Coptic Church

The native church of Egypt or church of Alexandria which in general organization and doctrines resembles the Roman Catholic Church except that it holds to the Monophysitic doctrine which was condemned a d 451 by the council of Chalcedon and allows its priests to marry The ldquopope and patriarchrdquo has jurisdiction over the Abyssinian Church Since the 7th century the Coptic Church has been so isolated from modifying influences that in many respects it is the most ancient monument of primitive Christian rites and ceremonies But centuries of subjection to Moslem rule have weakened and degraded it