Missionary Work in Egypt

Ancient Egypt was a pagan country. It's peoples worshiped and prayed to Gods that were said to control the sun, water, and fertility of both man and land. Egypt stayed true to this faith, even amongst the high numbers of Hebrew or Jewish slaves in Egypt prior to the Great deliverance of Moses. When the Roman's came in the still brought with them a pagan faith which differed in name only. It was until Saint Mark began his evangelizing in AD 41-44.

St. Mark / Apostle Mark.http://www.oocities.org/mallee2007/win/windows.html

The Apostle Mark began the first true "mission" work in Egypt. His first converts in Alexandria started the oldest of Christian churches, the Coptic Christian church which still exists today. Christians in Egypt did not fare well t throughout the years. The Roman and Hellenistic eras brought with them more ploy-theistic or pagan religions. Monstrous and hateful emperors like Nero and Diocletian persecuted Christians for their faith. That is until the rise of Constantine as Emperor in AD 312 who ended religious persecutions. 

Thus began the age of monasteries in Egypt. Started by Saint Anthony, Monks would train converting old texts and spreading the Christian faith across the East. Monasteries found their members amongst the poor and hungry in Egypt, as the enterprise promised food, clothing and shelter in exchange for vows. There were also a great deal of monasteries members who were wealthy and or educated who became doctors for the faith. 

"ST. Anthony's Monastery"in Egypt. Thomas Abercrombie, NatGeo.http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/timeline_27.html

Because of it's position, Egypt was actually in the early years of it new found Christianity a pool of missionary work itself. Through Egypt Christianity was ale to spread across the mid-East, influencing many people from many countries. 

Egypt has endure more persecutions in resent times along with the occasional visit from missionaries of varied denominations of the Christian faith to teach a more "acceptable" form of Christianity. In more recent years, Islam has now ruled over Egypt. For many years the two faiths, so similar in practice lived in peace. Modern day, extremist Islamic militants have now made Coptic Christians live in fear from their faith. 

Sources:

http://www.touregypt.net/chiste1.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Timeline_of_Christian_missions

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/06/19/the-emergence-of-christianity-in-egypt/