Coptic cross - a symbol of Egyptian Christians

Ancient painters, who painted Egyptian rulers and queens, often depicted them with a Coptic cross in their hands. Pharaohs held this symbol of eternal life for a round handle, just as the Apostle Peter kept the keys to the afterlife.

What is the Coptic Cross

Every Orthodox person is aware of the power of the Christian cross, but not everyone knows that this symbol appeared on Earth much earlier than Christianity was born on it. The history associated with the origin of the cross, applies equally to paganism and Christianity, Hinduism and Maya religion ...

The ancient analogue of the traditional Christian cross, according to existing sources, is the Ankh-Copts cross (a symbol that is still used by the descendants of the ancient Copts), decorated with a loop. Ankh adorns the utensils and walls of the tombs of the deceased pharaohs - the Egyptians considered him the key that opens the world of the dead.

This ancient hieroglyph had many names. He was called "the key of the Nile," "the key of life," "the knot of life," "the bow of life" ...

The idea of eternal life

According to the assumptions of some historians, the life "outside the pyramid", that is, the existence in a parallel world, the noble Egyptians considered the main goal of their stay in the material world, therefore a significant part of the earthly life of the Egyptian pharaohs was devoted to the preparation for death.

Symbolizing the idea of eternal life, the Coptic cross in the religion of Ancient Egypt united two other significant symbols: "cross" - life, and "circle" - eternity.

In addition, Ankh, who was also a symbol of the union of Isis and Osiris, land and sky, male and female, was revered by the Egyptians as a sacred hieroglyph designating the higher mind.

Coptic cross (the photo you can see on the page), many are confused with the symbol of Christ the Savior, although in fact the cross on the loop symbolizes the Egyptian sun god Ra. According to some sources, the ancient Egyptians worshiped the god Ra with the help of sexual orgies, since the same hieroglyph symbolized fertility. Probably, therefore, the second name of the Coptic cross is the cross of life.

Opinion of scientists

Some Egyptologist researchers claim that the horizontal lines of the Coptic symbol, forming a loop, the Egyptians identified with the rising luminary, and the vertical ones - with the rays. The same lines, according to another group of Egyptologists, are a symbolic reflection of the male phallus (vertically) and female womb (the loop symbolized female fertility). Together, these two elements became a symbol of reincarnation, that is, continuous life.

Coptic cross (meaning) through the eyes of modern believers

Today, representatives of some religious communities (for example, Christian) consider Ankh to be a symbol of debauchery and contempt for virginity, and representatives of a number of modern occult communities use the image of the Coptic cross as their mascot, spreading it in the society due to the increased interest of the population towards the ancient Egyptian pyramids and mummies, As well as through tarot cards. The same symbol is often used as a logo by rock musicians.

Most Christian communities consider the Coptic cross unacceptable and incompatible with Christian morality and faith. And the Copts, on the contrary, consider themselves to be Egyptian Christians. It is difficult to imagine the Coptic temple, in which there are no faces of the Great Martyr George the Victorious and martyr Mina. These are the most revered saintly Copts.

Church of modern Copts

The Coptic Church, as one of the oldest eastern temples, is the second most populous, behind only the Ethiopian. Currently, about 10 million Copts live in Egypt (the total population of Egypt is about 60 million people). It is also known about the existence of the Coptic Diaspora scattered throughout the world, estimated at about 1 million people.

An ancient tradition of putting modern tattooing on the wrists of the wrists as a cross is that the Copts explain that their distant predecessors, the Egyptians and the Ethiopians, valued faith more than life on earth. Tattooing made even the very thought of renouncing one's Christian faith during the persecution impossible.

The irreconcilability with which modern Slavic Christians belong to the symbols of Ancient Egypt, the researchers explain by inability to explain the significance of the finds found during archaeological excavations conducted on the territory of Ukraine, Siberia and Altai. In particular, among the numerous items were found the statuettes of Osiris in the crown of Atef, bronze cats, the amulet "sacred eye udzhat" and the figures of Bes.

Part of the Christian symbolism ...

The Coptic cross, crowning the image of the Egyptian god, as it turned out, was not a wonder to ancient Christians. Now many historians who are interested in the symbolism of Ancient Egypt are convinced of this. It's hard to believe, but one and the same sacred image of the Egyptian would have perceived as the image of his ancient god, and the Slavic Christian would see in it his next father-king.

The image of the Egyptian Osiris, for example, is surprisingly reminiscent of the face of Christ, and the striking similarity of the Virgin Mary with the goddess Isis still does not give rest to the Egyptian Coptic Christians.

According to the information set out in the textbook of the authors S. Gorokhov and T. Hristova "Religions of the Peoples of the World", there are several branches of Christianity, each of which has its own symbolism. The Orthodox use four-, six- and eight-pointed crosses, Egyptian Christians - the Coptic cross, Catholics and some Protestants recognize only the four-pointed cross, and the Old Believers - only eight-pointed. But they all equally believe in the immortality of the soul and recognize the existence of heaven and hell.