«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «POLITOLOGIYA. RELIGIOVEDENIE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «POLITICAL SCIENCE AND RELIGION STUDIES»
ISSN 2073-3380 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2018. Vol. 23

Identity of the Egyptian Christian (Coptic) Diaspora

Author(s)
E. А. Krivets
Abstract
Coptic emigration at the turn of the second and third millennia is the most significant population moving in the history of the Coptic Church. The condition of preservation of the community identity is adherence to the Coptic religious doctrine. Coptic priests nowadays have to confront Western theology, sociology, pastoral psychology, church administration and ecumenism. The Copts observe many traditions, tastes and customs of the majority Muslim population of Egypt. The political views of the Coptic emigrants are a reflection of the political and social atmosphere of their national environment. For the first time the Coptic Church found itself in a religious pluralistic Western society, in which respect for and understanding of democratic values was required. Living in such environment, the Copts find it difficult to follow certain religious decisions or canons. The problems of emigrants in the religious sphere become similar to those of Europeans: a quiet life leads to the fact that questions of faith become a secondary issue. What options of painless meeting of different cultures and values are possible in a free and rational self-identity?
For citation:
Krivets E.А. Identity of the Egyptian Christian (Coptic) Diaspora. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies. 2018, vol. 23, pp. 110–116. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2018.23.110 (in Russian)
Keywords
Copts, Christianity, Egypt, Coptic Church, religion
UDC
References

1. Berdyaev N.A. Filosofiya neravenstva [The philosophy of inequality]. Moscow, IMA Press Publ., 1990, 288 p. (in Russian)

2. Thomas M., Youssef A.A. (eds.) Zurich Copts in Egypt: a Christian Minority under Siege, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2006, 192 p.

3. Copt’s Perspective-5-th International Congress of Coptic Studies. Available at: www.stshenouda.com/society/ccngrsl.html (date of access: 12.03.2018).

4. Fayek M. Immigrant Copts Striking Roots in the Lands of the Diaspora. Coptologia, 1989, X, pp. 29-37.

5. Khalil M. The Ordeal of Arab Christians. Copts in Egypt: a Christian Minority under Siege. Edited by M. Thomas, A.A. Youssef. Zurich, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2006, pp. 39-69.

6. Meinardus Otto F.A. Christians in Egypt. Cairo, The American University in Cairo Press, 2006, 177 p.

7. Minorities in the Middle East. Egyptian government openly discriminates the Christians of Egypt. Available at: www.copts.net/detail.asp?id=497 (date of access: 12.03.2018).

8. St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church-Kitchener, Ontario. Available at: www.stmarycoptorthodox.org/ (date of access: 12.03.2018).

9. Shenouda III. The Policy of the Coptic Church in the Countries of the Emigration. El Keraza IV/6 (1712/1995):12-13.

10. Summary of Finding, Center for Religious Freedom. Available at: www.freedomhouse.org/religion/publications/endangered/ (date of access: 12.03.2018).

11. Wakin E. A Lonely Minority.The Modern Story of Egypt’s Copts. N. Y., 2000, 204 p.


Full text (russian)