Coptic Studies Courses at the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto

Since 2006 the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations (NMC)  has been offering the following courses in Coptic Studies:

• Elementary Coptic 1 & 2 (Sahidic)

• Introduction to Coptic Studies

• Coptic Art and Archaeology

• History and Sources of Egyptian Monasticisms

• Archaeology of Egyptian Monasticism

Check the NMC website for more information on courses offered each year  www.nmc.utoronto.ca

In 2004, under the leadership of Fr. Marcos, discussions were initiated by the Coptic Museum of Canada and the University of Toronto Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations (NMC) with the purpose of offering courses on Coptic civilization and language. Fr. Marcos was able to get the approval of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church (Toronto) to contribute toward the salary of a lecturer to teach two courses per academic year. The first set of courses in Coptic language were taught in 2006. With the exception of one year, when Fr. Marcos sought the financial contribution of Coptic churches in the GTA and southern Ontario, St. Mark’s Church continued to fund courses until 2012 when the NMC took over funding and also established the “Coptic Studies Endowment Fund”. The  goal to is to raise  funds for a permanent, full-time professor position in Coptic Studies.

In 2021 the endowment fund was named the Father Marcos Memorial Endowment in Coptic Studies. This endowment fund, named in his memory, pays tribute to the breadth and scope of his vision and accomplishments in the field of Coptic Heritage.

For details, click here

The Canadian Society for Coptic Studies is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to bring together individuals interested in Coptic studies; and to promoting the dissemination of scholarly information on Coptic studies through the organization of meetings and conferences and through the preparation of scholarly works for publication. The CSCS had its genesis at the First Annual Coptic Studies Symposium at the University of Toronto, 2008.The CSCS was incorporated as a non-profit organization in June 2009.

Membership of the Society is limited to persons interested in furthering the purpose of the Society and consists of anyone whose application for admission as a member has received the approval of the Board of Directors of the Society. Members have the obligation to pay the dues as set by the Board of Directors from year to year.

CSCS membership categories as stipulated by the CSCS By-Laws are as follows:

Regular member ($65.00 annual fee). Regular Members have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Members have the right to be nominated and elected as directors of the corporation.

Student Member ($25.00 annual fee). Student members shall be those who at the time of joining are involved in the active pursuit of either undergraduate or graduate education. Student Members have the right to vote the Annual General Meeting Student members may nominated and elected as directors of the corporation.

Senior Member ($40.00 annual fee). Senior members shall be those who at the time of joining are above the age of 65. Senior Members have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Senior members may nominated and elected as directors of the corporation.

Institutional Member. An institution can become a member for a fee to be set by the Board on a case by case basis. Each institutional member is eligible to one vote at the Annual General Meeting but cannot hold office.

For more information: Email address: cscopticstudies@gmail.com

Website: http://cscopticstudies.weebly.com/html

Mailing Address: Canadian Society for Coptic Studies,  c/o The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations,  4 Bancroft Avenue,  Toronto, Ontario M5S 1C1

Overview of the history of the CSCS, Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia click here 

Father Marcos Scholarship for the Study of Coptic Cultural Heritage at a Canadian University

Starting with academic year 2022-2023, this scholarship is awarded annually by St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church (Toronto, Ontario) to one Coptic-Canadian student enrolled in an MA or PhD program at a Canadian University whose thesis or main research focus is on a Coptic cultural heritage topic.

For eligibility requirements and application send email to Coptic Museum of Canada copticmuseumcanada@gmail.com