Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/164
of folio size. It is adorned with a cross in relief in the centre of each side, with small crosses at the angles, and with Coptic and Arabic inscriptions and foliage-work. This fine work of art cannot, I suppose, be less than 400 or 500 years old. I also saw here some rich vestments of crimson and gold, and a girdle whose clasps of silver-gilt are enriched with niello. To the right of the church is another small chapel of Abou Eer and Abou Hanna, separated by open grill-work from the aisle. Within, the bones of these Saints are preserved in the usual bolster-like reliquaries covered with crimson silk.
Church of Teodrûs.—The plan of this church is three aisles, supported upon two masses of masonry, and two groups of two elegant pillars each, and surmounted by four domes. Before the Iconostasis stands a large candlestick still in use. The night before my last visit, the aged priest, who resides in Cairo, had slept in the nave of the church, on whose floor were spread his mattrass, pipe, and coffee pot. Here are one old silver, and one iron Evangelisterion, many silver hand-crosses, and a silver fan ornament. I was able to purchase from the adjoining house a beautiful glass Arabic lamp, now in the Christy Collection in the British Museum, with the inscription, "O, the Learned One," in Arabic, repeated several times round the bowl
VI. Dayr Melek Michaeel.—This convent contains the church of the Archangel Michael, and is the occasional residence of the Metropolitan[1]. The church is of no great antiquity, though very picturesquely situated.
VII. Dayr Adra Miriam.—This convent is exquisitely situated close to the Nile, and at a fine bend of the river. In its external wall is imbedded at a considerable height a stone covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics, and perhaps brought from the neighbouring quarries of Toorah. The church of Adra Miriam is of no great antiquity. In it I observed a small bronze bell attached to a rod; this is the only specimen I have seen in a Coptic church. I found here a quantity of books in an onion-room! They are all written on cotton paper, and are of no particular interest, with the exception of one which contains some curious illuminations.
- ↑ The different degrees of the Coptic hierarchy were thus enumerated to me by an intelligent Copt:—1. Batrâch; 2. Mitrân; 3. Isoof; 4. Um moos; 5. Asees; 6. Rahib; 7. Shammas.