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IN THE SPIRIT: Egyptian Christians have rich history
Coptic Orthodox Christians trace roots to Saint Mark
By BILL CUNNINGHAM
The Orange County Register

A personal journey through the spiritual communities of Orange County.

Egypt a Christian nation?

It once was, and Coptic Christians can trace
their religion to that time and even earlier. All
the way to the first few years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

At Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in
Santa Ana, the sweet aroma of incense fills the
sanctuary as the Rev. Felimon Mikhail
rhythmically swings a censer, sending up puffs of
white smoke as he strolls among the worshippers.
Incense has been used in the church since its
earliest days; for many, the smoke represents
prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.

Beginning at 6:30 each Sunday morning, hundreds
fill the pews to pray in the language of their
ancestors � Arabic. They are among 15 million Coptic Christians worldwide.

Surrounded by dozens of icons adorning the
high-domed sanctuary, and scores of Orthodox
crosses � painted on walls, sewn onto garments,
chiseled into wood � the congregation chants,
prays and celebrates their faith. They are
prompted by electronic screens that display
Arabic, Coptic and English languages.

According to tradition, Saint Mark, author of one
of the four gospels, brought Christianity to
Egypt in the middle of the first century after
Christ. Mark was born in what is now Libya and
"he wanted to give the message to his own people
so he traveled along the Mediterranean shore to
Egypt," said the Rev. Athanasius Ragheb. "Then
after he reached Alexandria, he spread the word (about Jesus Christ)."

Egypt is also considered by many to be where
Christian monasticism began, a movement that
reflects the Coptic Church's emphasis on
submission and humbleness. By the sixth century,
there were hundreds of monasteries, and even more
solitary spiritual dwellings, scattered throughout the Egyptian desert.

Now, Coptic Christians are not only still active
in that predominantly Muslim country, but are
also growing here in Orange County.

"Today Egypt is still 10 percent to 15 percent
Coptic Christian," said Ragheb. "When I say to
someone that I'm Egyptian, they immediately
presume that I'm Muslim, but it's not true."

The Coptic Christian community in Orange County
has been growing ever since 1981, when several
Coptic families purchased a house that was used
as a church. By 1992, a new building was
constructed to accommodate the growing congregation.

Ragheb, 58, married and the father of four
children, has been at the church since 1993. He
estimates that Archangel Michael now has almost
2000 members. "The more we grow, the more we open
other churches," he said. "So, we actually have
opened three churches around us to accommodate
the extra worshippers that we have."

The devotion of a few has again benefited the many.

There is certainly an Orange County, New York, and I think that there is an Orange County, California. There may well be others in other states.

There is a Coptic Catholic parish in Los Angeles, CA.