SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

a nok pe m/,a/l piar,/aggeloc v/ etohi e ratf caou i nam m v] pipantokratwr a nok pet]jom n nimarturoc t/rou satou[i m pou , lom a nok pe ]jom n nidikeoc t/rou nem ni a na,writ/c satoujwk n noupol/ti a e bol h/ppe ic , nau e pek , lom enouwini qen najij satat/if e jen tek a ve eyouab ca- totf afhi tefjij e bol hijen pefcwma t/rf aftal[of afer mv r/] icjek m pouer- bacanizin m mof ep t/rf ouoh afhiou i n nef- maqt e qoun e tefneji n kecop afhwl eh r/i e niv/ou i qen ouhir/n/ The Scriptorium’s excavation team, working on the Monastery of St. John the Little in Egypt, has experienced vast progress and gained many new discoveries over the past three months of this year. Aside from these discoveries, the excavation team has also had many visits from such prominent people as Pope Shenouda III, Bishop Samuel (a leading expert on Coptic architecture), and Dr. Gawdat Gabra, Director of the Coptic Museum in Cairo. The Society is very proud of our own staff member, Mr. Maged Mikhail, who was not only on the excavation team, but figured prominently in their activities. His expertise in the Coptic language has helped him in conjunction with Dr. Scott Carroll to translate the numerous graffiti and inscriptions that the team has encountered (this also helps in dating certain objects found). In fact, the knowledge of the Coptic language was quite important -- the team discovered many inscriptions that bore the name of “John” in Coptic. This proves to be extremely significant since there was no real proof that the monastery was actually that of St. John the Little. And as we will see later on in this article, they have also discovered what is thought to be the cell of St. John the Little. As our Lord Jesus told His apostles to cast their nets into the deep, so this team has gone into

I am Michael the Archangel, he who stands up at the right side of God the Pantocrator. I am the one who strengthens all the martyrs until they receive their crown. I am the one who strengthens all the righteous ones and the anchorites until they finish their virtues. Behold, you see your luminous crown in my hands until I put it upon your holy head." Forthwith, he put his hand upon his whole body, he healed him and he became like(?) as if he was not tortured at all. And he struck his bowls into his belly another time. He went up to the Heavens peacefully. the depths of Egypt to search out the precious history and heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church. One of their most important and early discoveries was that of an altar. In fact, the Scriptorium’s Internet Excavation Site (you can follow the link from our Internet site at http://www.stshenouda.com ) holds a picture of Maged trying out a few verses on an altar that has been unused for many years. The team also discovered many wall paintings, both in the church area and in the area of the kom (found earlier last year). Many of these wall paintings are in pieces and the team has the almost impossible job of putting together a jigsaw puzzle of pieces into a picture which they have no foreknowledge of! One of the most important of these wall paintings was found during the last week of digging -- a cross with the word “Victorious” in Coptic surrounding it, as was pointed out by Maged. Additionally, they found a trench in the middle of the church area. Maged and Dr. Carroll worked on the translation of the inscriptions they found on the east wall of this trench. These inscriptions were the same ones that were referred to above -- they held the name of “John” in Coptic in many places. Also, the pottery found there dated back further than any other pottery found at the site so far. But what would a trench (which they found, led to a room) be doing in the middle of a church

ST. JOHN THE LITTLE MONASTERY EXCAVATION UPDATE (by Emad N. Georgy)

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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