The Early Coptic Papacy

Stephen J. Davis is professor of religious studies, history, and Near Eastern languages and civilizations at Yale University, specializing in late ancient and medieval Christianity. He is the author of several books, including Coptic Christology in Practice and Christ Child: Cultural Memories of a Young Jesus, and executive director of the Yale Monastic Archaeology Project (YMAP), which has sponsored archaeological and archival work at several monastic sites in both Lower and Upper Egypt.

"Recommended for any collection on Eastern Christian Churches."--curled up with a good book"Substantiates the Coptic Church as a subject in religious studies with its own history worthy of study."--Midwest Book Review"This innovative and authoritative book goes beyond the basic facts to show how the early patriarchs of the Coptic church crafted their images and constructed their authority. Essential reading for historians of ancient Christianity and for all scholars of Coptic Egypt."--David Brakke, Ohio State University"A lucid, meticulous, and highly accessible account of papal institutions in early Egyptian Christianity. Not only does Davis juggle an impressive collection of primary documents, with great mastery and finesse, but his approach also reveals how critical events surrounding the early papacy--from political intrigue to theological feuds--shaped Coptic understandings of Christology, martyrdom, communal leadership, and conquest. A critical read for any student of Christianity in Egypt and the Middle East."--Febe Armanios, author of Coptic Christianity in Ottoman Egypt