Coptic Orthodox Church

The Latest

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Coptic Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria.

Cardinal Fernández meets with Coptic Church leader over same-sex blessing rift

May 23, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who heads the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, met with the leader of the... Read more

A Coptic Orthodox church in Old Cairo, a historic area of the Egyptian capital.

Arsonists burn down homes of Egypt’s beleaguered Christians

Apr 24, 2024

By Martin Barillas

Muslim extremists set on fire several homes of Christians in Minya, a province in southern Egypt, in a continuation of... Read more

The Coptic Orthodox Church said Pope Tawadros II is aware of the attack that happened March 12, 2024, in the Coptic monastery of St. Mark and St. Bishop Samuel the Confessor in South Africa.

Attack on Coptic monastery in South Africa takes lives of three monks

Mar 13, 2024

By CNA Staff

The Coptic Orthodox Church announced that three monks were attacked and murdered Tuesday in the Coptic monastery in South Africa. Read more

In a speech during a meeting with Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and other Coptic Orthodox representatives on May 11, 2023, Pope Francis announced that the Coptic Orthodox martyrs killed by ISIS in 2015 will be added to the Catholic Church’s official list of saints.

Coptic Orthodox Church confirms dialogue with Catholic Church suspended over same-sex blessings

Mar 12, 2024

By Edward Pentin

The Coptic Orthodox Church has confirmed that its decision to suspend dialogue with the Catholic Church was due to Rome’s... Read more

Icon of the 21 Martyrs of Libya.

Vatican hosts veneration of relics of 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya on first feast day

Feb 15, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The relics of 21 Coptic martyrs killed by ISIS in Libya will be venerated in St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday... Read more

Pope Francis receives relics of the Coptic martyrs from Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, May 11, 2023. Pope Francis also announced that the 21 men will be added to the Church’s official list of saints.

Pope Francis adds Coptic Orthodox martyrs to liturgical book of saints

May 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

After receiving relics of the Coptic martyrs beheaded by ISIS, Pope Francis announced the 21 men will be added to... Read more

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II holds the Christmas Eve Mass at the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Egypt's administrative capital, on Jan. 6, 2023, in Cairo, Egypt.

Coptic Patriarch to offer Orthodox Divine Liturgy in St. John Lateran Basilica

Apr 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The May 14 liturgy will take place in the context of an official visit of Coptic Pope Tawadros II of... Read more

A fire broke out in the Abu Sefein Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt on Sunday, Aug. 14 2022.

Reports of at least 40 people killed in church fire in Egypt

Aug 14, 2022

By AC Wimmer

At least 40 people have died in a Coptic church fire in Egypt — most of them were children under... Read more

Pope Francis meets with a delegation of priests and monks from Oriental Orthodox Churches at the Vatican on June 3, 2022.

Pope Francis to Oriental Orthodox priests: ‘Unity does not come about by standing still’

Jun 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met with a delegation of priests and monks from Oriental Orthodox Churches. Read more

An anti-Christian slogan graffitied on a Coptic church in Egypt.

Months later, nine Egyptian Christians still detained after protests to rebuild church

Apr 5, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Months after protests of the government’s apparent refusal to approve the rebuilding of a damaged church, nine Christian protesters in... Read more

Icon of the 21 Martyrs of Libya. Image courtesy of Tony Rezk, via tonyrezk.blogspot.com

Lord Alton commemorates bravery, solidarity of the 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs

Feb 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A British human rights campaigner on Tuesday commemorated the seventh anniversary of the martyrdom of 21 men, known as the... Read more

Archbishop Angaelos

Coptic archbishop: Condemning persecution of non-Christians follows the example of Christ

Jul 27, 2021

By Matt Hadro

Christians around the world must speak out against persecution of non-Christians, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London told CNA during... Read more

The remains of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Surrey, BC

Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia destroyed in ‘suspicious’ fire

Jul 20, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia was destroyed in a fire on Monday, July 19, just days after an... Read more

Icon of the 21 Martyrs of Libya. Image courtesy of Tony Rezk, via tonyrezk.blogspot.com

Pope Francis: Blood of martyrs slain by ISIS ‘a seed that will bear rich fruit’

May 20, 2021

The pope praises the 21 Coptic martyrs killed on Feb. 15, 2015. Read more

Saint Macarius Monastery in Egypt's Beheira governorate, November 2010.

Former Coptic Orthodox monk hanged for bishop's murder

May 10, 2021

Wael Saad, a former monk of the Coptic Orthodox Church, was executed on Sunday for the 2018 murder of Bishop... Read more

Icon of the 21 Martyrs of Libya. Image courtesy of Tony Rezk, via tonyrezk.blogspot.com

Pope Francis praises Coptic Orthodox martyrs as 'saints of all Christians'

Feb 15, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has praised the courageous witness of the 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians killed by ISIS in 2015, calling them... Read more

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks near Tawadros II during a Liturgy at Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Egypt's administrative capital, Jan. 2, 2020.

Egyptian president commends interreligious ties

Jan 7, 2020

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt attended a Coptic Orthodox Liturgy Monday, praising cooperation between the Christians and Muslims of... Read more

Archbishop Angaelos. Courtesy photo.

Amid global Christian persecution, this Coptic archbishop urges unity

Jul 24, 2019

By Matt Hadro

A leading Coptic archbishop said that Christians must “walk in the shoes” of those facing global Christian persecution, while overcoming... Read more

Pope Francis with Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria in Cairo, Egypt on April 28, 2017.

Pope Francis sends Christmas greetings to Coptic Christians

Jan 7, 2019

Pope Francis sent Christmas and New Year’s greetings to Coptic Christians and all Egyptians upon the inauguration of a major... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on a papal flight August 14, 2014.

Pope Francis mourns victims of attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt

Nov 4, 2018

By Courtney Mares

“I pray for the victims, pilgrims killed just because they are Christians, and I ask Holy Mary to console their... Read more