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coptichymns.net exclusively presents "The Altar in the Midst of Egypt", a brief yet rich overview of the History of the Coptic Orthodox Church, written by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop for the Coptic Orthodox Church. We thank His Grace Bishop Angaelos for allowing us to publish his writings on the Coptic Media Network and ask His Grace remember us in his prayers, as His Grace and His service are always in ours.

Preface

IN HIS INFANCY, our Lord visited Egypt with His mother the Virgin Saint Mary, and Saint Joseph, during the Holy Family's flight from Israel at the instruction of the angel, and thus it was their second home; a place of refuge at a time of trouble. When we read the Book of Isaiah we find many important things mentioned about the land of Egypt, the most important of these being that its people were the Lord's people, and that there would be an altar in the midst of this land to the Lord Himself. The altar spoken of came with the birth of the Coptic Church at the hands of the great evangelist Saint Mark in the first century.

This book by no means aims or claims to be an in-depth detailed study of such an ancient Church, but rather, is an appetiser which leads the reader to a deeper study to the area of his or her interest.

We release this book on a very special occasion, one which portrays the tradition of the Coptic Orthodox Church in its teaching and theology- extending from the invaluable School of Alexandria which taught the whole world for so long.

On this historic day, we celebrate the inauguration of our newest Coptic theological college, the first such college in Europe. Further honour and blessing is given through the coming of our holy father, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III especially for this historic occasion.

We thank His Holiness's love and note that this is merely another manifestation of his fatherhood and love for teaching, which has brought forward a whole generation of those led by his example; and sincerely dedicated to learning and teaching.

We ask the Lord to overshadow this work, through the intercession of our Lady, 'the Virgin Theotokos Saint Mary and the holy Archangel Michael, and the prayers of the great Saint Anthony and Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, and our blessed father Pope Shenouda III, for to our Lord is due glory for ever. Amen.

Fr. Angaelos Anba-Bishoy
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic Theological College
Archangel Michael & Saint Anthony Coptic Church Center
Stevenage, U.K.
2 Tute, 1714 AM 12 September, 1997 AD