Capstone

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this grade is to understand the challenges faced by the Coptic Church in the modern era. There are significant reforms that took place beginning in 1952 and continuing today. In addition to these reforms, students should have a firm grasp of the influences that Pope Kyrillos VI and Pope Shenouda III had on the Coptic Church in the modern world.

INSTRUCTIONS/IDEAS

• Students should form groups assigned to research an important figure from the modern era (1952 - present)
• After a period of research, the groups will present to the class the pertinent information from the life of the assigned pope or figure.

Archdeacon Habib Girgis (Dean of the School of Alexandria 1918 - 1951)

• Second dean of the modern-day School of Alexandria
• Established Sunday schools in 1900
• Aided Pope Kyrillos V in expanding the seminary
• Canonized on 20 June 2013

Pope Yousab (1946 - 1956)

• Foundation of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies

Pope Kyrillos VI (1959 - 1971)

• Inauguration of St. Mark Cathedral in the monastery of Anba Rowais
• Return of relics of St. Mark
• Continues to perform miracles

Pope Shenouda III (1971 - 2012)

• First to visit patriarch of Rome and Constantinople since Chalcedon
• Rapid establishment of churches in the US, Australia, Canada, Switzerland
• Modernized several canon regulations
• Led the church through a steep increase in persecutions (beginning in 2000)

Pope Tawadros II (2012 - present)

• His enthronement coincided with extreme persecution from the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013
• 2015 beheading of Libyan Copts
• Bombings in multiple churches (Botroseya)