St. George Coptic Orthodox Church

the word copt is derived from the greek word aigyptos, which was, in turn, derived from “hikaptah“, one of the names for memphis, the first capital of ancient egypt. the modern use of the term “coptic” describes egyptian christians, as well as the last stage of the ancient egyptian language script. also, it describes the distinctive art and architecture that developed as an early expression of the new faith. the coptic church is based on the teachings of saint mark who brought christianity to egypt during the reign of the roman emperor nero in the first century, a dozen of years after the lord’s ascension. he was one of the four evangelists and the one who wrote the oldest canonical gospel. christianity spread throughout egypt within half a century of saint mark’s arrival in alexandria as is clear from the new testament writings found in bahnasa, in middle egypt, which date around the year 200 a.d., and a fragment of the gospel of saint john, written using the coptic language, which wa