The Coptic history in Egypt starts with the introduction of Christianity in the 1st C.  A.D.     in 60 AD Saint Mark the Evangelist him self started preaching Christianity at Alexandria. Due to the Roman persecution , He suffered martyrdom in 68 A.D. He is called the patriarch number one of Egypt in the long list 0f 117 today. The place he was buried in was the same place for the first cathedral of Alexandria. saint mark thus was regarded as the founder of the Coptic church and its  first Egyptian patriarch. The Coptic church adopts the orthodox curriculum and quite independent from any other all over the world. Pop Shenoda the 3rd is No.117 successor of Saint Mark and considered as a counter part of the Vatican Pop John Paul.

Icon St. Mark Icon (7hudreds AD) from "Hanging Church" @  Old Cairo., is considered to be the oldest of 110 icons found in this 4th century church. This icon was painted by a monk in upper Egypt in the 8th c. It is a faithful copy of an earlier one painted for Saint Mark by St Luke. it is worth mentioning that; The oldest icon in the church  is 8th c and the newest is 18th c.

The cave churches are incomparable site to any in the whole world. A place that would take you back in time to the early 1st and 2nd c of Christianity.