SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

Bohairic one in use in the Church now. It may also have depended on such collections of readings as the ones found in the dismembered Borgia Copt. 109.32 and its related fragments. More future work is needed to substantiate such conclusions. g. Coptic Monasticism: The lone paper in this category was presented by our expert on the subject, Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian of Bakersfield, California. In this paper he used St. Macarius as his case history to uncover the reasons behind the monks inhabiting the Wadi ‘N Natroun desert. He made full use of the texts related to St. Macarius in support of his arguments and conclusions. In short, he portrayed him and his simple teachings as the reasons behind the flowering of Monasticism in this area and its survival to this day. This conclusion was presented in a most elegant, convincing, and edifying fashion which always characterized Dr. Vivian treatment of Egyptian Desert fathers. This made the presentation an appropriate climax to the Conference. Time and Location: This year the event was held on Friday and Saturday July 27-28, at UCLA Royce Hall Room 314. Business Meeting: For the first time the Society conducted an open Business meeting for its members, at the conclusion of the Conference. A event that would be, God’s willing, a permanent feature of future conferences. There were more than 20 members in attendance. The following items were presented and discussed:  The collaborative efforts with St. Mark Foundation (Ohio), and COEPA (Australia).

parties that it would not be possible to republish Coptologia with the guidelines that were proposed earlier. So, a new joint publication with the same 8-member editorial board is in the work with a planned inaugural edition in 2002. The members suggested several names, but Dr. Mark Swanson’s suggestion of “COPTICA” received the most favorable response. Deacon Severus (Maged) Mikhail will still be the Managing Editor.  Participation by members in the Paris 2004 Coptic Congress. A participation that should stress quality over quantity while still gives promising young Copts the opportunity to participate in such a pre tigious event.  Coptic Conference in 2003. Dr. Gabra reiterated his earlier suggestion of dedicating the 2003 Coptic Conference in Los Angeles to the memory of Mu‘allim Ibrahim el-Gohari and his colossal efforts to rebuild and erect new churches. He suggested the invitation of some key scholars in the field of Coptic Art and Archeology to speak in a special dedicated session of that Conference. The planning of this event will be starting soon.  Biographical dictionary of Copts in the Modern Era. Dr. Nabil Elgabalawi made this suggestion which was voiced earlier during the discussion of the Conference papers. This item is under study. Possibly an electronic version, posted on the Society’s website would be a first step. Organizers: This was another cooperative effort between the Society (SSACS), the Collegiate Coptic Club of that university (CCC-UCLA), and Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Miss. Nefertiti Takla, representing CCC- UCLA and SSACS took a leading role in the this year’s preparation along with her literary contribution to the Conference. Worthy of mention are the great efforts of Adel Armanious (Video- taping, Saturday), Mrs. Mary Elgabalawi (Photography and reporting on the Conference in International Coptic weekly, Watani, and the local

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter  The financial status of the Society. Only 80- 100 members pay their dues in any one year when over 200 have joined the Society since it was founded.

 Wadi ‘N Natroun Symposium. Dr. Gawdat Gabra briefed the members on the history and the progress of the arrangements.  The joint Publication with St. Mark Foundation. Negotiations with Prof. Ishak of Canada concluded with the agreement of all

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