SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

year 1999-2000. A final draft of each paper shall be submitted by the presenter no later than

October 31, 1999.

The Second St. Shenouda Conference for Coptic Studies Conference Abstracts (by Hany N. Takla)

comprehensively all mural paintings in those monasteries that are still vigorous in the desert of Egypt. Although restoration was not permitted at the time, creative teamwork between art historians and draughtsmen of the French Institute in Cairo could result in publications of the mural paintings of both monasteries near Esna (Leroy 1975) and those of two of the mona teries in the Wady-n- Natroon (Leroy 1982). After the present writer had succeeded project leader Father Jules Leroy, two volumes on St. Anthony's Monastery could see the light (van Moorsel 1995/97, while our book on the nearby St. Paul's Monastery is due to appear soon (van Moorsel 2000). One of the co-authors of both last publications is Dr. Peter Grossmann, who has contributed about the history of the monastic architecture. At present, the French Institute continues this recording work (executed by Dr. Karel Innemée and Mr. Pierre Laferrière) in Sohag. Nowadays, many years after Leroy's first Season in Esna, we are happy seeing colleagues entering the field and partaking in our admiration and care for Medieval Coptic Wall-Painting. Therefore, it will prove to be useful to sketch 18 years history of research, starting with my own experience, i.e. with my first Season in St. Anthony's Monastery near the Red Sea, AD. 1981. Thereupon I will report on our work in St. Paul's and discuss the importance of the history of both monasteries for our understanding of some works of art in each of them, -something which has not been done before. As for our activities in the Wady-n-Natroon, I will report on Baramous and (of course) on the discovery of a great Annunciation Scene in Deir es Sourian, where, since 1995, in succession of the French, a Dutch-Polish team is uncovering other impressive remnants of Medieval Wall-Painting.

The following are the abstracts submitted thus far: Title: Ancient Egypt, Coptic Egypt, and Modern Egypt - A Comparative Study Presenter: Prof. Boulos Ayad Ayad, (Boulder, Colorado) Abstract: There are strong relationships between Ancient Egypt and Coptic Egypt. The Coptic Egyptian Culture is directly descendent from Ancient Egypt. According to this, the Ancient Egyptian Civilization has influenced Coptic Culture in many ways, even both Christians and Moslems alike, have inherited many traditions and different elements which date back to Ancient Egyptian daily life, and are still currently in use. The calendar, Astronomy, Mathematics; Medicine; Engineering; Architecture; Nilometers; transportation; the Ancient Egyptian language, the Coptic language, then the Arabic language; [the Coptic names and words in Arabic;] literature, love songs, hymns, variety of different dishes. Even marriage and funeral ceremonies contain traditions that originated in Ancient Egypt, in addition to the pictures in the houses, the icons in the churches, feasts and festivals, sports, music and jokes. -------------------------

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter Title: 18 Years of Research on Coptic Painting Presenter: Prof. Paul van Moorsel, (Leiden, the Netherlands) Abstract:

In 1967, half a century after the excavation of early monastic wall-painting in Bawit and in Saqqara [parts of which are now on display in the Coptic Museum], a French project was launched to study

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