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The '''Coptic Church of Egypt''' is one of the oldest denominations of [[Christianity]], originating in [[Egypt]] around 50AD, when [[St. Mark the Evangelist]] landed in [[Alexandria]], which remains the "capital" of the church today.

The '''Coptic Church of Egypt''' is one of the oldest denominations of [[Christianity]], originating in [[Egypt]] around 50AD, when [[St. Mark]] the Evangelist landed in [[Alexandria]], which remains the "capital" of the church today.

The Coptic Church of Egypt is a non-Chalcedonian Church and is similar to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] in ethos, lifestyle, and worship. The Ethiopian Orthodox church was a part of the Coptic Orthodox church, and recognised the patriarchy of the Pope and Patriarch in Alexandria until 1959, when Pope and Patriarch Kyrillos VI granted the Coptic Church in Ethiopia it's own patriarch.

The Coptic Church of Egypt is a non-[[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedonian]], or [[Monophysite]], Church.  Its ethos, lifestyle, and worship are similar to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].  It is governed by the [[Patriarch of Alexandria]], who bears the title "Pope". The Ethiopian Orthodox church was a part of the Coptic Orthodox church, and recognized the patriarchy of the Pope and Patriarch in Alexandria until 1959, when Pope and Patriarch Kyrillos VI granted the Coptic Church in Ethiopia its own patriarch.

At present, there are around 10 million members<ref>http://www.copts.com/english1/index.php/who-are-the-copts/church-history/</ref> of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Due to increasing Islamic extremism, persecution and terrorising of Copts has increased since the 1980s. There are also approximately 5 million Copts living outside Egypt.  

At present, there are around 10 million members<ref>http://www.copts.com/english1/index.php/who-are-the-copts/church-history/</ref> of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Due to increasing Islamic extremism, persecution and terrorising of Copts has increased since the 1980s. There are also approximately 5 million Copts living outside Egypt.  

On March 30, 2008 London Security forces ordered a "body search" for the Coptic Pope before boarding a flight to Egypt.<ref>http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/pope-strip-search-row-cen-42508-p-6/</ref> The intervention of an Egyptian diplomat prevented a full strip and body cavity search.

On March 30, 2008 London Security forces ordered a "body search" for the Coptic Pope before boarding a flight to Egypt.<ref>http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/pope-strip-search-row-cen-42508-p-6/</ref> The intervention of an Egyptian diplomat prevented a full strip and body cavity search.  Later, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry threatened to treat all British diplomats the same way if this incident was repeated.

In 2007 relations between the Coptic church and churches in the west were strained when it was alleged by some in western [[Christianity]] that comments made Pope and Patriarch Shenouda III were anti-semetic.<ref>http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2007/05/20/row-over-coptic-leaders-anti-semitic-call-cen-51807-p-6/</ref>  

In 2007 relations between the Coptic church and churches in the west were strained when it was alleged by some in western [[Christianity]] that comments made Pope and Patriarch Shenouda III were anti-semetic.<ref>http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2007/05/20/row-over-coptic-leaders-anti-semitic-call-cen-51807-p-6/</ref>