Christianity in Egypt and the Middle East

This course will provide an overview of the history of Coptic Christianity within the broader context of the Middle East, from its inception in the 1st century AD, till the present time. It focuses on the establishment of the Early Church institutions and doctrines in Alexandria, Antioch and onstantinople. A special focus will be on the development of Monasticism in Egypt, Syria and Palestine, and the role of monasteries in preserving and transmitting the Church tradition. Selected Greek, Coptic and Syriac literary sources on monasticism will introduce students to the religious and cultural affinities between the Churches of the Middle East.