SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

Exhibit: The exhibit organized for this gathering dealt with the subject of the Coptic Art. There were distinct displays: Coptic Art items and Coptic Art publications. The Art Items display featured five textiles pieces that were recently acquired by the Society, dating from the 6 th to the 8 th century. A more detailed descriptions will be forthcoming. Also displayed an original Icon, written in the neo-Coptic Iconography style, depicting the scene of St. Bishoy washing the feet of the Lord. Also displayed were several hand crosses in carved wood, inlaid wood, and plaited leather. The Coptic Art publication display included about 20 different illustrated volumes that covered the wide range of Coptic Art, including religious icons, frescos, stone work, metal work, woodwork, manuscript illuminations, and of course Coptic textiles. Organizers: This event was organized by the staff and students of the St. Shenouda Center for Coptic Studies. Publications of the Proceedings: There is no formal plan to publish the proceedings in a separate publication. However, selected papers will be included in this or in future issues of the Newsletter. to refute the more simplistic criticisms of Shenoute found in some of the literature. She puts extensive stress on the ways in which Shenoute's view of women's status in monasticism was less hierarchical than that of many of his contemporaries. The book does not pretend to be a general treatment of late antique monasticism, nor does it claim more finality for its conclusions than is justified by not only the limited quantity of the source material but also its fragmentary and only partly available condition. Fr Vivian criticizes Krawiec's contention that Shenoute's approach allowed the expansion of male authority over the female community,

other words, what is needed is a sociological orientation in order to better understand the function of law within Coptic society. Law does not exist in a vacuum. It is a dynamic and ever changing process with society governing how it is applied and accepted. While the study and description of law itself provides us with much valuable information, we must not forget the many ways in which society influences law. Until we learn to look at law from a social science perspective, our knowledge of Coptic law will remain incomplete. c. Using of Dating Calendars in Coptic Egypt. In this paper, Deacon Severus (Maged) shared with the audience his research about the intriguing period of Coptic history that spans from shortly before the Arab Conquest of Egypt until the end of the first few centuries of Arab rule. Specifically he dealt with the different Calendar and dating systems found in the literature of that period. This included the Year of the Indiction, Anno Martyri or the Coptic Year, and the Hijri Year of the new Arab rulers. Several quotations were made from the various documents found in support of the conclusions given. To the editor: Readers of Tim Vivian's review of Rebecca Krawiec's book on Shenoute and the Women of the White Monastery might come away with the view that the book is in fact hostile to Shenoute, in the tradition that Fr Vivian traces back to Leipoldt. The book certainly is analytic and critical, rather than hagiographic, but should one really expect the latter from an academic book? I found the book intent on understanding the relationship between Shenoute and the women's house rather than interested either in praising or in blaming him, and at times Krawiec is at pains

Book Reviews

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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