What is it about?
For many centuries, Coptic Christians in Egypt have tattooed small crosses, usually on their wrists, as a public sign of their faith. This ancient tradition, once seen by outsiders as strange or even heretical, has come to symbolize courage, identity, and belonging for the Coptic community. Originally, some Copts may have begun marking their skin during the Arab conquest of Egypt, when Christians were often branded or mistreated. Over time, what began as a mark of humiliation turned into a proud declaration of faith. The tattoo became a way to say, “I am Christian,” even in the face of discrimination or danger. Throughout history, Western travelers often misunderstood this practice. Medieval writers described it as a “baptism of fire” or even a sign of heresy. In reality, the tattoos were simple signs of devotion and identity. In more recent times, Copts who travel to Jerusalem also receive tattoos as proof of their pilgrimage, continuing a centuries-old tradition preserved by the Razzouk family of Coptic tattoo artists. Today, the small cross tattoo continues to connect Copts around the world. It speaks of their faith, their suffering, and their endurance. Once a local religious mark, it has now become part of global culture, appearing even on non-Copts who wish to share in this historic expression of faith and identity.
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Why is it important?
It is important because it shows how a simple tattoo can carry deep meaning about faith, identity, and survival. For Coptic Christians, the small cross is more than decoration. It is a lifelong sign of belonging to their community and of courage in the face of persecution. Studying it helps us understand how people use symbols on their bodies to express belief, memory, and history. It also connects the Copts’ ancient story with modern ideas of identity, resistance, and cultural pride, showing how faith can be both personal and visible in the world today.
Perspectives
From my perspective, this study is deeply meaningful because it explores how faith can be lived and shown through the human body. In researching this practice of tattooing, I wanted to show how a simple sign on the skin tells a powerful story of courage and belonging. For me, this work reflects admiration for the Coptic people, whose faith has survived centuries of hardship, and it highlights how symbols of suffering can be transformed into expressions of pride and spiritual identity.
Nebojsa Tumara
St Athanasius College, University of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: “Sign of Martyrdom, Heresy and Pride”: The Christian Coptic Tattoo and the Construction of Coptic Identity, January 2021, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004446564_016.
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