- *30 differences between COPTIC & EOTC* - Purpose: This was written to educate and give Ethiopian believers a BETTER understanding of the origin of their faith, history and tradition and answer why the EOTC is quite different from other orthodoxies. This should not to be interpreted in the wrong way, unity is important but so is transparency. Author: As an Ethiopian Orthodox servant and having attended several Coptic liturgies, and from theological research on both churches, I can tell you we the EOTC have SO MANY differences. ✅ ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED! *Dogma Differences* 1. We believe that Saint Mary was born without original sin 2. We believe that Saint Mary has NO fallen nature no sin or nature to sin after birth as well *Jewish Practices* Matt 5:17 - “I did not come to abolish the Law” 1. We have Ark Processions year-round 2. We abstain from all unclean food (Halal, pork, shrimp, crab, etc) 3. We do no enter church if we are unclean (men and women) 4. We wear all white shawls (Netelas) as a symbol of Christ’s Resurrection and spiritual purity 5. We have a shoeless entry (not just during communion) 6. We abstain from any modern instruments (piano, guitar, etc) 7. We have 81 books in the Bible (Coptics have 74) 8. We go of Halachic Jewish Time (Fasting entry and exits are based of our sun and star movements (Twilight) and our hours are reversed (12=6, 9=3) 9. We observe Friday evening and Saturday as the Sabbath (in addition to Sunday) 10. Women after giving birth have to wait 40 days or 80 days to enter church. ( Lev 12) *EOTC Belief System* 1. We abstain from any fish on fasting days (It is a meat - 1 Cor 15:39) 2. We eat starting at 3pm on fasting days 3. We fast 292 days of the year (including Tsige & Pagume Fast) 4. Women are not allowed to wear pants only ankle length dresses (Deut 22:5) 5. We never imprint (wear) icons of saints on clergical or any other clothes 6. We have a 2 or more priest liturgy system (Coptics have 1) 7. We close curtains during significant moments 8. To be a Deacon you must be a unmarried virgin 9. We have 14 liturgies (Coptics have 3) 10. We celebrate all 33 feasts for Saint Mary and all 18 feasts of Jesus with millions in attendance year round 11. We have Hymnaries (Mahlet) 4-10 hours short version and 24-48 hours long on Epiphany and Horologions (Sa’tat) 12. We perform year- round Subae’s (7 days of no food or water) 13. Believers have (Full Body - Holy Water) services year round for healing and forgiveness of sin 14. We do not eat bread inside church 15. Only men can pour Holy Water 16. The Holy Trinity Icon is always depicted (Coptics use mostly Jesus and the 4 creatures of the Gospel) 17. We have to fast 18 hours to take communion (3 days of no intercourse) 18. We prohibit any use of contraceptives or birth control (Genesis 38:6-11) *Explanation:* While we didn’t establish a church prior to Coptics, Ethiopia was and is historically known as the First Christian Kingdom and Civilization (Reference: Prophecy Psalms 72: 9-10 along with multiple Church sources shows that one of the three wise man has been confirmed Ethiopian, Acts 8 shows Christianity teaching existed in Ethiopia and Aksum Kingdom predates back to BC showing traces of Christianity prior to Armenian Church). And so while we the EOTC are labeled “oriental” with our sister churches, we are the only orthodox nation who incorporate 4000 year old Jewish customs (Judeo-Christianity) and Jewish forms of worship and tradition into our faith. The reason for this is because we were the only Orthodox country to convert from Christianity’s former faith so we hold very sacred information or the “original link” that drives our Christian faith to be more conservative or allows us to have more divine levels of worship (Ark Processions year round, Hymnaries (Mahlet), (Horologions (Sa’tat), Subae (7 days of no food or water), Year round Full Body Holy Water Services, all white clothing, shoeless entry, restraining from unclean meat and 292 days of fasting to name a few all makes our orthodoxy unique different and special in every way compared to all other oriental and eastern orthodoxies but most importantly and evidently seen is our love of Saint Mary. Ethiopia is in fact called the Land of Mary. Thank you have a nice day. Blessings in Christ Sources: 1. EOTC Sunday School Department Immaculate Conception - eotcmk.org/e/the-birth-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-2/ 2. M/r RODAS ua-cam.com/video/1i7DUmLkR_83/v-deo.html. 3. MAHBER KIDUSAN ua-cam.com/video/73ybOkqsM1I/v-deo.html 4. Dersane Gabriel Tahsas Ch. 21-22 5. Ethiopia’s 4000 year history m.ua-cam.com/video/pd1J_527Cxk/v-deo.html 6. Lika Likawnt Ezra - Promised Land Saint Mary ua-cam.com/video/V8vBa78tvMI/v-deo.html 7. Holy Synod’s published document titled “The Doctrine and Foreign Relations of the EOTC” 8. No Fish on Fasting Day (EOTC) ua-cam.com/video/l1Q2CvMebtQ/v-deo.html 9. Fetha Negest 10. Mesafe Kebur 11. Kebra Negest 12. The Didache Ch 6
What an amazing video, may the intercessions of the mother of God always be with us.
Thanks abouna am very grateful for the message
- *30 differences between COPTIC & EOTC* -
Purpose: This was written to educate and give Ethiopian believers a BETTER understanding of the origin of their faith, history and tradition and answer why the EOTC is quite different from other orthodoxies. This should not to be interpreted in the wrong way, unity is important but so is transparency.
Author: As an Ethiopian Orthodox servant and having attended several Coptic liturgies, and from theological research on both churches, I can tell you we the EOTC have SO MANY differences.
✅ ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED!
*Dogma Differences*
1. We believe that Saint Mary was born without original sin
2. We believe that Saint Mary has NO fallen nature no sin or nature to sin after birth as well
*Jewish Practices*
Matt 5:17 - “I did not come to abolish the Law”
1. We have Ark Processions year-round
2. We abstain from all unclean food (Halal, pork, shrimp, crab, etc)
3. We do no enter church if we are unclean (men and women)
4. We wear all white shawls (Netelas) as a symbol of Christ’s Resurrection and spiritual purity
5. We have a shoeless entry (not just during communion)
6. We abstain from any modern instruments (piano, guitar, etc)
7. We have 81 books in the Bible (Coptics have 74)
8. We go of Halachic Jewish Time (Fasting entry and exits are based of our sun and star movements (Twilight) and our hours are reversed (12=6, 9=3)
9. We observe Friday evening and Saturday as the Sabbath (in addition to Sunday)
10. Women after giving birth have to wait 40 days or 80 days to enter church. ( Lev 12)
*EOTC Belief System*
1. We abstain from any fish on fasting days (It is a meat - 1 Cor 15:39)
2. We eat starting at 3pm on fasting days
3. We fast 292 days of the year (including Tsige & Pagume Fast)
4. Women are not allowed to wear pants only ankle length dresses (Deut 22:5)
5. We never imprint (wear) icons of saints on clergical or any other clothes
6. We have a 2 or more priest liturgy system (Coptics have 1)
7. We close curtains during significant moments
8. To be a Deacon you must be a unmarried virgin
9. We have 14 liturgies (Coptics have 3)
10. We celebrate all 33 feasts for Saint Mary and all 18 feasts of Jesus with millions in attendance year round
11. We have Hymnaries (Mahlet) 4-10 hours short version and 24-48 hours long on Epiphany and Horologions (Sa’tat)
12. We perform year- round Subae’s (7 days of no food or water)
13. Believers have (Full Body - Holy Water) services year round for healing and forgiveness of sin
14. We do not eat bread inside church
15. Only men can pour Holy Water
16. The Holy Trinity Icon is always depicted (Coptics use mostly Jesus and the 4 creatures of the Gospel)
17. We have to fast 18 hours to take communion (3 days of no intercourse)
18. We prohibit any use of contraceptives or birth control (Genesis 38:6-11)
*Explanation:*
While we didn’t establish a church prior to Coptics, Ethiopia was and is historically known as the First Christian Kingdom and Civilization (Reference: Prophecy Psalms 72: 9-10 along with multiple Church sources shows that one of the three wise man has been confirmed Ethiopian, Acts 8 shows Christianity teaching existed in Ethiopia and Aksum Kingdom predates back to BC showing traces of Christianity prior to Armenian Church). And so while we the EOTC are labeled “oriental” with our sister churches, we are the only orthodox nation who incorporate 4000 year old Jewish customs (Judeo-Christianity) and Jewish forms of worship and tradition into our faith. The reason for this is because we were the only Orthodox country to convert from Christianity’s former faith so we hold very sacred information or the “original link” that drives our Christian faith to be more conservative or allows us to have more divine levels of worship (Ark Processions year round, Hymnaries (Mahlet), (Horologions (Sa’tat), Subae (7 days of no food or water), Year round Full Body Holy Water Services, all white clothing, shoeless entry, restraining from unclean meat and 292 days of fasting to name a few all makes our orthodoxy unique different and special in every way compared to all other oriental and eastern orthodoxies but most importantly and evidently seen is our love of Saint Mary. Ethiopia is in fact called the Land of Mary.
Thank you have a nice day.
Blessings in Christ
Sources:
1. EOTC Sunday School Department Immaculate Conception - eotcmk.org/e/the-birth-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-2/
2. M/r RODAS
ua-cam.com/video/1i7DUmLkR_83/v-deo.html.
3. MAHBER KIDUSAN
ua-cam.com/video/73ybOkqsM1I/v-deo.html
4. Dersane Gabriel Tahsas Ch. 21-22
5. Ethiopia’s 4000 year history
m.ua-cam.com/video/pd1J_527Cxk/v-deo.html
6. Lika Likawnt Ezra - Promised Land Saint Mary
ua-cam.com/video/V8vBa78tvMI/v-deo.html
7. Holy Synod’s published document titled “The Doctrine and Foreign Relations of the EOTC”
8. No Fish on Fasting Day (EOTC)
ua-cam.com/video/l1Q2CvMebtQ/v-deo.html
9. Fetha Negest
10. Mesafe Kebur
11. Kebra Negest
12. The Didache Ch 6
Amen