Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

CH. iv.] The Roman Fortress. 227
is still used, but it can only be seen by the light of
candles :
for there is no window.
The gospel-stand belonging to the baptistery is
ancient, and departs from the usual design in having
at each corner a floriated cross of metal, fixed on
wooden stems rising about 1 8 in. above the board.
It lies among a heap of church lumber, window-
frames, broken screens, strips of marble, doors, lat-
tice-work, panels, &c. The rest of the space within
the curve of the bastion is vacant, but formerly was
divided
ments.
by many screens into irregular compart-
The central pier has been mentioned as upholding
the floor of a chapel above. This floor however lies
only to the south side of the pier,
so that it roofs
that part alone of the little church which lies in the
actual curve of the bastion, and not the first chapel
described as adjoining the Mu'allakah. The wagonvault
roofing of the first chapel is very lofty : where-
as the ceiling over the second chapel and over the
baptistery is but half the height, and this ceiling is
the floor of an upper room called the chapel of St.
Mark. The ascent is made by a staircase at the
west end of the first chapel.
The women's section at the west end of St. Mark's
is divided into three : parts on the south is a tiny
oratory railed off by on
lattice-work :
the north side
is a door opening into a flying gallery or bridge,
which crosses the little church and enables worship-
to look down on the choir and haikal. From
pers
this bridge the best view is to be had of the painted
window. The sanctuary-screen in St. Mark's is of
ancient ebony and ivory resembling the principal
screen in Al Mu'allakah, but not carved with the
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