Coptic Orthodox church near Atlanta

[sprtslvr1973]

I have so far only found two, one in Suwanee and one in Roswell. Can anyone tell me if there are any others closer to the city. Also is there any unique ettiquette I should follow relating to liturgy and such? FYI I am a member of the OCA

[Salpy]

This is the only resource I could find:

http://www.suscopts.org/diocese/churches/

Georgia is at the bottom of the page.

As for etiquette, if you are polite and respectful I imagine you'll be OK.  :-)  Copts and other Oriental Orthodox cross themselves in the same direction as the Catholics.  If you click on the Coptic Orthodox Church tag below, you'll find many other threads about that Church.

[deusveritasest]

What is the particular reason you are looking for a Coptic church? Is it one that wouldn't be satisfied by any other OO church?

[sprtslvr1973]

What is the particular reason you are looking for a Coptic church? Is it one that wouldn't be satisfied by any other OO church?

Well, it seems a little like going from Presbyterian (PCUSA) to a PCA church or from American Baptist to Southern Baptist. Along with a little less overt esotericism, I would like to get a closer look at what appears to be a more conservative jurisdiction.

On another note, has the OO officially accepted Jesus' two natures? This is very important to me.

[Salpy]

When we say we believe in one nature, we mean one in a united sense, not in a numerical sense.  We believe Christ is fully divine and fully human, without division or confusion.  We prefer to express that belief with the phrase used by St. Cyril:  "One incarnate nature of God the Word."

http://books.google.com/books?id=jid2euyrdAYC&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=one+incarnate+nature+of+God+the+Word&source=bl&ots=YXy_beiP7K&sig=2aVGFb6vV1BoRegEFPWjvxwkSFk&hl=en&ei=uICNTOWAAY22sAOZmfykBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=one%20incarnate%20nature%20of%20God%20the%20Word&f=false

What I said above is a very basic explanation.  If you click the Chalcedon tag, below, you'll get more threads about this.  Just so you know, debates on the topic go in a private forum.  To get access to the private forum, you need to pm Fr. Chris and ask him for admission.   

[deusveritasest]

Well, it seems a little like going from Presbyterian (PCUSA) to a PCA church or from American Baptist to Southern Baptist. Along with a little less overt esotericism, I would like to get a closer look at what appears to be a more conservative jurisdiction.

Well, I think going to an Ethiopian church would satisfy your search just as much. From what I can tell, there are 2 if not 3 Ethiopian congregations all significantly closer to the center of Atlanta.

I found the website for one of them: http://www.kmariam.org/

I hope some members of the EOTC could add some information.

On another note, has the OO officially accepted Jesus' two natures? This is very important to me.

It really depends. "Nature" has turned out to be a rather vague term Christologically. If you explain what it means for Christ to have two natures to you, I could answer.

[Salpy]

Coptic churches will probably be more likely to have English services.  (Of course he can find that out by making phone calls before he goes, or checking the websites.  )

[sprtslvr1973]

I went to my first Coptic service this morning. Man what stamina! I definitely plan to return, but 3 HOURS!. I don't know if I can do that perpetually.

BTW I sat in on the adult fellowship meeting for a while. I was pleased to meet a teacher on fire. Unf. some of the 'ethnic' (and St. Mary's is definitely ethnic!) were more focused on their background than their faith. This church was not like that at all thank God.

I am not sure when if I will go back next week, as the parish is very far from my house and I have monster test the following Monday to study for. In fact I think I may look at different Orthodox churches around the city for a while.

[deusveritasest]

I don't know that it would always be 3 hours. Fairly often the local Coptic liturgies are rather 2.5 hours.

[deusveritasest]

OTOH, they can be significantly longer. The (I think) longest, the Good Friday service, was 9 hours this year at the Coptic church I went to.

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