The European Academy for Coptic Heritage - TEACH

The life to come and the coming of the Lord ‘ερχομενος ο κυριος’

Suzy Botrous — 2024-05-06

Many people doubt the concepts of the end of time, the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Lord Jesus. The Holy Bible provides answers to these questions and the church treats such worry in her order of worship with specific biblical quotations and hymns lyrics. Moreover, the universal church, irrespective of individual denominations, practices the ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’ as the hymn of the first coming of Lord Jesus and ‘Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of your honour and glory’ as the hymn of the second coming of the Lord. This article searches such issue and provides more details on the Coptic liturgical practices in supporting and strengthening the above beliefs.

Jesus in the Jordan

Michael Henein — 2024-05-01

Icons comprise a traditional Christian practice, through which the church displays her belief in a precise way in order to help the believers and non-believers to grasp various difficult theological concepts. Based on this understanding, church artists, over the centuries, put serious efforts to comply with the biblical details that constitute the foundation of the Christian faith. Consequently, the church embraced the art of iconography into her liturgical worships, by making the consecrated icon part of various celebrations, raising the incense in front of icons, bowing in reverence before them and also kissing them. An example of Christian icons is that of the crucifixion and resurrection of Lord Jesus. Icons should be distinguished from pictures drawn by artists based on free imagination, again in an attempt to depict a Christian event, example of those are the story of the prodigal son and feeding the five thousands. Despite being a relatively free form of art, pictures and portraits should adhere, as much as possible, to the well-established historic and religious facts in order to avoid confusing viewers from simple believers who may erroneously acknowledge them as factual. This article discusses the icon of the baptism of Lord Jesus as an example.

The secret of the cross in Christian Orthodox theology and its divine revelation

Yousif El Banna — 2024-05-01

This study delves into the profound symbolism of the cross in Christianity, exploring the multifaceted significance that underlies the veneration of this emblem. The cross represents a paradox – a symbol of suffering and defeat on one side, and triumph and salvation on the other, uniting believers across denominations as the universal identifier of their faith. In fact, it stands as one of the most potent symbols in the world.

Drawing from divine revelations found in the Holy Bible, this paper reveals the deep-rooted connection between the symbolism of the cross and the act of redemption and salvation epitomised by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By examining the imagery present in Ezekiel’s vision of the divine throne, where four significant symbols – the man, the lion, the ox and the eagle – are introduced, we find a parallel in the Book of Revelation by John the Apostle.

This paper then explores the correlation between these four symbols and the portrayal of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels, each emphasising a distinct facet of His divine nature: His humanity, His role as the perfect Sacrifice, His sovereignty as the Messianic Saviour and His elevation of humanity through the act of salvation. It becomes evident that these symbols point to the centrality of the cross as the earthly throne of Christ, linking His sacrificial act to the ultimate purpose of Christian salvation. This research deepens our understanding of the cross’s theological significance and its profound role in the Christian faith.

The divine essence of ‘Good’ – a comprehensive exploration of ‘aga;oc’ in Coptic Orthodox theology and worship

Suzy Botrous — 2024-05-01

The term ‘Good’ or ‘’ is a frequently used term in the Coptic Orthodox Church worship rites, by both priests and the congregation. Notably, every liturgical service within this tradition describes the goodness of God the Father. This highlights the importance of understanding the real meaning and relevance of such term. The Lord Jesus Himself affirmed this attribute when addressing the ruler and said, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God’. This depiction of God as inherently good finds its foundation in both the Old and New Testaments. Nevertheless, a comprehensive critical examination of the term ‘’ in other languages, such as English and French and so forth, fails to entirely capture its profound significance. This limitation arises from the fact that this attribute pertains to the uncreated, boundless nature of God, which surpasses human comprehension. Consequently, language constraints become apparent. Similar challenges are encountered when trying to describe other distinctive qualities of God, such as love and compassion. Despite these linguistic challenges, God out of His love for humanity bestows some of His distinctive attributes upon us through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, albeit to a limited extent. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of the term ‘’ and its theological implications, shedding light on the intricacies of describing the divine qualities inherent to God.