Flag ratio: 2:3

The Coptic flag was created in 2005 by Coptic activists in different countries to represent Coptic communities both in Egypt and in the diaspora. Many Copts worldwide have adopted it as a symbol of Coptic identity. Image File history File links CopticFlag007. ... Image File history File links CopticFlag007. ... Image File history File links FIAV_111110. ... Religions Coptic Orthodox Christianity, Coptic Catholicism, Protestantism Scriptures Bible Languages Mari, Coptic, Arabic, English, French, German A Copt (Coptic: , literally: Egyptian Christian) is a native Egyptian Christian. ...

Background

Copts voice opposition to many aspects of Egypt's political life. One of these is the present-day Egyptian flag, which many Copts feel does not represent their community (though some Muslim Egyptians appear to have voiced similar concerns). The pattern closely resembles those of other Arabic-speaking countries, a symbol of Arab nationalism rejected by many Copts (and many Egyptians in general), along with the official title of the country "Arab Republic of Egypt", as if to distinguish between an Arab Egypt and one that is not (see also Egypt#Identity). In this respect, taking into consideration that Copts are especially likely not to consider themselves Arab (since Egyptians are not really Arabs^[1]), the current Egyptian flag alienates the Egyptian Christian minority in its homeland. National flag of Egypt (1984-present) The flag of Egypt in its current form was adopted on October 4, 1984. ... Arab nationalism refers to a common nationalist ideology in wider Arab world. ... Anthem Bilady, Bilady, Bilady Capital (and largest city) Cairo Official languages Arabic1 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Hosni Mubarak  -  Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif Establishment  -  First Dynasty c. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Coptic flag arose from the conviction that any group has a right to represent itself through an emblem or a flag in its larger society and the world. It is in line with examples such as the emblem of the Muslim Brotherhood (two swords surrounding the Koran), and the flag of the Lebanese phalanges (a red circle surrounding a green cedar tree). Other examples include the flag of the Lebanese Hezbollah and the flag of the Assyrian minority, which flies side by side with the Iraqi national flag at Assyrian churches. The Muslim Brotherhood or The Muslim Brothers (Arabic: الإخوان المسلمون al-ikhwān al-muslimÅ«n, full title The Society of the Muslim Brothers, often simply الإخوان al-ikhwān, the Brotherhood or MB) is a world-wide Sunni Islamist movement founded by the sufi schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in 1928. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Phalange redirects here. ... Species Cedrus deodara Cedrus libani    var. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Hezbollah, while sometimes found in different colours, is usually composed of the green logo of the Shia militant organization Hezbollah, upon a yellow background with text above and below the logo in red (or sometimes green). ... The Assyrian flag consists of a golden circle at the center which represents the sun. ... The flag of Iraq has had four different designs since the estalishment of Iraq in 1921. ... Languages Assyrian, Chaldean, Turoyo Religions Christianity An entry was temporarily removed here. ...

Nevertheless, in view of the Copts' Egyptian patriotism and their attachment to their country, and from the standpoint of respecting the opinion of other Egyptians, Coptic or Muslim, who might consider the national flag representative, Copts continue to call upon respecting the current flag of Egypt. The Coptic flag came about as a compromise; one that represents the Copts and highlights their non-Arab, non-Muslim identity. Some Copts have begun using the new flag alongside the official Egyptian flag. Copts view this as a way to reconcile their pride in their Coptic identity with their allegiance and strong attachment to Egypt, as well as with their desire for peaceful coexistence with their compatriots. The word Copt signifies the natives of Egypt as a nationality, and in popular common culture in Egypt it is used to specifically signify Christian Egyptians, although its use to mean Egyptian is not unwitnessed. ... The word Copt signifies the natives of Egypt as a nationality, and in popular common culture in Egypt it is used to specifically signify Christian Egyptians, although its use to mean Egyptian is not unwitnessed. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... The word Copt signifies the natives of Egypt as a nationality, and in popular common culture in Egypt it is used to specifically signify Christian Egyptians, although its use to mean Egyptian is not unwitnessed. ... National flag of Egypt (1984-present) The flag of Egypt in its current form was adopted on October 4, 1984. ...

The Coptic Flag

The Coptic Coat of Arms

The Coptic Flag consists of two main components: a blue cross and a colorful coat of arms. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

• The cross represents Christianity, the Copts' religion. The blue color stems from the Egyptian sky and water. It also reminds the Copts of their persecution, when some of Muslim rulers forced their ancestors to wear heavy crosses around their necks until their neck bones became blue.^[2][3]

• The top of the coat of arms is decorated with Coptic crosses intertwined with lotus flowers, representing Egyptian identity. Coptic crosses are made of four arms equal in length, each of which is crossed by a shorter arm. They are different from the more conventional crosses that possess three short arms and a longer arm. The lotus flower, also known as the Egyptian White Water Lily Nymphaea lotus, is one of ancient Egypt's most highly-regarded flowers. It used to represent creation and resurrection, for it disappears under water after sunset, then resurfaces and blooms at dawn. An ancient Egyptian creation myth states that the first thing to have been born from the watery chaos of the beginning of time was a giant lotus flower, which, on the first day of creation, gave birth to the sun.

The black background behind the ornaments is a symbol of Kimi or Kemet, the Egyptian name of Egypt, which means the Black Land. Ancient Egyptians gave their country this name since the waters of the Nile used to bring black soil during the inundation season and deposit it on the banks of the Nile, thus fertilizing them. The contrast between the yellow and the black is a symbol of the Copts' Christian faith and Egyptian identity that still shine amid the darkness of the persecution they have been suffering over the centuries. Beneath these ornaments is a green line in the middle of the coat of arms, which represents the Nile Valley. Around it are two yellow lines that symbolize the Eastern and Western Deserts of Egypt. These two lines are in turn flanked by two blue lines that represent the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea that enclose Egypt. Finally, these lines are separated by red lines symbolizing Coptic blood, which has been shed all over Egypt since Egyptians adopted Christianity and until today. Jesus Christ in a Coptic icon. ... The word Copt signifies the natives of Egypt as a nationality, and in popular common culture in Egypt it is used to specifically signify Christian Egyptians, although its use to mean Egyptian is not unwitnessed. ... Lotus has many definitions. ... Coptic is an adjective referring to the original inhabitants of Egypt, the Copts. ... Lotus has many definitions. ... Binomial name Nymphaea lotus L. Nymphaea lotus, the Tiger Lotus or Egyptian White Water-lily, is a flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae that grows in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ... Egyptian goddess Isis Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the beliefs and rituals of Ancient Egypt. ... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... ... The Western Desert is a desert region West of the Nile in Egypt, extending to Libya. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Location of the Red Sea The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch...

References

• The Coptic Flag, Meanings and Colors

• The Coptic Flag (Arabic)

External links

• The Launch of Free Copts
• The Coptic flag announcement (Arabic)