Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

134 Ancient Coptic Churches, [CH. m.
or corridors of cells. Each cell has its own door,
but no window ; all seem disused, containing
only palm-fibres for ropes, some baskets, broken
of the old Arabic
pitchers, and two little lamps
pottery, thickly glazed in very beautiful colours,
turquoise blue and emerald green. One finds fragments
of such lamps at all depths in the rubbish
heaps at Old Cairo. There is nothing else here
to notice except a small but curious wooden cross,
of Latin form, with a leathern bag attached to the
branches, the use of which is to collect alms. It is
evidently ancient and long disused, and is the only
I example have seen of this instrument.
There are fifteen inmates in all ten besides the
mother superior and four servants. Admission is
granted by the patriarch to any young girl
left
resourceless and helpless, or even to a widow.
Indeed the refuge is rather an almshouse than a
nunnery. The inmates are allowed to receive their
friends sometimes, or even to go to Cairo for a day
to pay visits. No conventual vows are required.
There is no veil to be taken ; rather in the convent
the veil is laid aside ; so far out of the world it is
not needed. Nor is marriage forbidden.
discovers relations who will receive her,
If a girl
or if she
finds
out.
a husband, she may open the door and walk
Their life is very quiet and simple. A bell
rings at dawn to arouse them ; they all rise and
;
pray together then they busy themselves in household
work, cleansing, cooking, embroidery, and the
when there is nothing special to do, as
like ; and
the priest naively put it, they read the gospel and
pray again. Every Saturday evening the priest
holds a service in their little oratory. They have,