There is no doubt that the history of Christianity is truly remarkable in all ways. How a group of 120 Christians soon became over two billion Christians all over the world. Among the hidden gems of Church history are the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which are the Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian, and Eritrean Churches. These churches, along with their bishops, priests, deacons, and laity have stuck to the true doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ and have not stopped teaching the true teachings of Christ our Lord. Their history is intriguing, and is worth learning about.

The history of these churches that will be covered in this article are only a surface level history of these churches, and some important parts may be accidentally omitted. For any Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian, or Eritrean Orthodox Christian who happen to read this, please comment any additional details to the history of these churches that are important to know about. For the truth is important, and we need to know the truth. But without any further ado, let's get right into it.

The History of the Oriental Orthodox Churches begins in the time of the Apostles, when the Apostle Mark, the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark, established a church in Alexandria around AD 42, which became known as the Coptic Orthodox Church. Mark of course stuck with this Apostolic Church, and strengthened it daily with his Apostolic authority, strengthening the bishops, priests, deacons, and laity in light of the Gospel and in the true doctrine of Christ. However, in AD 68, the Apostle Mark was martyred under the great persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero. Coptic tradition states that he was dragged through the streets, his body being ripped apart until he fell asleep. But from that time, the Coptic Orthodox Church remained steadfast in the faith, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

In addition, in Acts of the Apostles Chapter 8, the Apostle Luke records the time when the deacon Philip converted the Ethiopian Eunuch to Christianity, baptizing him. This was the beginning of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Some traditions state that the Apostle Matthew was evangelizing in Ethiopia, and it was there that he sanctified the place with his martyr's blood. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was founded formally in 328 AD on a synodal level, meaning in a setting with a council that formally made the church. They still carry the Apostolic faith to this day. The conversion of the king at the time, King Ezana, also played a role in establishing the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

The Eritrean Orthodox Church, being near Ethiopia, had a similar conversion as well. It was formally founded by synod in 329 AD, still rooted in Apostolic roots. In fact, its first Bishop was St. Frumentius, who was assigned by none other than Saint Athanasius, the Patriarch of Alexandria at the time. Athanasius also assigned Bishops to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well. They kept to the faith, and stayed steadfast in it.

The Syriac Orthodox Church can trace their origins to the time of the Apostles, similar to the Coptic Orthodox Church. When Saint Peter came to Antioch and became the Bishop of Antioch around AD 42, this is when the Syriac Orthodox Church can trace their origins back. Thus, they too have Apostolic roots and have also kept to the faith of Jesus Christ since the time of the Apostles. The legendary Saint Ignatius of Antioch served as the Bishop of Antioch, which the Syriac Orthodox Church says they are descended from too. To this day, they have kept the Apostolic faith and succession in that region.

Finally, the Armenian Orthodox Church also has a rich founding as well. In 301 AD, the king of Armenia converted to Christianity, and established it as the state religion of Armenia, giving the Armenian Orthodox Church Apostolic roots, and also unique in all of Christendom in that it was the first national Church, because Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion. Thus, it enjoyed peace in its time, and continued to be steadfast in the faith as well.

All five of these Churches, which all have their roots in the Disciples of Jesus Christ, make up the Oriental Orthodox Church, because they all are in communion with one another, and they have kept true beliefs since the time of the Apostles. However, they are at the time of writing not in communion with the rest of Christendom, which includes the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. This is because at the fourth Ecumenical Council, called the Council of Chalcedon, there arose a dispute about Christology, which is the study and knowledge of Christ. The Oriental Orthodox Church are Miaphysites, meaning they say Jesus Christ has two natures, divine and human, but they are united in one single nature. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, as well as Protestantism are Dyophysites, meaning that they confess that Jesus Christ does have two natures, divine and human, united in one person, Jesus Christ, and those two natures are inseparable and indivisible from each other. However, the dispute was sharp enough that it caused a schism between Oriental Orthodoxy and the rest of Christendom, and to this day, the schism is still in effect, after 1575 years. Still, the Oriental Orthodox Church still hold on to the Apostolic faith.

When Islam arose in the Middle East in the 600s, this really threatened the Oriental Orthodox Church, because Islam threatened Christians with physical death and torture. But the Oriental Orthodox Church remained steadfast in the faith, even under very intense persecution, which goes to show their steadfastness in the faith and patience under suffering. From the time in which Islam reigned as the dominant force in the Middle East, the Coptics, Syriacs, Armenians, Ethiopians, and Eritreans were like islands of Christianity in a sea of Islam. But they had no fear, even in the face of death. Although intensely persecuted, Christ was with them during their trials, and he did not allow his Church to be destroyed by the hand of Islam.

To this day, the Oriental Orthodox Church is still going strong in the faith, and recently the schism between them and the rest of Christendom have shown hopes of being completely healed. God still worked miracles in the Oriental Orthodox Church, most notably Our Lady of Zetioun on Saint Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church. The Oriental Orthodox Church serves as an example to all Christians today, that we should be patient in suffering, steadfast while persecuted, and kind even when mistreated. Amen.