\Coptic Church\
The native church of Egypt or church of Alexandria, which in
general organization and doctrines resembles the Roman
Catholic Church, except that it holds to the Monophysitic
doctrine which was condemned (a. d. 451) by the council of
Chalcedon, and allows its priests to marry. The ``pope and
patriarch'' has jurisdiction over the Abyssinian Church.
Since the 7th century the Coptic Church has been so isolated
from modifying influences that in many respects it is the
most ancient monument of primitive Christian rites and
ceremonies. But centuries of subjection to Moslem rule have
weakened and degraded it.