Introduction to Part 1

What is it about?

Christianity in Egypt: A History of the Coptic Orthodox and Evangelical Presbyterian Churches (Brill, 2026), 364 pages, is a brief, fast-paced, and lively survey of Christianity in Egypt. The author, Michael Parker, beings with the pre-Christian history of Egypt and then move rapidly and confidently through all the periods of Egyptian history: the early Christian period, ca. AD 50-641; the Islamic Middle Ages, 641-1798; and finally, the modern era, 1798 to about 2020. Parker explains the contributions and controversies surrounding the great theologians of Egypt’s early Christian period: Origen, Athanasius, and Cyril. He observes the trials as well as the accomplishments of the church during the Islamic period. And for the modern period, he explains the intersection of politics and Christianity, and the fruitful tension between the Coptic Orthodox Church its Protestant challenger, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. There is no other book currently on the market that gives such a comprehensive survey of this history, or one that reviews that history almost to the present moment.

Featured Image

Photo by Dilip Poddar on Unsplash

Photo by Dilip Poddar on Unsplash

Why is it important?

From the back cover: "Christianity in Egypt offers a lively, clear, and nuanced survey of the Coptic Orthodox and Evangelical presbyterian Churches against the panorama of Egyptian history from antiquity to the present. Michael Parker has succeeded in writing a book that will appeal to experts, newcomers, and students alike. With its lucid explanations and fascinating details, the narrative is a delight to read from beginning to end!" - Heather J. Sharkey, Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Pennsylvania.