SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

organizing the 2008 Coptic Congress in Egypt, if awarded by the IACS. Comments, suggestions, and lifetime membership information can be directed to the following address: Dr. F. G. Estafanous 21106 South Woodland Road Shaker Heights, OH 44122 Tel: (216) 921-4748, Fax: (216) 921-3637 e-mail: jestodad@aol.com Website: www.stmarkfoundation.coptic-history.org 12. Coptic References on CD: The Society is continuing to offer titles for distribution in CD-R format of some important references in the field of Coptic Studies. These CDs contain PDF formatted files of the scanned images of these references with an added electronic table of Contents. As of this time the following titles are available: NKCSC-SAA1, Monneret de Villard, Les Couvents Pres de Sohag, 2 vol, 1925-6, $15. NKCSC-SAA2, H. Ernest, Tapisseries et Etoffes Coptes, 1924, $12 [Color Plates] NKCSC-SBO1, Budge, The Earliest Known Coptic Psalter in the Dialect of Upper Egypt , 1889, $10 NKCSC-SLG1, Coptic Agbeyia , Coptic-Arabic, Cairo 1977, $12. NKCSC-SLG2, O'Leary, The Difnar (Antiphonarium of the Coptic Church, 3 parts 1926-30, $12. NKCSC-SLG3, Takla, The Ecclessiastical Position of St. Shenouda in the Coptic Church , 1981, $6. NKCSC-SL1, Scholtz, Grammatica Aegyptica , Oxford 1778, $12 NKCSC-SL2, Mikhail, N. The Fundamentals of Reading of the Coptic Language , 1893, $12 NKCSC-SLT1, Kahle Jr., Balaizah , 2 volumes, $15 NKCSC-SHG1, Christianity in Egypt (1836-51) , $12 Members would receive 20% discount. 13. Instruction at the Coptic Center: During the past period four sessions are being held at the Center. Two at Coptic II level, one in Coptic Liturgical Services, and the other is the advanced translation seminar. The instruction was by Hany Takla.

to rekindle the scholarly interest in this hagiographic text that is attested only in a lone 13 th Century Coptic manuscript from the Library of the Monstery of St. Macarius in Wadi al-Natrun, and currently preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library. A few other articles appeared in the following four years. A few years ago, Jason Zaborowski chose this text as the subject of his doctoral dissertation, which was awarded in 2003 by the Catholic University in America. It is titled, "The Neo-Martyr John of Phanijoit: A Late Coptic Text Describing a Public Conversion from Isalm to Christianity in Ayyubid Cairo." In four chapters the author discussed how Muslims were viewed by Copts, edited the Coptic text with an English translation, argued against an Arabic original for this unique Coptic text, and discussed the assimilation of the Copts in the period toward their Islamic political leaders while dissociating themselves from the foreign Christian Crusaders. His arguments supported those made in the Society's articles, and he kindly indicated that in several places in his introductory and discussion chapters. The Society is very gratified that its preliminary work helped in the realization of this very significant work to Coptic Hagiography and Coptic History during this period. The author and his dissertation advisors, Prof. Sidney Griffith, Prof. David Johnson, and Dr. Janet Timbie, are to be highly commended for producing and assisting in producing such a valuable work. An electronic copy of this dissertation is available at the St. Shenouda Center for Coptic Studies. 15. New Lecture Series at the Coptic Center: In an effort to promote the Coptic Heritage, the Society is continuing a series of lectures at its Coptic Center in Los Angeles. Because of family illness only one lecture was held in the past period. The presenter will be Mr. Hany N. Takla and the time will be on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Presentation and Discussions). The following are the

lectures' schedule for this upcoming period: 7/22/2004, The Coptic Liturgical Manuals. 9/16/2204, Coptic Hagiography

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter 14. Doctral Dissertation on St. John of Phaidjoit: Nearly a decade ago, the Society took great interest in this intriguing Coptic text. It was the second text that the Advanced Coptic Translation class worked on. Then in 1996 it became the subject of three articles in this Newsletter as well as a paper presented at the 6 th Coptic Congress at Münster, 1996. These articles were intended 16. Society's Elections: In the next few weeks, members and fellow members will receive their ballots for the election of the Society's officers. The following are the nominees for the next term of three years: Hany N. Takla for President, Mr. Ramses Wassef for Treasurer, and Dr. Merit Shoucri for Secretary. Returned ballots shall be postmarked no later than August 31, 2004.

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