Josephus - Page 3 of 3

Taxation In Roman Egypt

TAXATION IN ROMAN EGYPT A leading authority on taxes and “liturgies” (unpaid obligations) in Roman Egypt summarized very aptly, “No ancient government and few modern ones have had a tax structure rivalling in intricacy that of Roman Egypt. There we confront a staggering array of charges and surcharges assessed upon the person, the land, occupations …

Taxation In Roman Egypt Read More »

Babylon

Places / By Arsanious Adel

BABYLON The oldest part of the city of Cairo. Babylon is situated on the east bank of the Nile, to some extent on the border between Upper and Lower Egypt. The same spot marks the mouth of a canal, originally cut about 600 B.C., which connected the Nile to the Red Sea. The city was …

Babylon Read More »

Apocryphal Literature

Books, History / By Arsanious Adel

APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE Properly speaking, this consists of the so-called Old Testament pseudepigrapha. The Old Testament books called “apocryphal” by Protestants and “deuterocanonical” by Roman Catholics were until recently included in the biblical canon of the Coptic church. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century and by order of CYRIL V (1874-1927) were the following …

Apocryphal Literature Read More »

Philo Of Alexandria (C. 20 B.C.-A.D. 50)

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA (c. 20 B.C.-A.D. 50) An Alexandrian Jewish statesman and philosopher. He was of priestly descent, but otherwise little is known of his career, except that he took part in the Alexandrian Jewish embassy to the emperor Caligula in A.D. 39-40, following the anti-Jewish riots in Alexandria in 38. Philo’s native language was …

Philo Of Alexandria (C. 20 B.C.-A.D. 50) Read More »

Paganism And Christianity In Egypt

History / By Armia FAYEZ

PAGANISM AND CHRISTIANITY IN EGYPT During the Roman era, the religious life of Egypt was characterized by great diversity. First, there was the traditional religion inherited from the pharaonic age. The theology and the rituals of the past were preserved by the priests in a number of pharaonic-style temples, such as those in Dandarah, Isna, …

Paganism And Christianity In Egypt Read More »

John The Baptist, Saint

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

JOHN THE BAPTIST, SAINT In the New Testament the forerunner of the Messiah (feast day: 30 Ba’unah). He is called Ioannes ho Baptistes because in Matthew 3:6-11 he prepares for the coming of Christ by administering the baptism of conversion and penance. His origin and mission are described in Luke 1:5-80 as parallel to those …

John The Baptist, Saint Read More »

Ebionites

History / By Youssef Matta

EBIONITES Judaizing Christians who developed into a separate sect by the last quarter of the second century and had some influence on the early history of the church in Egypt. The term “Ebion” is probably derived from the Hebrew ebyon (the poor). It is an attribute of those who serve the Lord, in contrast with …

Ebionites Read More »