Who are the Copts and why are they persecuted?
From the article:
The Copts are the largest Christian community in North Africa and the Middle East, and one of the oldest Christian sects in the world. The church is officially known as the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and was founded by the Apostle Mark in the year 42.........
As with their Eastern Orthodox counterparts, married men can be ordained as priests. Coptic priests often have other professions before they enter the priesthood......
The Copts have their own patriarch, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, who took office in 2012 after having his name picked from a glass chalice by a blindfolded boy. Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church has been very vocal in his support of the Copts and is scheduled to meet with his counterpart in Egypt later this month.
Far more than I knew. To read more:
http://religionnews.com/2017/04/11/the-splainer-who-are-the-copts-and-why-are-they-persecuted/