SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

Madonna, St George and St Demetrius that dates back to the 16th century. In 1976 the Museum received six of 14 paintings by the world- renowned Coptic folkloric artist, Marguerite Nakhla. Over the years, other items of a variety of genres were acquired that date back from Pharaonic period to contemporary art forms. Abuna Marcos Marcos, Protopriest at St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church is the inspiration and sustaining force behind the establishment of the Museum. The aim and objectives of the Museum: The aim of the Museum is to become recognised as an institution where individuals and groups of different ages and walks in life can learn about and carry out research on Coptic culture and spirituality through art. The Museum is a witness to Coptic art is a living tradition. The current objectives of the Museum are as follow:  For our congregation and visiting Copts: we hope that the visit to the Museum will affirm and deepen our faith and identity & encourages us to learn more about our heritage.  For Christians of other traditions: we hope that the visit will raise awareness about Coptic history through culture and art and by so doing enrich ecumenicity in Canada.  For the wider Canadian society: we hope that the visit will begin to illustrate how history has shaped the Coptic Church and culture and by so doing enrich Canadian multi-cultural society.  For future generations: we hope to encourage the Ministries and Boards of Education across Canada to include in their school curriculum the study of ethnic groups alongside with guided field trips to ethnic museums. By so doing, the students’ multicultural horizon would be stretched. Activities of the Museum:

(1) Tours and discussion groups (English and Arabic with possibilities of French and German): - The Museum is open every third Sunday after each of our Divine Liturgies; - We offer tours and discussion groups specially geared to groups in St Mark’s Church, e.g., Seniors Group, Sunday Schools, pre-teens, young adult, and adult groups, as well as, respond to request of other Coptic Churches and visitors; - Roman Catholic, Protestant and Anglican church groups; - University groups (theology faculties, iconography classes, Middle & Near East Department of University of Toronto, etc.); - High school classes (world religions, history and art) from the public school system; - We have provided tours to a wide range of people during the St. Mark’s Church Annual Coptic Festival and Lenten Carnival. (2) Public lectures: The public lectures’ programme was launched in the spring of 2001 with a series of lectures by Dr. Magued Fahmy, a founding member and Board Member of the Lovers of Coptic Heritage, Cairo Egypt. Dr. Magued’s lecture topics were: - Coptic Heritage: Past Splendour and Present Life. - Maternal and childcare in the Coptic Era: Relevance to Current Practices. - An Archaeological and Historical Approach to Pediatrics in the Coptic Era. This series was followed several months later by a lecture on “The Spirituality of Coptic Art” by Dr. Amal Gobrial, Director General of the Library, Coptic Museum, Cairo. In 2002 we offered a lecture on “Coptic Church Architecture: History and Influences” by Mr Medhat Abdou, an internationally renowned architect and member of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church and Abuna Marcos Marcos, Protopriest, who reflected on the spirituality of Coptic architecture.

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

10