Christian monasticism originated in Egypt and then spread to the rest of the Christian church. Coptic monks made a significant contribution to Christian theology and spirituality through their distinctive approach to the life of faith. This study by a Coptic monk analysis Coptic missionary spirituality as it flowered in the fourth and fifth centuries. Chapter 2 introduces the three main types of Coptic monasticism and the key figures in each of the three types. Chapter 3 describes the centripetal dimension of their mission, indicating how they attracted a wide.variety of people to a committed Christian life through their holiness, simplicity and humility. Chapter 4 discusses their "outreaching" mission of love: their preaching in harmony with the culture of people, their concern for the poor and oppressed, their healing miracles and exorcisms, their defense of the Orthodox faith against heresy. Chapter 5 summaries the findings of the study and identifies priorities for further research. / Department of Christian Spiritual Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

Christian monasticism originated in Egypt and then spread to the rest of the Christian church. Coptic monks made a significant contribution to Christian theology and spirituality through their distinctive approach to the life of faith. This study by a Coptic monk analysis Coptic missionary spirituality as it flowered in the fourth and fifth centuries. Chapter 2 introduces the three main types of Coptic monasticism and the key figures in each of the three types. Chapter 3 describes the centripetal dimension of their mission, indicating how they attracted a wide.variety of people to a committed Christian life through their holiness, simplicity and humility. Chapter 4 discusses their "outreaching" mission of love: their preaching in harmony with the culture of people, their concern for the poor and oppressed, their healing miracles and exorcisms, their defense of the Orthodox faith against heresy. Chapter 5 summaries the findings of the study and identifies priorities for further research. / Department of Christian Spiritual Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

The thesis is especially focused on the Egyptian monasticism during its supremely period in the 4th a 5th century. As it appears from the title of the thesis it deals about the its beginnings of the monastic movement in Egypt, the end point represents the personality Shenoute the Great that stands at the intersection of the Orthodoxy and Coptic Christianity, meanwhile, in the Coptic Orthodox Church he is the most venerated saint, outside its his names is connected with the authoritarianism. In the thesis the attention is focused to predecessors of the monastic ideal in Egypt, both in within the Ancient Greek philosophy, in Judaism and in the Christian tradition, specifically in the Alexandrian school. In the addition, the thesis deals about early Christian monastic literature, famous monastic centres this period in Egypt and female monastic communities, about which do not exist much information. Main part of the thesis is the chapter about individual monastic leaders, concretely about saints Paul of Thebes, Anthony the Great, Amoun, Pachomius, Macarius of Egypt and Mary of Egypt and about Shenoute the Great, who is revered as saint in Coptic Orthodox Church only. In the various subheads is treatise about each of saints, there are mentioned their disciples, if they had some. I am aware of the...

The thesis deals with the comparison attitudes of two Eastern Christian traditions - Orthodox and Coptic to 4th ecumenical council, which held in 451 in Chalcedon. The Monophysite, or Non- Chalcedonian, Coptic Orthodox Church regards it as return to the heterodox teaching called Nestorianism whilst Eastern Orthodox Church this council considers in accordance with the Orthodox doctrine. For Orthodox Christians Chalcedon represents the breakthrough for a refinement of the Christology, concretely in the doctrine about two natures - divine and human - in single person of Christ which the Copts regard as return to Nestorian heresy which due to its dualism interfered the integrity of the person of Christ. The thesis puts forward the insight into the Council of Chalcedon from both perspectives objectively. The thesis is based on authors which represent Orthodox and Coptic traditions but also on these who researched this issue solely from a historical-theological point of view. I have noted reasons - theological and non-theological - why the Copts reject to accept conclusions of this ecumenical council to this day, among other things. I have tried to point out that Monophysitism, or Miaphysitism - whose way the Copts follow - is not only a heretical teaching from the Orthodox theological point of view but...