a name given to the Christians of Egypt who do not belong to the
Greek church, but are Monophysites, and in most respects Jacobites.
Scaliger and Father Simon derive the name from Coptos, once a celebrated
town of Egypt, and the metropolis of the Thebaid; but Volney and others
are of opinion, that the name _Copts_ is only an abbreviation of the
Greek word _Aigouptios_, “an Egyptian.” The Copts have a patriarch,
whose jurisdiction extends over both Egypts, Nubia, and Abyssinia; who
resides at Cairo, but who takes his title from Alexandria. He has under
him eleven or twelve bishops, beside the abuna, or bishop of the
Abyssinians, whom he appoints and consecrates. The rest of the clergy,
whether secular or regular, are composed of the orders of St. Anthony,
St. Paul, and St. Macarius, who have each their monasteries. Their
arch-priests, who are next in degree to bishops, and their deacons, are
said to be numerous; and they often confer the order of deacon even on
children. Next to the patriarch is the bishop, or titular patriarch, of
Jerusalem, who also resides at Cairo, because there are only few Copts
at Jerusalem. He is, in reality, little more than bishop of Cairo;
except that he goes to Jerusalem every Easter, and visits some other
places in Palestine, which own his jurisdiction. To him belongs the
government of the Coptic church, during the vacancy of the patriarchal
see. The ecclesiastics are said to be, in general, of the lowest ranks
of the people; and hence that great degree of ignorance which prevails
among them. They have seven sacraments; baptism, the eucharist,
confirmation, ordination, faith, fasting, and prayer. They admit only
three œcumenical councils; those of Nice, Constantinople, and
Ephesus. There are three Coptic liturgies; one attributed to St. Basil,
another to St. Gregory, and the third to St. Cyril. At present, however,
little more than the mere shadow of Christianity can be seen in Egypt;
and, in point of numbers, not more than fifty thousand Christians in all
can be found in this country. There are not more than three Christian
churches at Cairo.
Greek church, but are Monophysites, and in most respects Jacobites.
Scaliger and Father Simon derive the name from Coptos, once a celebrated
town of Egypt, and the metropolis of the Thebaid; but Volney and others
are of opinion, that the name _Copts_ is only an abbreviation of the
Greek word _Aigouptios_, “an Egyptian.” The Copts have a patriarch,
whose jurisdiction extends over both Egypts, Nubia, and Abyssinia; who
resides at Cairo, but who takes his title from Alexandria. He has under
him eleven or twelve bishops, beside the abuna, or bishop of the
Abyssinians, whom he appoints and consecrates. The rest of the clergy,
whether secular or regular, are composed of the orders of St. Anthony,
St. Paul, and St. Macarius, who have each their monasteries. Their
arch-priests, who are next in degree to bishops, and their deacons, are
said to be numerous; and they often confer the order of deacon even on
children. Next to the patriarch is the bishop, or titular patriarch, of
Jerusalem, who also resides at Cairo, because there are only few Copts
at Jerusalem. He is, in reality, little more than bishop of Cairo;
except that he goes to Jerusalem every Easter, and visits some other
places in Palestine, which own his jurisdiction. To him belongs the
government of the Coptic church, during the vacancy of the patriarchal
see. The ecclesiastics are said to be, in general, of the lowest ranks
of the people; and hence that great degree of ignorance which prevails
among them. They have seven sacraments; baptism, the eucharist,
confirmation, ordination, faith, fasting, and prayer. They admit only
three œcumenical councils; those of Nice, Constantinople, and
Ephesus. There are three Coptic liturgies; one attributed to St. Basil,
another to St. Gregory, and the third to St. Cyril. At present, however,
little more than the mere shadow of Christianity can be seen in Egypt;
and, in point of numbers, not more than fifty thousand Christians in all
can be found in this country. There are not more than three Christian
churches at Cairo.