The entrance to the hanging church (Coptic Orthodox) in Old Cairo
Copyright: Mary Hayoung Kim
Of the fascinating things about Egypt is the long tradition of coexistence between Muslims and Christians in a predominantly Muslim country. These Christian residents are also known as the ‘Coptic’ church, the word which literally means ‘Egyptian’. The Coptic Orthdox church was around since A.D. 451, many years before Islam entered the country in A.D. 639. With a 10% constituent of the nation’s population, no small figure, their roots are planted deep in the country. Visit the famous hanging church in Old Cairo and other old Coptic Orthodox churches in the area, and you get a glimpse of how important religious tradition and symbolism mean for them. They have meticulously incorporated their interpretation of the Scriptures into the most minute design in their beautiful churches. Each pillar, each wood carving, each pattern carries meaning and significance that may be overlooked by the ignorant public eye, yet are constant reminders of God’s word and promises for the Coptic Orthodox congregation who gather to worship in the old and new churches alike. Although the old Orthodox churches and newer ones have their differences, it is subtle rather than stark – the interior and exterior designs, from the paintings and portraits on the walls and ceilings, to the segregation of the room based on gender distinctions appear the same, except for perhaps a slightly newer feel in more modern churches. For an outsider like myself, even the mystic scent and the aura of the old and new Coptic Orthodox churches felt similar.
Inside the hanging church. An ostrich egg hangs from the ceiling as an indicator of God’s watchful eyes over His people.
Copright: Mary Hayoung Kim
Today the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated its new year’s eve. Their calendar is different from the conventional
one, with different names and an extra month, and the month of the new year (September) especially commemorates martyrs. It was clear that the preparations for the evening’s program must have taken a long time and a lot of hard work. A variety of skits and songs spoke of the story of martyrs in Egypt, Coptic traditions and Coptic words in the Arabic language (i.e. فلافل، ترابيزة، ياض، قربان). It speaks of the price of faith and the deep rich history of the church.
A New Year’s decoration outside a Coptic Orthdox church. The Coptic new year is ‘1729.’
Copright: Mary Hayoung Kim
a skit using puppets in the Coptic Orthodox church on the eve of the Coptic Orthodox new year
Copright: Mary Hayoung Kim
A picture of a saint/martyr in the hanging church in old Cairo. The glass display contains the bones of the martyr.
Copright: Mary Hayoung Kim
Remembering martyrs is one of the most important traditions in the Coptic Orthodox church. Pictures of martyrs surround Coptic Orthodox churches and in the old churches, the bones of martyrs which are put in boxes and displayed in glass cases can be found encircling the interior of the church – in newer churches they are put in a separate room but taken out on occasions like the New Years celebration to be carried around the church. The symbolism behind this can be found in the Bible verse, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Their portraits are an symbolic image of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’, an encouragement to the congregation to keep going in their walk of faith and that they are not alone in their fight of perseverance.
The act of remembering is a message of gratefulness but it is also a message to unite even further in faith. It is similar to the Shi’a Muslims’ traditions of their remembrance of martyrdom and spilled blood – this includes the mourning of Muharram (the martyrdom of Imam Hussein Ali), day of A’ashoora, and so on. For Shi’as who constitute a minority in most Sunnni majority Middle Eastern countries, it’s a reminder of the price paid to keep the faith. That the price of faith does not always come cheap.
Along the same lines, perhaps that is why this day is also important for Coptic Orthodox Christians. The fact is, they don’t always have it easy.
Incumbent president Mursi, since having taken office on June 30, 2012, has a past affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a name itself that suggests religous partisanry that excludes anything other than ‘Muslim’ in the ‘brotherhood.’ Mursi promised equal representation of society as he began his term and case in point, he appointed Pakinam El-Sharqawi, a female and a Coptic Christian, to his presidential team as the presidential assistant for political affairs. Regardless, observers are still wary.
For instance, on September 2, 2012, the nation saw a female anchor wearing a hijab on state television for the
first time after the ban on hijabs for female anchors reporting televised news was lifted by Mursi. Egypt’s
upper house of parliament also reappointed editors for the state-run media, a majority of whom are spoken of as
‘Islamists.’ Such recent changes that are perceived as strengthening Islamic traditions or codes in society cannot but worry the minority Coptic Christians in the country.
This may begin to sound very similar to the turn of events in Turkey and debates surrounding president Erdogan’s AKP party and its perceived tendencies to lean towards an Islamic color in society that has been keeping secularists on their toes. This may also turn out to be the rhetoric of Syria, depending on who will retain power in the coming days and months. The common question in all 3 countries then, may be ‘can the country have a genuinely united society?’ The importance of asking this question suggests that such unity has a correlation to the
upholding of human rights and social prosperity and peace.
Will Egypt be able to answer “aywa”?
My dear friend Magy, who has been looking out for me the past 5 days, reminded me why this day carries
significance for her and fellow Coptic Orthodox Christians. “Do you know why today is important? We are celebrating Christianity in Egypt.”
The land where the apostle Mark first brought the gospel after Jesus gave his apostles the great commission
of preaching the gospel “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) before ascending into heaven. The place where Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus fled when an angel of the Lord appeared to them to warn them in advance of king Herod’s persecution of newborn Jewish babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-18). The territory where God’s chosen people in the Old Testament were held captive and then freed from the pharoah’s hand but where they spent 40 years in the desert before entering the promised land.
And it is also a land where the ‘adhan‘(pronounced ‘azan’) from the mosque spills out onto streets, alleys, and underground metro stations 5 times throughout the day, inviting people to prayer. A land where beautiful minarets dot the city skyline and Islamic traditions perveate society.
Nonetheless, keeping the signifiance of today in mind, I hope that Egypt can celebrate and be proud of its rich religious history. I hope that it can speak of a one-of-a-kind beautiful harmony between Christianity and Islam in its land, especially under its first president after the 2011 Egyptian revolution that toppled the 30-year presidency of Mubarak – regardless of, or even despite, his previous party affiliation.
Mary Hayoung Kim
Egypt’s Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as “human shields” – Ahram Online
- Muslims stood as human shields outside Coptic churches after Islamic fundamentalists attacked a Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria on December 31st, 2010.
February 2, 2011 – Coptic Christians make a protective circle around Muslims while they prayed during the height of the Egyptian Revolution.
February 6th, 2011 – Muslims and Christians chant “one hand” meaning “we are one” in Tahrir Square during the anti Mubarak demonstrations, Koran and cross side by side.
Source: The New York Daily News
my blush unseen 
