The Early Coptic Papacy : The Egyptian Church and Its Leadership in Late Antiquity: The Popes of Egypt, Volume 1

The Copts, adherents of the Egyptian Orthodox Church, today represent the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and their presiding bishops have been accorded the title of pope since the third century A.D. This major new three-volume study of the popes of Egypt covers the history of the Alexandrian patriarchate from its origins to the present-day leadership of Pope Shenouda III. The first volume analyzes the development of the Egyptian papacy from its origins to the rise of Islam. How did the papal office in Egypt evolve as a social and religious institution during the first six and a half centuries A.D.? How do the developments in the Alexandrian patriarchate reflect larger developments in the Egyptian church as a whole - in its structures of authority and lines of communication, as well as in its social and religious practices? In addressing such questions, Stephen J. Davis examines a wide range of evidence - letters, sermons, theological treatises, and church histories, as well as art, artifacts, and archaeological remains - to discover what the patriarchs did as leaders, how their leadership was represented in public discourses, and how those representations definitively shaped the Egyptian Christian identity in late antiquity. The Early Coptic Papacy is volume one of The Popes of Egypt: A History of the Coptic Church and Its Patriarchs, edited by Stephen J. Davis and Gawdat Gabra. The Copts, Adherents Of The Egyptian Orthodox Church, Today Represent The Largest Christian Community In The Middle East, And Their Presiding Bishops Have Been Accorded The Title Of Pope Since The Third Century A.d. This Major New Three-volume Study Of The Popes Of Egypt Covers The History Of The Alexandrian Patriarchate From Its Origins To The Present-day Leadership Of Pope Shenouda Iii. The First Volume Analyzes The Development Of The Egyptian Papacy From Its Origins To The Rise Of Islam. How Did The Papal Office In Egypt Evolve As A Social And Religious Institution During The First Six And A Half Centuries A.d.? How Do The Developments In The Alexandrian Patriarchate Reflect Larger Developments In The Egyptian Church As A Whole - In Its Structures Of Authority And Lines Of Communication, As Well As In Its Social And Religious Practices? In Addressing Such Questions, Stephen J. Davis Examines A Wide Range Of Evidence - Letters, Sermons, Theological Treatises, And Church Histories, As Well As Art, Artifacts, And Archaeological Remains - To Discover What The Patriarchs Did As Leaders, How Their Leadership Was Represented In Public Discourses, And How Those Representations Definitively Shaped The Egyptian Christian Identity In Late Antiquity. The Succession Of St. Mark : Apostolic Traditions And The Origins Of The Egyptian Church (saint Mark To Demetrius) -- Bishops, Teachers, And Martyrs : The Shaping Of Episcopal Authority In An Age Of Persecution (demetrius To Peter I) -- Theological Controversy And The Cultivation Of Monastic Support : The Alexandrian Patriarchate From 312 To 451 (achillas To Dioscorus I) -- Contesting The Alexandrian Papacy : Ecclesiastical Colonialism And The Egyptian Church From 451 To The Rise Of Islam (dioscorus I To Benjamin I). Stephen J. Davis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 141-180) And Index. The Copts, adherents of the Egyptian Orthodox Church, today represent the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and their presiding bishops have been accorded the title of pope since the third century AD. This study analyzes the development of the Egyptian papacy from its origins to the rise of Islam. How did the papal office in Egypt evolve as a social and religious institution during the first six and a half centuries AD? How do the developments in the Alexandrian patriarchate reflect larger developments in the Egyptian church as a whole—in its structures of authority and lines of communication, as well as in its social and religious practices? In addressing such questions, Stephen J. Davis examines a wide range of evidence—letters, sermons, theological treatises, and church histories, as well as art, artifacts, and archaeological remains—to discover what the patriarchs did as leaders, how their leadership was represented in public discourses, and how those representations definitively shaped Egyptian Christian identity in late antiquity.The Early Coptic Papacy is Volume 1 of The Popes of Egypt: A History of the Coptic Church and Its Patriarchs. Also available: Volume 2, The Coptic Papacy in Islamic Egypt, 641–1517 (Mark N. Swanson) and Volume 3, The Emergence of the Modern Coptic Papacy (Magdi Girgis, Nelly van Doorn-Harder). The Copts, adherents of the Egyptian Orthodox Church, today represent the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and their presiding bishops have been accorded the title of pope since the third century AD. This study analyzes the development of the Egyptian papacy from its origins to the rise of Islam. How did the papal office in Egypt evolve as a social and religious institution during the first six and a half centuries AD? How do the developments in the Alexandrian patriarchate reflect larger developments in the Egyptian church as a whole-in its structures of authority and lines of communication, as well as in its social and religious practices? In addressing such questions, Stephen J. Davis examines a wide range of evidence-letters, sermons, theological treatises, and church histories, as well as art, artifacts, and archaeological remains-to discover what the patriarchs did as leaders, how their leadership was represented in public discourses, and how those representations definitively shaped Egyptian Christian identity in late antiquity. The Early Coptic Papacy is Volume 1 of The Popes of A History of the Coptic Church and Its Patriarchs. Also Volume 2, The Coptic Papacy in Islamic Egypt, 641-1517 (Mark N. Swanson) and Volume 3, The Emergence of the Modern Coptic Papacy (Magdi Girgis, Nelly van Doorn-Harder). I. The Succession of St. Mark: Apostolic Traditions and the Origins of the Egyptian Church (Saint Mark to Demetrius) 1 I.a. Traditions about Saint Mark and the Founding of the Church in Egypt I.b. The Earliest Successors of Saint Mark: Apostolic Lineage and Orthodox Self-Definition II. Bishops, Teachers, and Martyrs: The Shaping of Episcopal Authority in an Age of Persecution (Demetrius to Peter I) II.a. The Bishop of Alexandria and the Alexandrian Catechetical School II.b. The "Church of the Martyrs": Episcopal Leadership in an Age of Persecution III. Theological Controversy and the Cultivation of Monastic Support: The Alexandrian Patriarchate from 312 to 451 (Achillas to Dioscorus I) III.a. Alexander, Athanasius, and the Arian Controversy in Egypt III.b. Theophilus' Anti-Pagan Campaign and the Battle over Origen's Legacy III.c. Cyril, Dioscorus, and the Controversy over Christ IV. Contesting the Alexandrian Papacy: Ecclesiastical "Colonialism" and the Egyptian Church from 451 to the Rise of Islam (Dioscorus I to Benjamin I) IV.a. The Politics of Resistance and Compromise: Early Conflicts with the "Imperial" (Chalcedonian) Church IV.b. A Period of Internal and Inter-Regional Schism IV.c. New Colonial Rivals and the End of Byzantine Rule in Egypt Epilogue. The Making of the Coptic Papacy The Copts, adherents of the Egyptian Orthodox Church, today represent the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and their presiding bishops have been accorded the title of pope since the third century AD. This study analyzes the development of the Egyptian papacy from its origins to the rise of Islam. How did the papal office in Egypt evolve as a social and religious institution during the first six and a half centuries AD? How do the developments in the Alexandrian patriarchate reflect larger developments in the Egyptian church as a whole--in its structures of authority and lines of communication, as well as in its social and religious practices? In addressing such questions, Stephen J. Davis examines a wide range of evidence--letters, sermons, theological treatises, and church histories, as well as art, artifacts, and archaeological remains--to discover what the patriarchs did as leaders, how their leadership was represented in public discourses, and how those representations definitively shaped Egyptian Christian identity in late antiquity. -- Provided by publisher On an early seventh-century ivory relief from Alexandria, now preserved in the Musee du Louvre in Paris (Fig. 1), the figure of Saint Mark the Evangelist appears in the foreground, seated on a throne and surrounded by a group of bishops who are gathered together beneath the gate of a city. scan0001 1 scan0002 19 scan0003 44 scan0004 69 scan0005 75 scan0006 77 scan0007 98 scan0008 119 scan0009 140 scan0010 159 scan0011 178 scan0012 197 scan0013 216 scan0014 236 scan0015 257