Copts were interested in writing ecclesiastical history in both languages: Coptic and
Arabic. They had their own methodology in recounting historical events according to
their purpose of writing history. Copts have chosen various literary forms to record
their church history, among which biography (vita), which they often used as a
framework to write about monasticism, patriarchs, ecumenical councils, etc.
The most important historical source in Coptic language is a fragmentary anonymous
book consists of twelve chapters. The first seven chapters are based on Eusebius’
ecclesiastical history. The remaining chapters cover the period until patriarch
Timothy || (457-475). Moreover, some scholars believe that the Chronicle of John of
Nikiu from the 7th century was written in Coptic, while others believe that its
original language was Greek. Anyway, we have this source in an Ethiopic translation
only made from a lost Arabic vorlage.In our lecture, we explore the most important
Coptic historians and their historical writings: their forms, content, methodology,
and the relationship between them.h