Liturgical foods and dietary habits in Coptic orthodox Christianity: history and meaning

الملخص EN

In Coptic Christianity, there are some kinds of food connected to different Coptic liturgical occasions and other traditional feasts specified in Coptic calendar.

certain types of food should be eaten during Coptic fasting periods, while some other food items are prohibited.

there are some types of food and food habits are linked to rituals, religious ceremonies and social occasions, which have become over the ages an important part of Coptic heritage.

there is a lack of work on Coptic culture and heritage as most of Coptic studies focus on Coptic art and archaeology, neglecting social and cultural traditions of Copts especially those related to food habits and their origin which is sometimes deeply rooted in the Egyptian society since the ancient Egyptian era.

Coptic food culture is an important aspect of the Coptic heritage that needs further studies.

therefore, this study discusses the liturgical foods and food traditions in Coptic Christianity, explaining the different occasions of having these foods, whether religious, social or even traditional.

it focuses on the historical origins of some types of food or the raw ingredients that made up Coptic diet and their significance.

the study also highlights the reason for the rooting of these food habits in the Egyptian society since ancient times, aiming to clarify this particular part of Coptic heritage in Egypt.

it also aims to record and preserve this part of Coptic civilization in order to avoid its loss, and raise the social awareness of its importance throughout the ages.