# ST MARY RVA > Information on the history and theology of the Coptic Orthodox Church. (iPhone/iPad app by St. Mary and St. Philopater Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-mary-rva/id1596489726 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [St. Mary and St. Philopater Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church](https://appshunter.io/developer/1596489728) - Category: Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 62 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2021-11-25 - Data updated: 2026-06-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-mary-rva/id1596489726/reviews.md ## What is ST MARY RVA? “Blessed is Egypt my people” (Isaiah 19:25) The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D. The church adheres to the Nicene Creed. St. Athanasius (296-373 A.D.), the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church effectively defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Divinity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. His affirmation of the doctrine earned him the title; “Father of Orthodoxy” and St. Athanasius “the Apostolic”. The term “Coptic” is derived from the Greek “Aigyptos” meaning “Egyptian”. When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians “qibt”. Thus the Arabic word “qibt” came to mean both “Egyptians” and “Christians”. The term “Orthodoxy” here refers to the preservation of the “Original Faith” by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it. God’s promise to His people is always fulfilled; He foretold that He would ride on a light and upon a swift cloud and come to Egypt (Isa 19:1); and in that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border (Isa 19:19). This promise was fulfilled by the flight of the Holy Family from the face of the tyrant Herod to find refuge among the Gentiles. Thus our Lord Jesus Christ came during His childhood to Egypt to lay by Himself the foundation stone of His Church in Egypt which has become one of the four primary “Sees” in the world, among the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch and Rome, and joined later by the “See” of Constantinople. The star of the Egyptian Church shone through the School of Alexandria which taught Christendom the allegoric and spiritual methods in interpreting the Holy Scripture and was the leader in defending the Orthodox faith on an ecumenical level. The Christian monastic movement in all its forms started in Egypt, attracting the heart of the Church towards the desert, to practice the angelic inner life. This happened at the time when the doors of the royal court had been opened to the clergy, and this consequently endangered the church, as the quiet and spiritual church work was mixed with the temporal authority and politics of the royal court. The Egyptian Church carried our Lord Jesus Christ’s cross throughout generations, bearing sufferings even from the side of Christians themselves. She continued to offer a countless number of martyrs and confessors throughout ages. Sometimes the people of towns were martyred and many struggled to win the crowns of martyrdom happily and with a heart full of joy. Our Church is ancient and new at the same time: ancient in being apostolic, founded by St. Mark the Evangelist and traditional in holding fast to the original apostolic faith without deviation. She is also new through her Living Messiah who never becomes old and through the Spirit of God who renews her youth (Ps. 103:5). The Coptic Church is rich with her evangelistic and ascetic life, her genuine patriotic inheritance, her heavenly worship, her spiritual rituals, her effective and living hymns, her beautiful icons, etc. She attracts the heart towards heaven without ignoring actual daily life. We can say that she is an apostolic, contemporary church that carries life and thought to the contemporary man without deviation. One finds in her life, sweetness, and power of Spirit, with appreciation to and sanctification of arts, literature and human culture. The Church is well known for her numerous saints: ascetics, clergymen, and laymen. She offered many saints throughout ages and is still offering the same today. For she believes that practicing the sanctified life and communion with God, the Holy One, is prior to satisfying minds with solid mental studies. ## Key features - Coptic Church history - Apostolic origins - Theological doctrines - Key historical figures - Nicene Creed adherence - Monastic movement origins ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-mary-rva/id1596489726/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Awesome App! *2022-01-02* This app has a great layout and looks very professional. It is very useful especially if you are a member of the congregation or deacon family. I love the events tab as it informs me of the latest events at the church. 10/10!!! ## Frequently asked questions about ST MARY RVA ### What is the ST MARY RVA app about? ST MARY RVA provides historical and theological information about the Coptic Orthodox Church. It details its apostolic origins, key figures, and doctrinal foundations. ### Who founded the Coptic Church according to ST MARY RVA? According to ST MARY RVA, the Coptic Church was established by St. Mark the Evangelist in Alexandria around 43 A.D. ### What is the significance of St. Athanasius mentioned in ST MARY RVA? ST MARY RVA highlights St. Athanasius as the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church, who defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Divinity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., earning him the title 'Father of Orthodoxy'. ### Does ST MARY RVA explain the term 'Coptic'? Yes, ST MARY RVA explains that the term 'Coptic' is derived from the Greek 'Aigyptos' meaning 'Egyptian', and that 'qibt' came to mean both 'Egyptians' and 'Christians' after the Arab arrival in Egypt. ### What does ST MARY RVA say about the School of Alexandria? ST MARY RVA notes that the School of Alexandria taught Christendom allegoric and spiritual methods of interpreting Holy Scripture and was a leader in defending the Orthodox faith on an ecumenical level. ### Is ST MARY RVA available on multiple devices? ST MARY RVA is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, indicating broad compatibility within the Apple ecosystem. ### How often is ST MARY RVA updated? ST MARY RVA was last updated on November 25, 2021, with version 15.1.0. This suggests a release and update cycle, though specific frequency is not detailed. ### What is the age rating for ST MARY RVA? ST MARY RVA has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for users aged 12 and above. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 15.1.0 — 2021-11-25 No release notes. ## Apps similar to ST MARY RVA | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [First Baptist Church Indep MO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-baptist-church-indep-mo/id1455887449) | — | Free | Lifestyle | | [The Word of Truth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-word-of-truth/id1265941960) | 5.0 (7) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Ministry of the Watchman](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ministry-of-the-watchman/id1542514662) | — | Free | Lifestyle | | [First Christian Church Norman](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-christian-church-norman/id6443960486) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Nine Choirs Of Angels](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nine-choirs-of-angels/id6450527494) | 5.0 (5) | Free | Lifestyle | | [New Sardis](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/new-sardis/id6474359885) | — | Free | Lifestyle | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*