SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

witness of this monument. Instead the team worked on an existing excavation at the Kharga Oasis. 16. Christ in Christian Tradition: A few years ago we were introduced to a volume in this series (v.2 pt4) that deals with a survey of Christological writings of the Coptic fathers on this subject after the Council of Chalcedon. The book includes 50+ pages on the Christology of St. Shenouda the Archimandrite. This alone makes the book worth acquiring. The Society was able to secure copies for members and others of this 400+-page hard cover volume for $12 for members and $15 for non-members. 17. A New Book About the Copts of Egypt: We have received a communication from Ms. Jill Kamel about her new book, titled: Christianity In The Land Of The Pharaohs: The Coptic Orthodox Church. Routledge. ISBN: 0415242533; 1st edition (November 2002), Hardcover, 336 Pages, $55.95. The following is a short synopsis furnished by the author. This book about the Copts, the indigenous Christians of Egypt, is designed to reveal and explain cultural changes in Egypt from Pharaonic to modern times and to answer such questions as: Why was the new religion of Christianity so successful in a country which already enjoyed a distinctive and successful religious tradition more than 3000 years old. Why was it the Copts who invented monasticism? Why, in the fifth century, did they break away from the rest of Christianity?

Locating the roots of Egyptian Christianity within the Pharaonic inheritance, the author treats the elements it has in common with Christianity elsewhere, but emphasizes its unique features. Rejecting the common idea that monasticism was Egyptian Christianity's only significant contribution to Christianity as a whole, she demonstrates the importance in a catholic framework of other elements derived from Coptic thinking and practice. She also challenges interpretations that minimize continuity in Egyptian culture and argues for close linkage of the Coptic church with nationalist consciousness and ethnic aspirations, which she identifies in art and architecture, as well as in theological debate, hagiography, and martyrology. This study draws on a wide range of comparative data, but is personal in approach and includes the fruit not only of the author's travel to virtually every Christian site in Egypt, but also of her conversations with specialist scholars, priests and monks in churches and monasteries, archaeologists, restoration experts, museum directors, and scores of Coptic lay people, urban and rural, as well as their Muslim neighbors. 18. New Book-Coptic Monasteries: Dr. Gawdat Gabra latest work is out in print, titled, ' Coptic Monasteries - Egypt Monastic Art and Architecture. ' This volume contains extensive information, bibliography, plans, and color photos of thirteen of Egypt most famous monasteries. This hardcover volume of 140+ pages includes a historical overview by Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian. ISBN 977-422-691-8.

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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