



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Religion:Copts&oldid=3412051"