Amy King, age 15, of Columbus, Ohio, for her question:

WHO ARE THE COPTS?

Copts are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The name "Copt" is taken from the Greek word "Aegyptios," meaning "Egyptians." The Copts are descended from ancient Egyptians who were converted to Christianity in the A.D. 100s and 200s.

The converts developed their own Coptic language. It combined the Greek alphabet with Egyptian vocabulary and symbols. They used the language in religious writings and translations of the Bible.

A dialect of this Coptic language is still used in the church liturgy, although Arabic is the dominant language spoken today. The Copts originated monasticism, which later spread to other churches.

Early in the 400s, the Coptic Church broke away from Rome and Constantinople, and has remained independent under the patriarch of Alexandria. When Muslims conquered Egypt, many Copts were converted to Islam.

Today about 3.5 million Ethiopians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church. About 1.2 million Egyptians are members. An ancient Coptic community also exists in Jerusalem.