The Coptic Orthodox Church Trivia Quiz

Answer: Egypt

The headquarters of the Church are in Alexandria. The name Coptic also applies to a language and culture in northern Egypt. Coptic may be heard in the liturgy; however, much Church business is also conducted in Arabic.

Answer: Pope

In the early days of Christianity, the heads of the churches in two cities were known as Pope. One was Rome; the other was Alexandria. The Coptic Church and the Roman Catholic Church still use these honorifics today. The title 'Pope' has its origins in the Greek term 'papas,' which means 'father.' This in turn harks back to the tradition that in ancient times, a father was the head of the household, and led the family in prayer.

Answer: Agpeya

The Agpeya is sometimes called the "Coptic manual of the Hours," because it lists prayers to be recited at certain times. A missal is a book of the Roman Catholic Church, a typikon is a guide to the responsibilities of various people at Greek Orthodox church services, and a molebnik (literally "collection of prayers") is a manual used by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Answer: St. Mark

This saint is credited with the authorship of one of the canonical Gospels. Although the book usually appears second in the order of the Gospels in the New Testament, it is believed to be the oldest of the four.

Answer: The Catechetical School of Alexandria

It is believed the original school was opened by St. Mark himself. Its modern incarnation boasts schools in the American states of California and New Jersey, as well as the mother campuses in Egypt.

Answer: He was sent into exile

Pope Shenouda III was ordered to remain in St. Pishoy's Monastery in Scetes, Egypt, for his refusal to meet with then-President Anwar Sadat's delegates and hold public Easter celebrations. His exile began in 1981. The death of Sadat that same year did not end the ban.

Shenouda was not allowed to leave the monastery and return to his office until 1985, when he did so with the permission of Sadat's successor, Hosni Mubarak.

Answer: Origen

Origen was one of the most prolific writers of his day, with over 6,000 works attributed to him. Many of these were homilies and biblical commentaries. Prominent titles included "On Prayer," "On Martyrdom" and "On First Principles."

Answer: The Hanging Church

The beautiful house of worship was also called the Staircase Church, because of the 29 steps leading to its entrance. The church interior is adorned by over 100 icons, which date from the 8th to the 18th Centuries.

Answer: Some of the relics of St. Mark

Relics of the saint had been kept until then in Venice, Italy, by the Roman Catholic Church. On June 25, 1968, the relics were returned to St. Mark's Cathedral, which is in Cairo, Egypt.

Answer: Monk

St. Anthony's feast day is celebrated on January 30 in the Coptic Church. A monastery named for him is located about 100 miles southeast of Cairo, Egypt.