The Orthodox Faith
The Coptic Church, founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in Alexandria circa 43 A.D., embodies an ancient tradition rooted in the Nicene Creed. Championed by luminaries like St. Athanasius, it staunchly defends the doctrine of Christ's Divinity. The term "Coptic," derived from "Aigyptos," emphasizes its Egyptian heritage, while "Orthodoxy" underscores its commitment to preserving the original faith amid historical challenges. From its origin, the Church has been a beacon of spiritual enlightenment, nurturing saints and martyrs and fostering a rich tapestry of worship, asceticism, and cultural engagement. Today, the Coptic Church stands as a timeless yet vibrant testament to apostolic tradition, offering a sanctuary where the divine meets the contemporary, and where the pursuit of holiness remains paramount.
What We Believe About Education
We believe that Education is not merely about imparting information and experiences, but rather about the cultivation of a human soul, helping it to receive the insights and traditions of the ancients, so that a person can live a life of virtue, walk according to wisdom and live in harmony with the world and with the community around him.
We believe that intelligence is not rare, but a state of the healthy mind. As such, it can and should be nurtured and encouraged. We believe that wisdom can be nurtured and cultivated in a positive, affirming, and intelligent learning environment. We believe that the development of whole, healthy individuals requires that our many dimensions be nurtured, including the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional.
Education in the Orthodox Church
In the days of old, the Church of Alexandria (i.e., the Coptic Orthodox Church) established one of the greatest institutes of Christian learning: the Catechetical School of Alexandria. The Church Fathers in this school adopted a holistic and coherent view of the world: Christ is the center of everything, and He is not separate from any of the academic disciplines that we study, and through Him we can, with discernment, embrace all that is Beautiful, Good, and True in all human endeavors.
The School of Alexandria produced great saints and intellectual giants of their age: the likes of Pantaenus, Clement, Origen, Athanasius, Didymus, Cyril and (later by extension) Basil, Gregory Nazianzen and Gregoy of Nyssa. These are the role models we wish our children to emulate! And we as a school wish to educate our children the way the Fathers were educated!