The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian church of Egypt and one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. According to its tradition, it was founded in Alexandria by Saint Mark the Evangelist in the first century, and the date shown reflects that tradition. Its leader is the Pope of Alexandria. The church separated from the Roman and Byzantine churches after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 over questions about the nature of Christ, and it belongs to the family of Oriental Orthodox churches. Its liturgy preserves the Coptic language, a descendant of ancient Egyptian, and it has endured through centuries of Muslim rule as the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.
Before and after
- 16 March 37 CEDeath of Tiberius
- 15 December 37 CEBirth of Nero
- 30 December 39 CEBirth of Titus
- 24 January 41 CEDeath of Caligula
- 42 CEOrigins of Coptic Orthodox Church
- 43 CERome invades Britain
- c. 47 CEOrigins of London
- 48 CEPublication of Epistle to the Galatians
- 1st centuryConstruction of Pont du Gard
More in Art, literature & culture
- from c. 776 BCE to 500 CEAncient Olympic Games
- c. 520 BCECarving of the Behistun inscription
- c. 430s BCEHerodotus writes the Histories
- 2nd century BCEVenus de Milo
- c. 4 BCENativity of Jesus
- 325 CEFirst Council of Nicaea
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 1st century.