This Great Mystery of Life: An Introduction into the Coptic Orthodox Church

This Great Mystery of Life: An Introduction into the Coptic Orthodox Church by Fr Antonios Kaldas is for anyone interested in life's big questions, in a little-known two-thousand-year-old Church, or in knowing their own Church better.

For most of us, life is a mystery. Coptic Orthodox Christianity offers a distinctly Eastern approach to it, helping us find our way by turning our attention to the far deeper mystery of God that lies beneath, behind and beyond the world we see.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the ancient, apostolic Christian Church of Egypt, with parishes today on every continent except Antarctica. As more people take an interest in it or join it, its ancient ways and its African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean culture meet, and sometimes clash with, the modern West. This book explores what it means to be a Coptic Orthodox Church in the West today, bridging books written by Copts from inside and books written about Copts from outside.

• Part I sets out the core faith and principles: what "Coptic Orthodox Christian Church" means, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and the guiding principles of love, truth, humility and the spiritual life.
• Part II explores Coptic spiritual life and its practices: prayer, the sacraments (Mysteries), Scripture and tradition, and other ascetic, contemplative and social practices.
• Part III gives the historical background and closes with reflections on key issues facing the Church today and tomorrow, in Egypt and in its growing diaspora.

A glossary of Coptic terms is included.

About the author

Fr Antonios Kaldas has been parish priest of Archangel Michael and St Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church in Mount Druitt, Sydney, since 1991. A former medical doctor, he has long served in the spiritual education of children and youth, researches the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, and lectures in Philosophy and Apologetics at St Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological College, Sydney College of Divinity. He is married with two adult children.

Book details

• Author: Fr Antonios Kaldas
• Format: Printed book
• Pages: 452
• Published: 2022, St Shenouda Press
• ISBN: 9780645139556