Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/160

 1:50 THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CIIL'RCIIES OF MTSR EL The extreme incivility and grasjuno- cnpiJity, and on one occasion the violence of the juiests of this most interesting Chinch, rendered its exploration a matter of some difficulty. As a rule these Coj)tic Churches are never found open ex- cept at an early hour on Sunday mornini;-, or on a few great Feast-days, the Copts vicing with ultra-Protestants in their fondness for locked Churches. (7iin'c/i of Kedcfich licrharra. — A large and curious Church of early date. The shrine of S. Berbarra is gaudily painted in bright colours, and contains within a brass screen the relics of the Saint done up in a kind of blue bolster. The nave is supported on ten pillars, on which rest wooden beams as in the ^loallaka. These arc elegantl}'' painted, and above them ai-e pointed arches. Over these again are the ancient women's galleries,^ with four more pillars upon either side arranged severally into two ba^'S. The aisle and gallery above is carried round the west end, two pillars in each case separating them from the nave. The lofty pulpit is of white marble enriched with fine ancient mosaics, and staiids upon ten marble columns. The under })art of the marble jMiIpit floor is adorned with a sculptured cross. This church abountls with sj)lcndid early caiving in wood inlaid with ivory.'* There is also a curious ti'i{)le standing candelabra of iron, a large brass standing candlestick, and a brass corona, the latter disused and lying amidst the rubbish in a side chapel. Here, too, I observed a curious marble jK'destal, supported on lour rude feet, and perhaps designcil as a candlestick. The paintings over the screen before the Iconastasis are unusually good, and this screen itself has incorporated in it two fine ancient columns, in this church are several curious side chapels, and many olht r objects of unusual interest. Mari (jirijis. — The interesting cliunli of Mari Girgis liaving recently been destroyed by fuc lias been entiicly rebuilt. Fortunately a plan of the old church was taken by llic Honourable Sir Arthur Cordnn, K.('.l>. Hard hy is an intci-csting specimen olan ancient Christian till) inor« w«!»it<'rn cnrtiiii'iitH of tlio nii<| now in tlm Sontli Ki-nMinnion navo nn»n< ni-artr llio Mimnim, will y Moitqiio IioiikIiI in tlic Mrymnr Cullcction,
 * Tho iiu|icrb puljiit from a Cairoiui