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• A History of Christianity in Egypt / The Hanging Church / Mount Sinai / Jewish Temples in Egypt
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The Hanging Church
Mount Sinai
Jewish Temples in Egypt
Hagiography, the writing of the lives of saints, has long been a common activity of many scholars of religion. As with any
religion, the story of its success is really the story of its members who made it succeed. Christianity honors its greatest members
by making them saints, and what follows is a collection of Egyptian saints that were instrumental in the growth of
Christianity in Egypt.
Saint Mark the Evangelist
Saint Mark is credited with writing the oldest of the four canonical gospels. According to the Life of the Apostle and Evangelist
Mark written by Severus, Bishop of Al-Ushmunain, in the late tenth century, Mark was one of the servants who poured out the
water that Jesus turned into wine at the marriage at Cana, and that it was his house in which Jesus appeared to the disciples in
hiding after His resurrection from the dead. After that time, Saint Peter and Saint
Mark went out to evangelize, and one night, Peter had a dream in which he was told to go, along with Mark, to Rome and to
Alexandria. After preaching in Rome for a time, Mark went to Egypt and converted many to the Christian faith in the
countryside; then leaving a small community of Christians there, he went to Alexandria. As soon as he entered the gates of the
city, so the story goes, his sandal strap broke. He took it to a nearby shoemaker by the name
of Anianus, who became his first convert in Alexandria. Mark soon discovered that he was being sought by his enemies, and so he
appointed Anianus bishop, ordained three priests and seven deacons, and leaving them with orders to "serve and comfort the
faithful brethren," he left the city. He returned years later to find the community he had left growing and thriving, but his enemies
soon discovered him and threw him in prison. The next day, they threw a rope around
his neck and dragged him over the ground until he died. But when they tried to burn the body, they found that it could not be
harmed and scattered in fear. The Christians claimed the body from the pyre and buried it with reverence in the church they had
built. Saint Mark is revered as the founder and first martyr of the Christian Church in Egypt.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine was a young Christian woman of noble birth and thus quite well-educated, when at the age of eighteen she
presented herself to Emperor Maximinus Daia who was carrying out a persecution of the Christians. She admonished him for his
cruelty and demanded that he cease the persecutions. Astounded and insulted at the young woman's audacity, but lacking the
skills necessary to debate with her, Maximinus detained her in his palace and called
for his scholars to try to trip her up in her beliefs either to make her apostatize against Christianity or commit a heresy against the
Roman religion so that she could be put to death.
Contrary to what Maximinus expected, she managed to convert many of his scholars with her eloquence and knowledge of both
religion and science. Maximinus was so outraged he had them put to death and Catherine scourged and put in prison. His empress
however, heard of the extraordinary young woman and stole secretly into the prison in the company of the general Porphyry.
They listened to Catherine, were converted and baptized, but were executed by
Maximinus when he discovered what had happened. Maximinus ordered Catherine to be broken on the wheel, yet at her touch it
was miraculously destroyed. Seeing no alternative, Maximinus ordered her beheaded. According to legend, her body was carried to
Mount Sinai by angels where a monastery and church were later built by the order of the Emperor Justinian. Interestingly
enough, the site where Catherine's body was found is also believed to be the site
of the burning bush seen by Moses.
Saint Catherine has been ranked with Saints Margaret and Barbara as one of the "fourteen most helpful saints in Heaven." In
several dioceses in France her feast day was regarded as a Holy Day of Obligation up until the seventeenth century. Numerous
churches are dedicated to her, and at one time her statue decorated almost every church in Europe and Africa. As Saint Nicholas
of Myra was the patron of young men and students, Saint Catherine became the
female counterpart, the patron of young women. The spiked wheel that she destroyed with a touch became her symbol and as
such mechanics and wheelwrights have called her their patron. Because she triumphed also in the sciences, confounding even the
philosophers of Maximinus, her intercession is sought by theologians, orators, and philosophers. It is even thought that she was
the saint that had appeared to Joan of Arc.
Saint Anthony of Egypt
Saint Anthony is often called "the Father of the Monks," and rightly so. He is credited with the founding of Christian
monasticism, and many of his ideas are still used to this day by modern monks and nuns. Most of what we know about Anthony
comes from the writings of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, a disciple and close friend of Anthony's. Anthony was born about
AD 251 and was the son of a well-to-do family of Kemn-el-Arouse (Coma) in middle Egypt.
When he was eighteen his parents died, leaving him sole guardian of his younger sister Dious.
Six months later, while attending a church, he heard the scripture passage of Jesus and the rich young man, in which Jesus says,
"If you would be perfect, go, sell all you have, give to the poor, and follow me (Matt. 19:21)." He took this as a personal
invitation from God and sold most of his inherited property, gave much of the money to the poor and the rest to his sister and
placed his sister in the care of a parthenon, a community of holy women, very similar to the priories of the Middle Ages. He
sought guidance from a holy man near Coma in the ways of the Christian ascetic: prayer, fasting, and holiness. After a time of
study, Saint Anthony left on his own and began living in the manner of a mountain hermit, living in a cave and praying for the
salvation of the world. At the age of thirty-five, he moved to Pispir and remained there in solitude for twenty years. During that
time, many came to live near him and copy his holy life.
He became their spiritual leader, teaching them by word and by example the life of the ascetic.
Anthony also taught them to perform manual labor between prayer times as an additional
contribution to society.
When the persecutions began again against the Christians in Egypt at the hands of Maximinus
Daia in the early 300s, he went to Alexandria and ministered to those in prison. After the
persecutions ended, he returned to his life of solitude. He returned to Alexandria once more to
support Pope Athanasius against the Arian Heresy in 352, and many came to see the aged holy
man as he walked through the city, but he returned to his desert soon after, society no longer
having any hold on him. Contrary to popular belief, Anthony founded no formal monastery and
his Rule was simply work and prayer. Anthony also designed the first monastic uniform, an
all-purpose robe of white linen fastened about the waist with a sturdy leather belt. This has
become the basic pattern for monastic garb all over the world and in all times since. Many
came to Saint Anthony for advice, spiritual help, and healing. Once even Pope Athanasius, in
the company of the great Christian sage Didymus the Blind, came all the way out to visit him.
Saint Anthony died in 356 at the age of one hundred and five and was buried secretly by
Macarius and Amatas, two of his most loyal monks. It is the biography of Saint Anthony written by Athanasius that was
instrumental in spreading the monastic idea throughout the Christian world. The Saint Anthony's Monastery founded in
the Egyptian desert still exists, and many monks still carry out his work there.
Saint Alexander
Saint Alexander was Pope of Alexandria during the Arian Heresy. Alexander's predecessor
Peter had excommunicated Arius, but he was reinstated by Achillas, who succeeded Peter as
Pope. When Achillas died, Alexander was elected Pope of Alexandria and Arius became even
more prominent with his teachings. At first Alexander ignored Arius and was so lax in fact, that
the clergy almost revolted against him until he openly condemned the Arian Heresy at the
Council of Nicaea. Alexander is also credited with the writing of the Acts of the Council.
Before being elected Pope, Alexander had lived through the persecutions of Galerius,
Maximinus, and many others who sought to destroy the Christians. At the time, even Pope
Peter himself had been put into prison. Alexander and Achillas snuck into the prison one night
to visit the soon-to-be-martyred pontiff and tried to persuade him to reinstate Arius. Peter
refused, but it was a sign of Alexander's desire for unity within the Church that he went to such
lengths on behalf of Arius, excommunicating him only when there was no hope of compromise.
On his deathbed Alexander implored the great Athanasius to succeed him as Pope of
Alexandria. His feast day is April 17th.
Saint Pachomius
Though Saint Anthony is regarded as the founder of Christian monasticism, he must share a
portion of the credit with Saint Pachomius. Pachomius was born in the Upper Thebaid in Egypt
and as a young man was a soldier in the Roman army. In 314, at the age of 22, he converted
to Christianity and three years later became a hermit, living in the desert. Pachomius realized
that a community of monks working together could accomplish more good, both for
themselves and society, than hermits living isolated by themselves. He created the Cenobitic
Rule that balanced the communal life and the solitary life, a Rule that became the basis for
almost every monastic order to come after, especially that of Saint Benedict, who based his
famous order almost entirely on the Pachomian Rule. In cenobitic monasticism, the monks live
in a communal environment, each one working for the betterment of the whole. Cenobitic
monasteries are entirely self-sufficient, with farms and herds, plus libraries, hospitals, and
kitchens in which every monk works, and every monk can use. Saint Pachomius founded his
first monastery in Tabenna around 323, and by the time of his death during a plague, he was
the leader of over 3,000 monks. Saint Jerome, famous for translating the Bible into Latin, also
translated Pachomius' Rule, and many monasteries today still use it.
Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion
Saint Maurice was the captain of the Theban Legion, a unit in the Roman army that had been
recruited from Upper Egypt and consisted entirely of Christians. Although loyal to the Empire
(ruled over by Maximinus Daia and Diocletian), they still remembered the words of Jesus to
render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God. During the Bagaude, an
uprising of the Gauls, Maximinus marched against them with the Theban Legion as a part of his
army. The revolt was quelled, and upon their return to Aguanum (now Saint-Moritz or Saint
Maurice en Valais) in Switzerland, Maximinus gave the order that the whole army should give
sacrifices to the Roman gods in thanks for the success of their campaign. As part of the
celebration, Maximinus ordered the execution of a number of Christian prisoners. The Theban
Legion refused to comply with the order and withdrew from the rites, even going so far as to
camp away from the rest of the army so as not to be drawn into what they saw as horrifyingly
against their beliefs.
Maximinus repeatedly ordered the Theban Legion to comply with his orders, and when they
continued to refuse, he ordered the unit "decimated," a practice in which every tenth man was
put to death. The Legion was not shaken at all, despite threats of a second decimation, which
was performed. Maximinus told those remaining that they would all be killed, but their captain,
Maurice, inspired them with the example of the soldiers already martyred, and told them that
they were all assured of a place in Heaven for holding fast to their faith. Every last man was
beheaded by other soldiers, without resistance. Maximinus even went so far as to carry the
executions out against every member of the Theban Legion stationed elsewhere in the Empire
from Gaul down to Rome itself.
A number of miracles are attributed to these holy soldiers. In Zurich, it is said that the
beheaded Saints Felix, Regula, and Exuperantius rose up, and carrying their heads in their
hands, walked to the top of a hill, knelt down and prayed, and finally lay down in final death.
On this spot, a great cathedral was built and the image of the three saints carrying their heads
appears on the coat of arms of Zurich today.
Saint Maurice is one of the most popular saints in western Europe. There are over 650 sacred
places bearing his name in France alone. Over seventy towns bear his name. In the Middle
Ages, Saint Maurice was the patron saint of a number of the dynasties of Europe and later of
the Holy Roman emperors, many of whom were anointed before the Altar of Saint Maurice at
Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome. King Sigismund of Burgundy donated land for a monastery in
his honor in 515. Henry I (919-936) ceded the Swiss province of Aargua in exchange for the
Lance of the Saints; and the sacred relic, the Sword of Saint Maurice, was last used in the
coronation of Emperor Charles of Austria as king of Hungary in 1916. Saint Maurice's feast
day is September 22.
Saint Cyril
Saint Cyril was the successor and nephew of Theophilus, Pope of Alexandria. As a youth, he
entered the monastary of Saint Macarius where he learned the wisdom of the desert monks.
Following this, he returned to Alexandria where he was ordained as a priest and rose through
the hierarchy until he was finally made Pope of the Egyptian Church. From then on, he began
to combat heresy and apostasy, helping to put an end to the Nestorian Heresy and even
refuted the Emperor Julian when the latter tried one last time to remove Christianity from the
Roman Empire. As Saint Athanasius had fought against Arius, so Cyril now fought against
Nestorius. He wrote a letter to Nestorius explaining why his idea of two individual beings in the
one person of Christ was heretical, and sent copies to the other Popes of Rome, Antioch,
Jerusalem, and Aleppo, as well as to the imperial court. Though Nestorius answered only with
contempt, the other letters received favorable replies praising his efforts and offering their
support. More letters were written, but Nestorius became more and more stubborn, even
trying to antagonize Emperor Theodosius against Cyril.
This controversy eventually became so great that the calling of a synod of bishops seemed the
only solution. Theodosius called the First Council of Ephesus to address the heresy, which was
held in 431. The bishops present elected Cyril to preside over the council. Though Nestorius
was nearby in Ephesus, he refused to appear before the council. Nestorius' beliefs were
deemed heretical and a sentence of excommunication was passed by the two hundred bishops
in attendance. Six days later, John, Pope of Antioch, arrived with his bishops who had not
been able to reach Ephesus in time for the Council. Though they did not believe as Nestorius
did, they sided with him against the Council's bishops and deemed him innocent. They met by
themselves and issued an accusation of heresy towards Saint Cyril! The Emperor ordered both
Saint Cyril and Nestorius confined and the verdicts of both the Council and the Antiochene
bishops void. Three legates were dispatched from Rome and when they arrived, they
condemned Nestorius and approved of Saint Cyril's decision. The Emperor vindicated Saint
Cyril with honor and ordered the exile of Nestorius. The Antiochene bishops contined a minor
schism for a time, but made peace with Cyril in 433, agreeing finally with the decision of the
Council.
In 1882 Saint Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church, both for his work defending the faith
in the Council of Ephesus as well as for the liturgy that bears his name. According to tradition,
the liturgy had been passed down orally beginning with Saint Mark himself, but Saint Cyril
completed it and wrote it all down so it would not be forgotten. It is chanted by Christians all
over the world during Lent.
Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite
Saint Shenouda was born around 348 to devout Christian parents and spent much of his early
life as a shepherd for his father's small flock. As a youth he accompanied his father on a visit to
his uncle Saint Pigol, the abbot of the famed White Monastery. As a result of a vision, Pigol
kept the young Shenouda and trained him in the ways of monasticism. In 385 following the
death of Pigol, Shenouda was chosen by his fellow monks as the new abbot. The monastery at
that time consisted of thirty aging monks, but by Shenouda's death in 466 the White Monastery
had grown to over two thousand monks and close to two thousand nuns and covered an area
three thousand times its original size.
The charismatic Saint Shenouda brought about a complete reform in Christian monasticism. He
had "inherited" a system from his uncle based on the Pachomian Rule, though even more strict
and austere. As a result, the followers were few in number and declining. Shenouda created a
new Rule that was less stringent and appealed to the backgrounds and natures of the people in
the region, who would later join his monastery in droves. He also had his monks utilize their
time outside prayer and worship by having them use their skills and old professions for the
benefit of the monastery and the community. Thus the monks were engaged in crafts and trades
of every type, from clothweaving to shoemaking to pottery. For the first time, the monastery
was self-sufficient. He also encouraged literacy amongst the populace by requiring his monks
and nuns to be literate and to engage in the art of manuscript copying.
Shenouda's spiritual work in Egypt and the surrounding area made him quite popular and
famous within the Egyptian Christian Church, as well as beyond. No doubt as a result of this
popularity, he was chosen by Saint Cyril the Great to accompany him to the Council of
Ephesus in 431 where Shenouda aided the council in refuting the teachings of Nestorius that,
among other things, denied the sacred position and holiness of the Virgin Mary as well as
denied the human nature of Jesus. Shenouda was instrumental in preserving the unity of the
Church.
Saint Shenouda was also a leader of the peasants under the Greek landlords. He opened the
monastery's church to the public and preached constantly to the peasants who came to him on
religious and moral issues intending to elevate them from being slaves to confident Christians.
He and his monks also defended the peasants who came to him for protection from their
oppressive landlords. His heroic deeds have been lauded down through the centuries. Once he
risked his life to save a group of captives from the Blemmyes warriors, and even appealed on
behalf of the peasants to Emperor Theodosius.
Saint Shenouda died at the age of 118 surrounded by his fellow monks at the White
Monastery, singing with them until the moment of his death the praises of God.
Saint Mary of Egypt
Saint Mary of Egypt, for a great many years, was a prostitute in Alexandria in the middle fourth
century. One year she joined a group of pilgrims who were traveling to Jerusalem for the Feast
of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. She joined them not for religious reasons, but in the hopes
of finding some customers along the way. Even when she arrived in Jerusalem she persisted in
her ways and on the holy day itself even went to the church where the sacred relic was held to
ensnare members of the pilgrimage. But when she reached the door, she found she could not
enter. Some mysterious force continued to push her away and she sat down in a corner of the
churchyard. She was suddenly filled with remorse for her sinful life, which she realized was the
reason why she could not enter the church. As she sat crying, she saw a statue of the Virgin
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and with a newfound faith and humility of heart she implored the
help of the Blessed Mother and permission to enter the church and pray before the sacred
wood of the cross. She promised that if her request were granted, she would renounce her
previous life in favor of a life of holiness and piety. She stood and approached the church door
once more, and found that the force that previously pushed her away, now gently pulled her
inside the church. While praying for guidance before the wood of the cross, she heard a voice
telling her that across the Jordan River she would find rest. She left immediately, and upon
reaching the Jordan she was baptized in a church dedicated to John the Baptist, and the next
day crossed the river and walked into the desert.
She lived alone in the desert for the next forty-seven years, until a monk named Zosimus came
upon her dwelling. In the custom of monks at the time, he had come out of his monastery to
spend Lent (a Christian season of fasting and penance before Easter) in the desert. As soon as
she saw him, she called him by name and recognized him as a priest. The two talked and
prayed for a long time, during which she told him the strange story of her life. She asked
Zosimus to promise to meet her at the Jordan River on Holy Thursday of the following year
and to bring her holy communion. Zosimus kept his promise, and brought bread and wine to
consecrate into the body and blood of Christ. He arrived at the Jordan and waited; soon he
saw Mary coming toward him, walking across the river. After receiving holy communion, she
raised her hands towards Heaven and shouted the words of Simeon, "Now thou dost dismiss
Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace, because my eyes have seen Thy
salvation." She then asked Zosimus to return to her dwelling the next year. He did so, but
found only her lifeless body and a letter she had written to him. He performed the funerary rites
and buried her in the desert aided, we are told, by an angel in the form of a lion. In his prayers
he asked that she watch over him from Heaven, and returned to his monastery where he finally
recounted to his brothers the story of the holy woman. Her feast day is celebrated by the
Eastern Churches on the first of April, and by the Western Churches on the second of April.
Church
Mary
by Jimmy Dunn
its name from its location on top of the southern tower gate of the
old Babylon fortress (in Old, or Coptic Cairo) with its nave
suspended above the passage (Muallaqa translates to
'suspended'). It is the most famous Coptic Christianchurch in
Cairo, as well as the first built in Basilcan style (possibly). It was
probably built during the patriarchate of Isaac (690-92), though an
earlier church building may have existed elsewhere dating as earlier
as the 3rd or 4th century. However, the earliest mention of the
church was a statement in the biography of the patriarch Joseph
(831-49), when the governor of Egypt visited the establishment.
The church was largely rebuilt during by the patriarch Abraham
(975-78) and has seen many other restorations including one very
recently, after which objects of historical interest that were no
longer of service went to the Coptic Museum.
as the "staircase church" because of the twenty-nine steps that
lead to the entrance.
wide and 9.5 meters high, can be reached by steps 29 steps. It
became known to travelers during the 14th and 15th centuries
as the "staircase church" because of these steps, which in turn
lead to an open court. The entrance to the church lies in the
south door in the east wall of the narthex, which an outer porch
decorated with geometric and floral designs in relief applied to
stucco.
with three aisles, a narthex and tripartite sanctuary. Another chapel, built
alter and known as the little church, was constructed over the eastern
tower of the Babylon Fortress' south gateway. It now represents the
oldest part of the remaining church. Later, during the 19th century, a
fourth aisle was added.
residence of the Coptic patriarchs of Alexandria.
With the reign of the patriarchate of Christodoulus
(1047-77), infighting between the Church of
Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the El Muallaqa
Church broke out due to the wishes of that
patriarch's desire to be consecrated in the Hanging
Church, a ceremony that traditionally took place at
Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Nevertheless,
Christodoulus was consecrated at El Muallaqa as
well as several others after him including Cyril II
and Michael IV (1092-1102). Other patriarchs
were either enthroned or elected at El Muallaqa,
and a number of others were buried at the church
during the 11th and 12th centuries. Also, Coptic
synods were held in the church to determine which
day Easter would fall or to judge priests or
bishops suspected of heretical teachings.
notable timber wagon-vaulted roof, features a
central nave and two narrow aisles separated by
eight columns on each side. Between the nave
and the north aisle is a row of three columns
spanned by wide lancet arches. The columns
between the aisles are made of white marble,
with the exception of one built of black basalt.
Some of the capitals are Corinthian, and so were
probably removed from older buildings.
the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. There is also a marble ambon (pulpit, that dates from the 11th century, though
some of its white and colored marble may predate the pulpit itself. It surmounts fifteen graceful columns. The
southern marble facade of the pulpit's steps is carved with a design showing a shell and a cross on stairs,
representing the Resurrection of Christ.
the Virgin Mary, the northern (left) to Saint George, and the southern (right) one to Saint John the Baptist.
with ivory and carved into segments showing fine
geometric designs and crosses, dates from the 12th or
13th century and on the top of it are a row of seven
large icons. The center of these icons depicts the Christ,
seated on a throne. To his right is the Virgin Mary, the
Archangle Gabriel and Saint Peter, while to his left are
John the Baptist, the Archangle Michael and Saint Paul.
Within this sanctuary, the altar is surmounted by a
canopy supported by four columns, and behind the altar
is a marble tribune where the clergy usually sit.
with crosses that are alternately ivory and ebony,
and across the top of it are seventeen icons
representing different scenes from the martyrdom of
Saint George. The southern screen shows a
cruciform pattern and dates from the thirteenth
century. Atop it are seven small icons that depict
the life of Saint John the Baptist. However, all of
these icons are the work of a single Armenian artist,
Orhan Karabedian, and were executed in 1777.
inlaid with translucent ivory plating. This leads to the "little church",
actually a chapel, which represents the oldest section of the structure.
To the left is the sanctuary of Teckle Haimanout (Takla Haymanot), a
national Saint of Ethiopia, who lived during the 13th century. The haikal
screen here dates to the 13th century. Faint traces of fine wall paintings
on the east wall probably represent Christ flanked by the Apostles, and
during a restoration that took place in 1984, a beautiful 14th century
Nativity scene was also discovered. At one time, all of the columns of
this chapel were adorned with paintings, but today, only the scene on
the fifth column from the east in the southern row is visible. It probably
depicts a female saint who was possibly either a queen or a princess.
Just to the south of this sanctuary is the baptistery, which housed a deep
round basin of red granite and a niche adorned with mosaic. Partiarch
Michael IV extended this upper floor for use as accommodations for
the patriarchs.
Jerusalem and dates from ether the 5th or 6th century. However, though there are many objects from the church in the
Coptic Museum, inside the church are collections of over one hundred icons of which the oldest dates from the 8th
century.
Mount Sinai
(Jebel Musa, or Mount Moses)
place can be selected more fitting for the exhibition of Almighty power. Mount Sinai is
both the name of a collection of peaks, sometimes referred to as the Holy Mountains,
and the biblical name of the peek on which Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Mount Mousa (or Musa), also referred to as Jebel Musa, Gebel Mousa, Mount
Moses or the Mountain of Moses (all of which basically means the same thing) is
considered to be that biblical peak. This peak has religious significance to Islam as the
place where Mohammed's horse, Boraq, ascended to heaven. The 7,497 foot
mountain has 3,750 steps hewn out of stone by monks of St. Catherine's Monastery,
which is located just to the North. The peak is accessible by the steps, or by a gentler
path east of the monastery. Both lead to an amphitheater known as the "Seven Elders
of Israel". From there, one must ascend the remaining 750 steps to reach the summit
where the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was built in 1934 (on the location of the original
chapel built in 363 and rebuilt by Justinian in 530) and affords a truly breathtaking
view. It is recommended that you take the steps down, as they will lead you past the
fountain of Moses, a small chapel of the Virgin, and two arches, the Gate of St.
Stephen and the Gate of the Law.
in this range, some of
which have also been
contested as the true
Mount Sinai. Jebel
Serbal is also a
candidate. Other peaks
in this range include
Jebel Megafa and Jebel
Moneiga.
Mount Moses built by St
Catherine's Monks
peak of Mount Moses
is reported to have been erected
in the 6th or presumably the 9th Century AD. The temple site
and the surrounding grounds,
originally a property of the church, was acquired by the Jews
in return for "kantars of gold". The basilica-style temple
contains a Jewish heritage library, that was inaugurated on
November 25,1997.
were found in the temple. The document, written mostly in
what was called "Hebrew Arabic", a variation of Arabic in
Hebrew alphabet, exclusively used by Jews in the Middle
Ages, reflected political, economic and social conditions
of Jews under the Arab rule of Egypt as well as sectarial
organizations and relations between different Jewish sects.
interpretations of the Old Testament, excerpts of linguistic research on
Hebrew as well as documents explaining how Jews dealt with the Arab
Muslim authorities.
Arabic, the official language in government departments (diwans).
placed by his mother, was reportedly found.