Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

CH. iv.] The Roman Fortress. 249
heartening structure. The old church was destroyed
by fire, and has been replaced by a half-gaudy,
half-sordid, altogether pitiful building, in which all
that bad taste and unskilful workmanship could do
has been done to produce the nearest imitation of
a third-rate Greek model. Northwards of this new
church are the ruins of an old one ; but I cannot
say whether they mark the site of the original Mari
Girgis, or of some chapel
attached to it. Traces are
still distinguishable of a nave, two aisles and triforia ;
the lines of the eastern wall may also be followed,
and one or two columns are standing with the cross
sculptured on their capitals.
According to Eutychius the church of Mari Girgis
was built about the year 684 A.D., by one Athana-
sius, a wealthy scribe, who also founded the church
of Abu Kir 'within Kasr-ash-Shamm'ah.' This
description of Abu Kir is not accurate, for there
is now no church of that name within the walls,
but it lies so close to the Roman fortress that the
misstatement is not very serious. The fortress may
however have contained a church called Abu Kir,
though every vestige
of it has now vanished.