SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

recent and most complete. On that basis, he contends that the Coptic life has the advantage of being 1000 years earlier than the Ethiopic version. This would provide, among other things an accurate vocabulary when the Ethiopic reading is ambigious. This is a refreshing approach to Hagiographic literature and tends to extend the value of the liturgical texts to beyond their liturgical setting. Fr. Zachariah el-Baramousi (Egypt). The Qasr of St. Mary at El-Baramous Monastery. The presenter provided an eye-witness report about the restoration work done on the ancient 3-story Qasr (keep) of the Baramous Monastery, one of the four thriving monasteries in Wadi 'n Natroun. The work was funded and with the able supervision and efforts of Dutch scholars in the period 1994-1995 which are affiliated with the Congress host University, University of Leiden. The paper descibes the reasons for the restoration, the

discoveries made during the work, and traces the archaeological history of the building as a result of these activities. This is another example of the diligent efforts of the Dutch scholars in Coptic Monasteries. Efforts that brought fruit not only in discoveries but more in the training of lay persons and monks in doing such work. The pioneering spirit of the late Prof Paul van Moorsel has played a major factor in this work. It will not be an overstatement to say that he is the father of monastic art restoration in Egypt in the last quarter of the 20th century. Such great legacy is and will be living in his students, Dutch and Copts. Final Word: The brief cataloges of the above two exhibits are available at the Coptic Library of the Society's Los Angeles Coptic Center. Also available is the volume of abstacts of papers presented at the Congress along with several of the bibliographies and handouts related to such papers.

The Third St. Shenouda Coptic Conference of Coptic Studies (July 27-28, 2001 - Los Angeles California) (1) (by Hany N. Takla)

Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures of UCLA (DMELC-UCLA), and other members of the Society (SSACS). The following individuals have been designated as members of the Organizing Committee: Dr. Nabil Elgabalawi (SSACS) Prof. Antonio Loprieno (DMELC-UCLA)

Introduction: This year the Society is planning a two-day general conference on Coptic Studies. The conference is designed to further promote and encourage Coptic Studies among Copts and others in the United States. In the last bulletin of the IACS (No. 42), Prof. Stephen Emmel sighted such Society-organized events as examples of the few events in Coptic Studies t at occurs during the four-year span between the convening of the Coptic Congresses.

Maged S. A. Mikhail (SSACS) Nardine Saad (CCC-UCLA) Saad Michael Saad (SSACS) Hany N. Takla (SSACS) Nefertiti M. Takla (CCC-UCLA)

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter Time and Location: This year the event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday July 27-28. The specific time schedule will be announced later. The place is tentatively set at UCLA Royce Hall Room 314. Participants: So far the following scholars, researches, and students have expressed interest in participating: Prof. Boules Ayad Ayad (Colorado) Mr. Joseph Fahim (California) Organizing Committee: This conference will be a cooperative effort of the Collegiate Coptic Orthodox Christian Club of University of California, Los Angeles (CCC-UCLA), Mr. Ashraf W. Hanna (California) Ms. Veronia Hanna (California)

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