Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

CH. iv.] The Roman Fortress. 221
border, and between the crosses runs a sort of key
pattern. On top of this screen is a series of small
scene pictures, old but not specially : good those
above the northern screen are of the same type, but
recent. The seven large pictures which stand on
the central iconostasis are set in a single frame ;
and
on the frame are Coptic and Arabic gold writings
in relief. In the- midst is Christ throned, in the
attitude of benediction, instead of the more usual
Virgin Mary ;
on
the dexter side the Virgin ;
the
other figures are two angels and three apostles.
Each picture is about 4 ft. high.
Al Mu allakah is triapsal, but all the three apses
vary slightly in span. The central haikal has a
tribune with three straight and three curved steps
besides the topmost bench :
the
other chapels have
a different arrangement. The haikal is divided from
the side chapels by wide openings with lofty pointed
arches which had originally, no doubt, a wooden
casing splendidly gilt and painted. This painted
woodwork still remains on the soffit of the similar
arches over the tribune and in the southern chapel.
Of the three altars not a stone was left standing at
my last visit in 1884; they were pulled down, one
might say out of sheer mischief, four or five years pre-
viously ; and are to be replaced, if the priest is right,
by slabs on pillars the latest Greek fashion from
Alexandria. But leaning against the wall in the
northern chapel were two curious ancient altar-slabs
of white marble, which belonged most likely to the
north and south chapel altars, while that of the haikal
was of the ordinary type. Of these tops one is horse-
shoe shaped, the chord and the greatest diameter of
the curve being each 3 ft. 9 in. The interior surface