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Ancient Christian city discovered in Egypt
An ancient Christian city dating to the fourth century AD has been discovered in Egypt.Archaeologists digging at the Ain al-Sabil area of the New Valley Governorate have discovered the remains of a basilica and buildings to serve the priests. This is the first excavation at the site and researchers hope more discoveries will be made under the Egyptian sands.
Egyptian Christians trace their history back to just after the Crucifixion, when Saint Mark preached in the country. Called the Copts, these Christians make up anywhere from 5-23% of the population. Estimates vary so widely because the actual number is a politically contentious issue. Most sources agree that about 10% is the correct figure, meaning slightly more than 8 million people.
Copts have faced discrimination and deadly attacks ever since the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the seventh century AD. Periods of tolerance have alternated with periods of increased persecution. In recent years there have been many attacks against Egypt's Coptic community, and Copts say the authorities have done little to help. Copts are most visible in towns such as Cairo and Minya. Cairo has an excellent Coptic Museum. About four million Copts live overseas and there is a community of about half a million in the Sudan.
The fourth century AD, on the other hand, was a high point in Coptic history. The majority of Egyptians were Christian at that time and Egyptian monasteries started the Christian monastic movement.
Image of Coptic icon of St. John the baptist courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Filed under: Africa
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Rev. Chris Ward Dec 4th 2011 12:45PM
Beware the false prophets… ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes or thorns, figs or thistles…” Matthew 7:15-17
11-11-11 sent 11:11 pm EST:
GET THIS… After making their family fortunes on the backs of the American Working Class, American ideas/ingenuity and infrastructure paid for by the American TAXPAYER… these spoiled, Ivy League Aristocrats had the audacity to buy off our politicians and news media so they could ravage and expatriate most of our nation’s wealth and resources.
The greatest looting in the history of mankind happened during the Bush/Cheney disaster. A corporate crime wave of epic proportions and the Conservative wackos are stuck on stupid STILL blaming the Left.
WHY or HOW has this happened? Well it’s all about false prophets, lots and LOT’S of false prophets. Go to any Evangelical Christian Fundamentalist church in the USA and really LISTEN to the message.
Sermons from coast to coast seem to have basic underlying theme any right-wing primate could understand. (lol) “Liberal bad, Conservative good”. Ohhhh, and JESUS is a money changing, right-wing, war hawk who preached against abortion.
It might be the Conservative think tanks… It might be FOX News or AM Radio Free Conservative… What about all the foreigners like Rupert Murdock, Communist Chinese and Saudi Royals buying up American assets?
It may be the mailing lists. I’ll bet there isn’t a right-wing Christian in the WEST who hasn’t received a mailer hyping the famous Conservative transsexual Ann Coulter and her book “Godless Liberals”.
LISTEN to the mental sickness and low grade thought processes coming from the mouths of Republicans. See the right-wing Evangelical Christian Fundamentalists get played like pitiful fools. Like GOD would have anything to do with all the greed, racism, hate speech and environmental degradation. These people are so deluded they actually believe JESUS (Prince of Peace) and war profiteers are on the same side. That JESUS (the healer) would be against affordable healthcare for all. COME ON!
Christians need to learn a con is a CON! No matter in a back alley or from the Ivory Towers the trick is to RECOGNIZE IT… and not get played for a FOOL.
I’ve been saying for years a few fanatical terrorists who perverted Islam don’t scare me near as much as those FOOLS who believe Capitalism can survive without ETHICS, RESPOSNIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY! The FIGHT is here at home… everyone in the USA needs to come together and get involved BEFORE the silver spoon, trust fund baby aristocrats throw you in debtor’s prison. These bastards would bring back slavery if they could but inmates working for 23 cents a day is the next best thing. Republicans turned us all into the United Suckers of America.
Like I always tell my Conservative friends, this ain’t no Tea Party, this is a bleeping Class War”. I’ll tell you why the Republicans hate the US government so much. Our government is the only thing strong enough to hold this neo-con criminal enterprise accountable, but only if the people force the government to do IT’S JOB.” See jinnbad.blogspot.com for more.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“…In Princess Ann Coulter’s Ivory Tower world, Reaganomics or Trickle-down economics hasn’t failed on a massive scale for the American PEOPLE. Let’s all conveniently forget Bush/Cheney almost destroyed Middle Class America… the important thing is that the billionaires are doing great, right?
Maybe those 16 multi-national corporations (the Supreme Court and Chamber of Commerce bends over for on a daily basis) should start reinvesting in the USA. Ayn Rand or Machiavelli can’t explain away what these silver spoon, trust fund babies did to the American PEOPLE… If the Warriors had any balls they’d whack the Koch Bros, Rupert Murdoch and Karl Rove” CHARLIE STUNATS
Potts Dec 5th 2011 4:40PM
And that's one mans opinion.
pete Dec 6th 2011 1:52AM
Some 'rev' you are. Preaching nothing but hate of people who's views you disagree with.
You fit in just fine with the liberal, socialo-communistic hufpoo hate-mob.
R Dec 6th 2011 12:07PM
Thankyou, All I can say is thankyou for your post. Actually comforting to read a comment from someone who can actually see. Be well.
Jesse Dec 5th 2011 3:48PM
I'm sorry, I seem to be having a little trouble distinguishing your comment, from most of the Conservative commentators. Turning the other cheek, Judging not lest ye be judged is the only viable way to win an argument with a right or left extremist, because if we just throw caustic and hate filled messages around, then we've already betrayed our own principles of fairness, compassion, and faith.
John. psbp Dec 5th 2011 8:31PM
Quote of the day? More like "Made up personal view of the day" "Paragraph of the day" "Ridiculous notion of the day".
Please leave "Quote(s) of the day" to accomplished writers, philosophers even an anonymous anyone but PLEASE witty, entertaining or at least interesting in some way.
Lum Michael Patterson Dec 5th 2011 12:27PM
Reverend Ward, hurling insults at your enemies is just as bad as what you accuse them of doing. You had it right when you quoted Matthew 7:15-17. They will know you by your fruits. Words aren’t going to change anyone’s mind. When John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the One or should they look elsewhere, Jesus sent them back with the instructions to tell John what they saw. Jesus knew John would know Him by His works, just as the world will know Him today by His works through His body, the Church. Christians must accept that they are the body of Christ here on this earth and act accordingly.
Paul Barnett Dec 5th 2011 12:27PM
You really need to see a good doctor... one that can help you remove all that Cool-Aid from your belly. "Rev."... ? What cult?
offeekay Dec 5th 2011 12:43PM
Rev. You are a wise man. I will pray for there eyes to be opened also. It is the spirit that has fowled this world in the last 10 to 15 years. Is that spirit the Whore of Babaylon? I wonder.
Tracie Smith Dec 5th 2011 1:11PM
You, sir, would be considered a false prophet, false teacher...you are teaching hate. I am not sure what kind of 'Reverend' you ARE...but I can assure you, your message of hate would NOT be welcomed in ANY church I'VE ever attended in my 50 years on this earth.
Jesus loves everyone...he wasn't a socialist when he walked this earth...he was the furthest thing from it. It is up to the Church to care for the poor, homeless, hungry, widowed, childless,fatherless, imprisoned, thirsty, naked, etc. NOT the government! It makes me sick when people like you use Scripture to spew YOUR kind of agenda...which is HATE!!
God is LOVE!!! There is NO part of God that teaches hate, NOR is it in the Bible. I pray for your soul, I pray God shows HIS mercy on your life, and changes you, I mean REALLY changes your heart towards your neighbor. God bless. Have a Merry Christmas...
Gene Dec 5th 2011 1:49PM
Your rants is not only incorrect, but offensive. You obviously have not been in a church lately. I would suggest you find a good Bible based church and become educated. The people of our church give titles, a significant portion goes directly to missions. Missions includes helping those in need to include hospitals, doctors, teachers, etc.. Some of the very first support to New Orleans came from churches and church members volunteering their time and resources to provide food and shelter. When flood hit our area, the churches were the first responders. Money is not going to millionaires. That is true of most churches. While many churches support conservative values, it doesn't mean they vote just Republican. It is usually based on the individual's reputation. But, it is obvious that many Democrats support ultra liberal issues to include encouraging abortions, open sexual life styles, hand-outs versus hand-up programs, and often support anti-church legislation under the guise of free speech. It is the issue and the individual. I have never heard a political sermon like those of Rev. Wright. Pick your church as there are a few bad apples everywhere.
Gene Dec 5th 2011 1:49PM
By the way, I live in the west and have never received an Ann Coulter anything. Your language and hate filled rant certainly doesn't mark you as the type of Christians I know.
Kim Dec 5th 2011 4:29PM
Sir - actually I commend you - you managed to make a point from the Christian point of view that was liberal instead of Republican, and seem to be one of the few Christians who don't equate Jesus with political conservatism. Jesus hung out with whores and thieves, he chased the money changers from the temple, and, as I recall, he told his followers to give up all their worldly goods and follow him. - None of our conservative leaders seem to remember this. Are they going to rewrite the bible next? Be that as it may, although your comments were strong, they did not seem any more vitriolic than those of the conservative side, and I commend you for having had the courage to voice them.
That being said, they really had no place in a forum on archeaology
dan Dec 5th 2011 10:34AM
Very commendable hate filled rant against hate speech!!! With a moouth like that, you are indeed a master of spiritual amd political bovine scatology, and more than likely have 5 mercedez , 3 beachomes and 15 secret male and female lovers who worship you as a demi-god!
Your momma would be so proud, and so is God!!!
Glen Dec 5th 2011 11:07AM
Sorry Dan hit the wrong thumb
John. psbp Dec 5th 2011 11:17AM
Dan,
Very well put!
HATE is the absolute message anyone would come away after reading said rant and quite possibly detect a hint of schizophrenia. "Reverend" Ward would do well to seek some real medical attention not snake worship or even a sanctioned "exorcism" but a good doctor.
EJ Dec 5th 2011 10:44AM
Interesting points, but what the heck does it have to do with discovery of ancient ruins in Egypt??
pnut166 Dec 5th 2011 10:41AM
What does an archaeological discovery have to do with your warped views on modern politics ? Take your vitriol over to HuffPo.
HMan570 Dec 5th 2011 11:20AM
By discdovery's from the past we learn a great deal of how things were back then. It boggles my mind how so many people turn things like this into something that is not realted to the story? Man has always, well most of the time, learned from the past. Perhaps if the people that have a negitave view of the article should just not write anything if they don't have anything to add. Just my opnion people, so don't get your shorts in a knot.
Naomi Dec 5th 2011 11:47AM
You say these spoiled Ivy League Aristocrats had the audacity to buy off our
politicians and news media so they could ravage and expatriate most of our nation's wealth and resources? Give me a break these so called servants of the
Taxpayers sold their very souls for their own personal wealth. I wish you so
called Servants of God would take your yaba daba do elsewhere. Not all but
some of you men and women of the cloth are doing the very same to the lost
sheep who enter into YOUR dens of worship. You guys should be ashame
and TAXED to the hills. Making a profit off of what you say is the WORD OF
THE LORD...writing books, TV, dvd's, movies; some of you are a disgrace.
Now some of you are using the Social Media..etc., U-Tube and whatever
to get the very last penny from the poor or ignorant who need guidance and help.
You sir are part of the problem and your ranting tells me one thing....the members
of your church are slacking away from paying YOU their TITHES. May you ask God for forgiveness.
Rev. Ward you should know that it's the offerings that keeps the Church going and the Shepards are to give the tithes (fruits of the church) to help the needy. Lord knows those who were giving their Tithes to these so called Men of God (millionaires) sure wish they had it now because a lot of these church's won't give you a boiled egg. Just a lot of yaba daba do saying
"we will continue to pray for you and your situation b/c God will never leave you
or forsake you". Well tell that to the TITHE givers who are now homeless, I bet your're not!
Pleeeeeze!