Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/152

turn. First, however, it may be well to make mention of some of their common characteristies, and to specify some of the interesting objects connected with Divine worship which are the least likely to be familiar to Western eyes.

A Coptic church then, is, in its simplest form, an edifice of three parallel aisles divided from each other longitudinally by pillars of ancient Greek or Roman construction, with more or less of wooden screen-work and with few exceptions terminating in apses. This area is again divided transversely by screens, many of which are exquisitely carved, and inlaid with ivory and ornamented with paintings. The easternmost of these screens answers to the Iconostasis of the Greek Church, and is entered by three doors, or by a door and two windows covered with rich hangings, which, however, are drawn aside during the celebration of the Lords Supper, and display the priest standing in the midst before the altar with his face turned eastwards. A square stone altar stands in each apse, and behind is a semicircle of stone steps with a central niche, anciently the scat of the Bishop, but commonly used now as the receptacle of one or more pictures. The building is usually surmounted by from one to three domes. The windows are small, and placed high up, autl are almost invariably unglazed. These provisions ensure a constant and refreshing coolness, and deserve the close study of architects employed to erect Churches in our own tropical colonies. In the westernmost division of the Church, below the pavement, is a large tank for the water blessed on the Eve of the Feast of Epiphany. The Baptistery is usually a small building attached to the main Church rather than forming an integral portion of it. In some instances there are chapels in the clerestory.

The following are some of the more curious objects to be found in these churches.

1. Altars. These are built of stone, and are square in form. Underneath is a cavity entered from behind, intended originally, I suppose, to contain relics. On the upper surface of each altar is a groove in which the sacred elements are placed, covered with a square wootlen cover painted with figures of saints or scriptural scenes. At celebrations the altars are covered with cotton cloths embroidered with crosses. Now and then a more ancient cloth is seen made