Among the Copts

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Summary: Christian sons of the Pharaohs, revisited
Review: Among whom?
Why should you bother, or anyone, to read about an endangered ancient species?
The Coptic Church of Egypt has to be taken seriously by Western Christians, thus writes G. Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury in his preview of this authoritative book.
Among the Copts (J.Watson, 2000) completes a timely trilogy with 'The lonely minority' (E.Wakin, 1963), and; 'Modern sons of the Pharaohs' (S.Leeder, 1918)

'Blessed be Egypt, my people':
Dr. Watson takes you in a wonder tour of 'virtual' Coptic Egypt spanning 1950 years in just sixty pages to explain to the amazed reader the prophecy of Isaia 19:24.
in chapter 3: 'In the state of angels', you could be carried far and away with the Holy family in their flight to Egypt to meet Abba Justus of St. Antony, an ascetic healer and clairvoyant. On the tour you meet with many colorful Christians mystics and scholars: Thomas Merton as well as Pieternella Van Doorn of U. S. Carolina.
'In liturgical times' you will find out how the temporal expresses the eternal, the coptic genius: the expression of the inexpressable.

Abba Kyrillos: father of the Fathers
An ecclesiastical history of the most ancient tradition of popes Athanasius and Cyril, the defenders of faith and doctors of the catholic Church could not be as breathtaking as the ministry of Saint Cyril VI, the praying patriarch (1959-71), wonderworker, clairvoyant and exorcist. Read about the venerated anchorite!

Thinking with the Coptic Church
Dr. Watson masterpiece is chapter 8, his critical examination, theological analysis, talented analogies and inspiring comments. He contrasts the great Alexandrine tradition with the present failure to answer the daily problems in the present language and culture.He eccoes the dissapointment of the Coptic scholars as well as the lay theologians which are "an envy of many chuches"

Conclusion:Era of the Martyrs
The Coptic liturgical year, starts with the feast of Niruz, a commemorations of the great many and ever living Martyrs,Coptic and Universal. Due to differences of their ancient calender adopted by Julius Caeser,from the gregorian, it is celebrated on september 11, the day of American martyrs. For the the last three decades they have been repeatedly killed by the same terrorist of 9/11

Rating:
Summary: A Review for the Modern Histroy of Christian Egyptians
Review: This is a well written, informative, and easy to read book for readers, who may or may not be familiar with the Christians of Egypt, the Copts. Egypt is home for the largest indigenous Christian population in the Middle East that by some estimates is about 15-20% of the total population. The book provides a good and critical review for the history and status of the Copts. Saint Mark the Evangelist baptized the Egyptian Church with his martyrdom in the first century AD. Historical tradition recognizes Saint Mark as the first Patriarch of the Coptic Church.
The book starts by the definition of who is a Copt, however it excludes the Roman Catholic and Protestant Copts from its defintion, and concentrates primarily on the followers of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This is unfortunate, as regardless of the denomination, the Copts collectively face similar challenges. The author may have elected to focus on the Orthodox Copts, as the most ancient Christian group or the one with largest population. However, the author provides a brief review for some of the Protestant and Catholic influences on the modern Coptic Orthodox Church, such as the introduction of Sunday schools and the modest interactions of the Orthodox Coptic Church with the Catholic and Anglican Churches, and other international Christian Churches and communities.
The book provides brief historical reviews, where the author felt the need to introduce historical background, however it primarily focuses on reviewing of the contemporary history of the Copts in the latter part of the 20th century. It also reviews the influence of Islam, specially the resurgence of militant Islam on the Copts. In addressing the issue of the size of the population of the Copts in Egypt, the book provides a rather short review for a major issue affecting contemporary Copts. The book indicates that given conflicting figures of the census data, and the vagaries of politics and hazards of census taking, it is better not to know exactly how many Copts there are. The population of the Christian population affects its social standing, political prospects and influence. Militant Islamic groups have tended to discount the number of the Christians in Egypt, as it suits their political agenda. Sympathizers with militant Islam within the ranks of the government of Egypt have kept the data of the census of the Copt as if it were a state secret. The Copts have long contended that their number was deliberately discounted.
The book provides a good review for historical events occurring during the eras of Cyril VI 1959-1971 and Shenouda III 1971- present, the Patriarchs of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It reviews the revival of the contemporary Coptic Orthodox Church, immigration of the Copts to western countries, evangelical missions in Africa, resurgence of violence by militant Islamic groups against the Copts in Sadat's time through the present, banishment of Pope Shenouda III 1981-1985, and the life of Father Mark of Scetis, a convert from Uganda whose support for Pope Shenouda may have led to his murder in the US. The book criticizes, and rightfully so, the Mercedes Princes of the Coptic Church. This phenomenon reflects upon some of the monks and or bishops who joined the Church's ranks to profit rather than serve the poor.
In its concluding chapter, Era of the Martyrs, the book provides a brief background of contemporary militant Islam and terrorism, and the resurgence of their violence against the Copts, non-Muslims in general, moderate Muslims, and intellectuals in Egypt. The book lists many of the violent episodes of violence against the Copts. It recounts the murder of Raafat Khalil at the age of 32, a Coptic priest who was shot in November 1988 by the Egyptian militant Islamic groups at the doorsteps of church, leaving a young widow and a one-year old baby. The book also notes that the government of Egypt policy and actions seem to have failed its Coptic citizens.
The book is a good and critical review for the cotemporary history and status of the Copts in the late 20th century. It reviews how an ancient Christian community is facing a rising tide of intolerance and violence by Islamic militancy and terrorism, and its attempts to cope with the daily pressures of discrimination and persecution.