SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

Session Five, February, 3, 2002; Chairman: Dr. G. Gabra: This session included four papers that dealt with various topics related to the Wadi al- Natrun area. The first paper was by H.G. Bishop Martyrus, titled, "The Project of the Museum at Dayr al- Surian" . The author here introduced the audience to some of the important artifacts found at Deir al- Surian. This warranted the creation of a dedicated on-site museum to house and display such items. The presentation went on to mention the difficulties encountered in getting the project approved by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. The inventory of the items to be housed is still on-going especially in the case of many manuscript (on paper) fragments found at the monastery Keep (tower). The Second paper was by Dr. S. Shaker, titled, "Using Cultural Elements in Contemporary Coptic Architecture with Special Reference of the Wadi al- Natrun Area" . The author here introduced the audience to how Coptic monastic architecture was being utilized in contemporary building projects. Two major examples were introduced one on a monastic site and the other on a Coptic pilgrimage site in Cairo. The monastic site was that of the new cathedral, built at St. Bishoy monastery which the Pope alluded to in his paper with regards to the out-of-need expansion being done in Wadi al- Natrun monasteries nowadays. The other example is an elaborate project to build a pilgrimage site over the area where the Holy Family rested during their stay in Egypt, otherwise known as the Tree of Mary at al-Mataryia. This last example was part of the government revitalizing project of Coptic Monuments for the year 2000 Anniversary of the Holy Family Flight to Egypt. The project however was scaled down dramatically to a point that the author refused to be part of its new design. He continued on to contrast the architectural features of both of these sites, which were particularly adapted from the ancient examples found in Wadi al-Natrun, including domes, arches, and towers. The third paper was by Fr. U. Zanetti, titled, "Wadi al-Natrun and the Liturgy of the Coptic Church" .

The author here introduced the audience to the types of liturgical services that were found in the area and their eventual influence on the liturgical tradition of the Coptic Church. His study was based primarily on the monastic library of St. Macarius, being the largest in the area as well as the one that he thoroughly studied and inventoried over a decade ago. He dealt with Euchologion, Psalmodia, Psalter, and Lectionary manuscript tradition. He introduced the audience to the multiple traditions found in these works and their antiquity. He however stressed that hese differing traditions did not diverge dramatically from each other. His comment on the Pascha Lectionary having three literary traditions was discussed earlier in a private conversation between Dr. Y. N. Youssef and the writer of this article. The fourth paper was by Dr. Y. N. Youssef, titled, "The Preparation and Consecration of the Holy Chrism at Wadi al-Natrun" . In this paper the author introduced the tradition of the making of the Holy Chrism Oil, as found in a Ms 106Lit of the Cairo Patriarchal Library. He showed that there were two traditions for when this service was performed: on the 6 th Sunday of Lent in Lower Egypt, and on Palm Sunday (7 th Sunday of Lent) in Upper Egypt. He went on to say that after 1374 AD a compromise date was agreed upon. He also collated one of the hymns found in the service, that of the Virtues, between the current edition of the Coptic Church Diaconal, Al-Tartib al-Taqsi (the Ritual Order) by Pope Gabriel V in the early 15 th century, and this manuscript. And for good measure, this paper included an etymology of a Coptic term found there, which seemed to be of Greek origin but according to the author it can be best understood as a Sahidic Coptic phrase!

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter Session Six, February, 3, 2002; Chairman: Prof. B. Van Elderen: This session included the final four papers read at the Symposium. They dealt primarily with inscriptions and wall paintings found in the area, especially at Deir al-Surian.

The first paper was by Dr. J. van der Vliet, titled, "Greek and Coptic Inscriptions in Wadi al- Natrun" . This paper dealt specifically with the

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