Marina,+Katie

Copt groups- Marina and Katie __Language__  **The language the Copt groups use is Coptic. It is derived from Greek letters and Demotic Egyptian signs. Even though it borrowed many letters from the Greek, it still kept its Egyptian tone. It has several dialects, of which the most important are: Sahidic, Bohairic, Fayoumic, Akhmimic and Sub-Akhmimic. Coptic is used in the liturgy of the Coptic Orthodox church of Egypt, and is taught in many universities in Europe and America. This language possesses important heritage of Egypt and its culture. ** __Beliefs__ __Values__
 * The Coptic language was spoken in Egypt until 17 th  century A.D. Its history goes back thousands of years before the Christian era. Since the 11 th  century, the Bohairic dialect was known as the official dialect of Egypt among the Copts. Coptic was later replaced by Arabic which is the main language in Egypt. The Copts continue to speak this language today and hope that soon it will return to be the main language in Egypt one again. **
 * The Copts believe that John Mark (the writer of the Gospel by Mark) is the founder of their religion. It is said that he came to the shores of Egypt and told them of God’s word and that’s how the religion was started. Before the Roman Catholics, the Copts were the first major split in the church. That’s why the Coptic religion is very similar to Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodoxy. But the Copts believe that Christ is one person in two natures. The two natures the Copts believe is that he is full humanity and full divinity. This means that he could be in two places at once. While he was full divinity in Heaven he also was born to the Virgin Mary as full humanity. **
 * The reason for the church to split is because the church didn’t understand what the Copts meant by one person in two natures. Another reason why the Copts were exiled from the church is because they didn’t want to take part in politics. So about 95% of the Coptic population moved to Alexandria. With the move some to most of the Islam population converted to Coptic. Today there are about 10-60 million Copts world wide. **
 * The Copts value a lot of things that is spoken in the bible. First off, they value the bible itself with everything that’s in it. They value marriage and do not get divorced. Marriage takes place in church due to an announcement from the church saying all marriage should take place in church. They value tradition, so after they get married they have to fast for 3 days as a story did so in the bible. Children and even adults love to pray in church at least once a week. **
 * There are many things that the Copts fast for. For example, they fast 55 days for Easter. Since they value this holiday, on the day they stop fasting they eat egg, fish, wear new clothes, and visit the family. Copts also value baptism; they think everyone should be baptized when they are born. Family is another thing they value. They love each other in a family and stay close. If a family member dies, he or she is washed very well and is taken to church so the priest will pray for the dead. **

__Behaviors__ __Evaluation__
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When the Copts were first exiled (in 600 A.D.) from the church they followed the Romain laws and behaviors. The Copts where soon prosecuted when they didn’t follow the Roman emperor's wishes. Today the Copts behaviors mimic what they believe. The Copts follow the old and new testament in the Bible. So that means they follow the Ten Commandments like honor your father and mother, you shall not kill and so on. ** The copts follow the rules of their Pope when they tell them to do something. He tells the churches when a holiday is and how to celebrate it. He holds everything and all the other priests go to him for advice on how to run their church. He recently died but they will soon pick another Pope to do the same thing.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This group has been affected a lot from cultural change and globalization. Because of the technology and many other new things and languages, there are only a few people who talk in Coptic now. Many Copts used to read the bible everyday and go to church once a week. Today because of the technology and the internet, most Copts don't read the bible as much. Back then there was no school so you were able to go to church a lot. But today the teenagers are distracted by school and isn't able to reguarly go to church. Adults now work more than they used to, so they aren't able to take their kids to church. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> There are many cultures and religion out there that try to end Coptic in Egypt. For example, Islam is trying to get christians, especially Coptic orthodox, to change their religion to Islam. Although with the many speakers that represent the Copts, many Islam people are changing their religion to Christianity. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Sources__ **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__2 Primary documents__ **




 * This pictures shows Pope Shenouda, the last Pope for the Copts. He recently died on March 17th, 2012. He represents all the Copts and tells all the churches what to do in holidays and how to run the church. **
 * Egypt Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III Dies. Digital image. Updated News. N.p., 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. <http://updatednews.ca/2012/03/17/egypt-coptic-christian-pope-shenouda-iii-dies/>. **




 * The Mansions of the Moon. Digital image. Yeatsvision. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. < __http://www.yeatsvision.com/mansions.html>.__ **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a picture of the language the Copts use called Coptic. In the picture there is also the language Arabic that Copts also speak and know. Arabic is spoken more often than Coptic. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__1 Print source__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: **
 * Malaty, Tadrous Y. Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church. N.p.: Orthodox E, 1987. Print. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a book about the introduction to the Orthodox church. This book talks about everything the Copts do in church and how their culture ties with the church. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__1 secondary source__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: **
 * TODAY, Sarah Lynch, Special for USA. "Coptic Christians Fight for Place in Egypt's Political Scene." USA Today. Gannett, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-04-11/coptic-christians-egypt/54189320/1>. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This website shows how strong Copts are when coming to defending their religion. Also, it talks about how their pope recently died and they have to live for a while without a religious ruler. **