Major Events in Coptic History - Coptic Heritage Society of Alberta

Major Events in Coptic History (30 B.C.-1517 A.D.)

30 B.C.	Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire, administered on behalf of the emperor by a prefect.
c. 60 A.D.	Christian gospel preached in Alexandria to the existing Christian community by Saint Mark.
c. 110	Roman Fortress of Babylon built midway between ancient Memphis and Heliopolis on the site of present Old Cairo.
c. 130	Emperor Hadrian visits Egypt and found a new city in the middle of Egypt at Antinoupolis (Sheikh Ibada).
190	Major theological college (Catechetical School) founded at Alexandria.
c. 200	Patriarch Demetrius creates the first bishops (three) in Egypt.
202	Emperor Septimius Severus creates municipal councils for certain towns in Egypt and passes law forbidding people to take up Christianity, resulting in a major persecution.
249-260	Major persecutions of Christians by Emperors Decius and Valerian.
c. 300	As a result of major imperial reform by Emperor Diocletian, Egypt loses its prefect and becomes a ‘diocese’ of the Roman Empire. Most important economic consequences of this are that Egypt begins to use the same currency as the rest of the Empire. As part of his reforms Diocletian tries to impose religious uniformity throughout the Empire in the form of emperor worship. Christian refusal provokes persecution.
313	Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity.
324	After a struggle for imperial power, Constantine the Great emerges as undisputed head of the Roman Empire, which is already beginning to divide into East and West. He builds himself a new capital at Constantinople c. 330. Having legalized the profession of Christianity, Constantine wishes the Christian community to declare an official version of their doctrine and to settle a major controversy, summons the Council of Nicaea in 325. This marks the beginning of an alliance in doctrinal matters between the Church and State.
328-373	Athanasius is patriarch of the Egyptian Church. Relations with various Roman emperors are turbulent and Athanasius is sent into exile five times.
361-363	Attempted revival of paganism by Emperor Julian (Known as the Apostate).
392	Paganism is banned in the Roman Empire. Christianity becomes the official religion.
395	Official division of the Roman Empire into East and West.
415	Christians fear the influence of Pagans and Jews in Alexandria and attack both groups: the philosopher Hypatia is killed and synagogues converted into Christian churches.
431	Church council at Ephesus summoned to discuss problems arising from the definition of the nature of Christ. Egyptian patriarch Cyril formulates a doctrine that proposes a union of the manhood and divinity of Christ, emphasizing the role of Mary as the Mother of God.
451	Church council summoned to put an end to continuing problems posed by the nature of Christ. The Egyptians insist on the Single Nature, as formulated by Cyril (Since replaced by Dioscorus), whereas the Patriarch of Constantinople, supported by the Pope in Rome, prefers the formulation that Christ existed in two natures. The labels Monophysite (single nature) and Dyophysite (two natures) or Melkite are coined to describe the factions involved.
451-527	Egyptian church remains largely Monophysite, but various attempts by emperors are made to win them back to the official view, without success. Relations between Egyptian Monophysites and Syrian Monophysites become increasingly cordial. Administration within Egypt reverts from the Roman municipal system to the ancient Pharaonic one based on nomes (a Greek word meaning an area of land). Increasingly, land is concentrated in the hands of a few large landowners, some of whom even have their own private armies.
527	Justinian becomes emperor and pursues a policy of conciliation towards Egyptian Monophysites, who are actually supported by the Empress Theodora.
619	An enfeebled Roman Empire is devastated by invading Persians, who occupy large parts of it, including Egypt, for the next ten years.
641-868	Arab Conquest. Egypt becomes a province of the Arab Islamic Empire, with a governor sent to the new capital of Fustat, which grew up to the north of the Roman Fortress of Babylon. The imperial capital was at Damascus (658-750) and Baghdad (750-868). Arab settlement in Egypt.
868-905	Briefly Egypt becomes independent of the imperial capital at Baghdad.
935-1250	Egypt becomes completely independent of the imperial capital under a family from North Africa called Fatimi, who build a splendid new capital city, north of Fustat, called Cairo (Al Qahira, in Arabic meaning ‘The Victorious’). The Christian population has been declining as a result of conversion to Islam, and the patriarch moves his residence from Alexandria to Cairo in the 11th century. When Fatimid rule ceases, a new family under the guidance of Salah El Din (Saladin) assumes control of Egypt. A new administrative centre is built at Cairo on the hill to the north of the city, now known as the Citadel.
1250-1517	The growing influence of the army in government comes to a head with the next dynasty: the Mamelukes. Originally Turkish slaves recruited to improve the army; they assume control of government in the absence of anyone more suitable. Their rule is blood-thirsty, but produces many beautiful monuments. It is during this period that Coptic finally dies out as a living language.

SOURCE : Cairo: The Coptic Museum & Old Churches

BY: Gawdat Gabra