SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

something about church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us." These empowering words from the Patriarch of Alexandria, one of the presidents of the World Council and one of the presidents of the Middle Egypt Council of Churches, reflects the deep commitment of the Coptic Church to the ecumenical movement. As a founding member of the World Council of Churches in 1948, the All-Africa Conference of Churches in 1964, and the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974; the Church of Alexandria has given careful attention to and has worked tirelessly for christian unity. Over the last five decades, Clergy and Laity from the Coptic Church have been instrumental in capturing, developing, and enhacing the eumenical vision articulated by Pope Shenouda. A vision constructed upon unity of faith and not unity of Jurisdiction. This has manifested itself in ecumenical organizations at national, regional, and international Levels. In all these endeavours, we fulfill the words of the Scriptures: "One Lord, one Faith, One Baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). ----------------------- Title: The Current Excavation of the Monastery of St. John the Little at Wadi Natrun, Egypt . Presenter: Dr. Bastiaan Van Eldern , (Grand Haven, MI.) Abstract: One of four early monasteries in the Wadi Natrun area founded in the 4th century, the Monastery of John the Little, was abandoned in the Middle Ages. This monastery is currently being excavated by an archeological team under the direction of Bastiaan Van Eldern and the sponsership of the Scriptorium: Center for Chrsitian Antiquities (Grand Haven, MI) and Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, MI). Excavations in 1995 and 1996 have uncovered the church in the monastic complex with its fairly-intact altar. Remains below this church appear to be an earlier chapel from the initial phase of the monastic community. The excavation of one of the small monastic installations (kom) surrounding the site uncovered remains of frescos,

inscriptions, and various pottery forms in the plastered rooms and cells. This illustrated lecture will review these two seasons of work and detail plans for further excavations next winter. ----------------------- Title: The Liturgical Terms used in the English Translation of the (Coptic) Liturgy Presenter: Dr. Adeeb B. Makar , (W. Des Moines, IA) Abstract: In translating from language A to language B, the exact equivalents of many words and terms are usually not available. The question is then asked; Do we use a word from language B that carries the closest possible meaning? or Do we keep the term in its original language A (transliterated) so that "we don't lose the full meaning of that term or word"? Both these options will be evaluated and discussed in light of the following facts: 1. In the history of languages. different languages borrowed words from each other. These words became part of the borrowing language and of its daily use. 2. During the early centuries of Christianity, Greek was the international cultural language. The New Testament was written mainly in Greek and several theological terms were developed during this period of time. Various languages borrowed theological terms very heavily from Greek, some terms were borrowed from Latin and still others from a mixture of Latin and Greek componenets.

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter 3. Not all languages borrowed the same terms. This is especially evident in the Bible translations fom Greek to various languages.

4. Some borrowed words and terms gradually acquired a modified meaning in the

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