Day 2 11/3/22 |
Egypt - Cairo |
Frank's Trip |
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I slept VERY late. There were places in Coptic Cairo I wanted to see... Some are difficult to find! As I eventually found, some are closed and some just can't be found - at least, not by me.
I did find the cavern where Mary & Joseph are supposed to have stayed while in Egypt! |
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The Coptic Museum is the largest museum of Coptic history, antiquities and art. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. It abounds in the largest collection of unique Coptic monuments, as this collection reaches about 16,000 artifacts which are the most important and rarest in the world, reflecting the diversity and richness of the Coptic civilization in Egypt.
In 1908 Markus Semeika Pasha began establishing the Coptic Museum on a land of the Coptic Church, and it was officially opened in 1910. |
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This museum has a HUGE collection of items. It is, however, very poorly lit which makes it difficult to get a good look at many of them or read the information about them - which not all have. I browsed through - not taking the time to closely look over most of the collection. There are some beautiful and interesting pieces I noted in passing. |
| Christ entering Jerusalem as King. This occasion is considered to be one of the major feasts in the Coptic Church |
11th Century. Large wall painting representing Adam and Eve before and after their fall from grace. To the right they are depicted innocent and unashamed; to the left fig leaves hide their shame |
One of the most important icons dating from the 18th century A. D. depicts the half figure of the Holy Virgin Mary holding and looking to the Crucifix. |
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| From the Ottoman Period: A wooden litter inlaid with bone and mother-of-pearl. Used to convey women pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem |
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| Saint John the Baptist is represented as the Angel of the Wilderness. He is shown with wings like an angel since he was carrying a special message. He holds his decapitated head on a golden dish and Christ is looking at him from above. |
18th century. Saint Anthony visiting Saint Paul in his hermitage on the mountain along the Red Sea. The crow is bringing the daily load of bread to Saint Paul. Saint Anthony is wearing the traditional costume of the Coptic monks and Saint Paul a very coarse fabric. At his feet 2 lions who helped Saint Anthony to bury Saint Paul. |
6th -7th century. The external rim of this famous niche features a slightly protruding frame and 2 adjoining colonnettes with simplified capitals. In the upper section Christ is enthroned in a mandoria carried on wheels with flames licking at its base. At the sides of the mandoria are the heads of the 4 creatures of the Apocalypse: the eagle, ox, lion, and man. The Archangel Michael stands on the left, Gabriel on the right. In the lower section the Holy Virgin, holding the infant Jesus, sits enthroned and flanked by the 12 apostles as well as 2 local saints. |
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There was a very small cave in the city where people would go to seek refuge and live. So when the Holy family: the Virgin Mary, Joseph the Carpenter, baby Jesus and the midwife Salome (who accompanied them) fled from Palestine, they came to this cave. They may have lived here while Joseph worked at the fortress.
After Christianity spread in the 4th century A.D. the Roman Empire adopted Christianity as the state religion, Roman authorities living around this area heard that the cave had been inhabited by the Virgin Mary. Hence, built a church on top of it named Abu Sarga for two martyrs belonging to the patriarch of Constantinople. It became a small church where the Romans prayed. This church is the oldest church (in Egypt) from the 4th century A.D. |
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| Dedication to Saints Sergius & Bacchus |
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| a very few of he icons |
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Abu Serga
