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

This Great Mystery of Life is an introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church by Fr Antonios Kaldas, for anyone interested in life's Big Questions, in a little-known two-thousand-year-old Christian Church, or in knowing their own Church better.

For most of us, life is a mystery. Coptic Orthodox Christianity offers a distinctly Eastern approach, helping us navigate the mysteries of life 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 its ancient ways and its African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean culture meet 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 the inside and books written about Copts from the 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 issues facing the Church today, in Egypt and in its growing diaspora. A glossary of Coptic terms is included.

Fr Antonios Kaldas, a former medical doctor, has been a parish priest in Sydney since 1991 and lectures in Philosophy and Apologetics at St Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological College.

Fr. Antonios Kaldas has served as parish priest of Archangel Michael and St. Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church in Mount Druitt, Sydney, Australia, since 1991. He was previously a medical doctor, has been heavily involved in the spiritual education of children and youth, is currently an active researcher in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science and lectures in Philosophy and Apologetics at St. Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological College in the Sydney College of Divinity. He is married with two adult children and a number of pets.