Historians agree that the Egyptian civilization is the most respective one of religions, as it is the biggest custodian of the three heavenly religions; and is an advocate of values in thought and spirit.

 

 As it was successively the birth place of Prophet Moses of the Jews, a safe sanctuary for Jesus Christ and the Sacred Family, and lastly a victory for Islam and Muslims. Thanks to Egypt, Christianity prevailed in Ethiopia in the mid of the 4th century, and later Islam in the heart and north of Africa.

 

Christian Egypt is the first source of Theology. Rituals of asceticism were conveyed from Egypt to Italy, Greece and Ireland, as well as preaching Christianity to the British Islands, Southern France, Belgium and Switzerland.

 

 Egypt built for Islam mosques, citadels and fortresses. The Arabs were inspired by the spirit of Sufism and spiritualism from Egypt. Egypt was also the first to collect and write down the Prophetic tradition (Hadith), which is the most old of Arab manuscripts in all the world's museums. Egypt also received a group of the Prophet's Companions; the Hadith conveyers, as well as El Bokhary, Muslim and El Nassa'i, to draw Hadith from its culture.

 

 Egypt made an imprint on Islamic jurisprudence, had a resonant role in the science of recitation and created the recital and vocalization of the Koran, as well as intonation of the call to prayer. That was the same role played by Egypt in church music, which was the most ancient and richest musical school in the world derived from pharaonic music.

 

So, there is no country that had such deep effect on the spread of Christianity then Islam, but Egypt. It is an advocate of tolerance, love and fraternity.

 

 The file of this issue under the title of “ Egypt and Religious Tolerance Culture”, is delving deeply into that deep-rooted Egyptian heritage in reality; in Egypt of good, noble moderation, as Gamal Hemdan says.

 

 He also believes that oness of origin of Muslims and Copts is an anthropological truth, as Egypt's racial composition is prcedent to its religious one. Most Muslims are mostly Egyptian Copts. Egypt is not the land of contradictions. Its culture is a classic model one of everything in a way which confirms that it is the master of compromise.

 

G. Mackfeorson says in his famous book “Al Mawalid (birthdays' celebrations of deceased Muslim clergymen) in Egypt”, on religious tolerance in Egypt; “What a blessing air; I didn't find a place in which all sects of Christians, Muslims and others, openly and friendly glorify each other's mosques and churches, and ask the blessings of each other's shrines, as I have seen in Egypt”

In architecture, architects who saw Egypt's mosques and churches agreed that they are pharaonic art, though they are Islamic or Coptic monument.

 

 As dome in a mosque is an Islamic expression of the pyramid, and the minaret and church tower is the Islamic and Christian image of the Pharaonic obelisk. Inside each minaret and tower, there is an obelisk in form and spirit, even incense was taken by Egyptian Christian churches from ancient Egypt, then by Moslems Later.

 

The issue's file begins by a panoramic review of religions' junction in ancient Egypt, where one can find a monestary next to church and mosque. Indications of the same Egyptian fabric can be found in the similarity of conduct in churches or big mosques.

 

 The things sold are almost the same such as; Coptic and Islamic incense, religious cassettes and children's clothes.

 

 Inside churches candles are always lightened as we see them in birthdays' celebrations of deceased clergymen, and Sundays and Fridays are celebration days in all neighbourhoods. Asking the blessings of the Copt's martyrs is the same as of the shrines of deceased Muslim clergymen.

 

The file also includes an interview with the pioneer of dialogue among religions Dr. Ali Al Semman, a vision of film on the Sacred Family Journey, an essay by Dr. Mustafa El Feqi on the significance of making Easter on January 7th a holiday, a review of book on archeological monasteries in Egypt, and finally a story of an Egyptian friendship and tolerance between two of Egyptian modern plastic art pioneer artists; the Coptic Ragheb A'iad and the Muslim Youssef Kamel.