Coptica 15, 2016

Letter by Anba Yūsāb, Bishop of Jirjā and Akhmīm 13 significant contribution to the thin eighteenth century Coptic theological library. It is evident that Catholic attempts to get the Coptic Orthodox Church to submit to its authority did not succeed. The letter also reveals that when the eighteenth century Catholic Church spoke about unity it meant submission to Rome and when Orthodox Copts spoke about unity they meant theological agreement. The letter lists the theological disagreements that if not overcome will make unity a dim possibility. It sends the message that unity will not be completed by signing a letter of submission, as Yūsāb’s letter indicates in the introduction, but by signing a theological agreement to the points written in response. The letter abruptly ends with the short argument against the filioque without mentioning any expectation of a response from the Roman papacy, of further dialogue, or of possible future meetings. It is interesting that the Catholic Church submitted its letter in Arabic while the Coptic Orthodox Church did not attempt to provide a response in a different language or even attach a translation to the original. The question is, Did the Catholic side attempt to translate the letter? There is no evidence that there was any response or any further actions from either side.