EARLY COPTIC CHRISTIANITY: MEDICAL PRACTICES AND MONASTIC APPROACHES TO HEALTH CARE
Abdul-rahman Sharafeldean , The Higher Institute Of Tourism And Hotels, King Mariotte, EgyptAbstract
This study explores the intersection of medicine and monasticism in early Coptic Christianity, examining how religious practices shaped health care systems in the early centuries. Coptic Christianity, with its rich tradition of monasticism, provided a unique framework for medical care that integrated spiritual beliefs with practical treatments. Monastic communities were pivotal in developing and preserving medical knowledge, often blending herbal remedies and spiritual rituals to address physical and psychological ailments. This research delves into historical texts, monastic records, and medical manuscripts to uncover how early Coptic monks and physicians contributed to the evolution of medical practices. By analyzing these practices, the study highlights the enduring influence of Coptic medical and monastic traditions on contemporary understanding of holistic health care. Through a detailed examination of early Coptic medical approaches and their integration with monastic life, this work sheds light on the innovative ways in which early Christians addressed health and well-being, offering insights into the historical roots of modern medical and spiritual care practices.
Keywords
Early Coptic Christianity, medical practices, monastic health care
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