Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

364 Ancient Coptic Churches. [CH. vm.
The nave is of unusual width in proportion to the
aisles, but the whole design is extremely graceful
and quite Coptic in character; except that here also,
as in the main church of St. Michael, the haikal-
screen is formed by a solid wall of masonry pierced
by a doorway at each side, but having none in the
centre. Towards the western end of the nave a
very fine Epiphany tank is sunk in the floor. Two
columns and a pier divide the nave from each aisle,
one pair of columns standing against the western
wall, the other pair being detached. From the latter,
and from the isolated piers, arches spring in all four
directions, and carry domes above, which must be as
light and elegant in structure as they are beautiful
in design and arrangement. For of the nine, or
perhaps twelve, original domes eight
are now re-
maining : of these only two are circular on plan, the
remaining six being elliptical. The elongation of
these ellipses is very bold and striking : indeed the
whole roofing of this church, as indicated in the plan,
is an architectural triumph.
The Convent of St. John, near Antinoe.
Two degrees further north than Nakadah, on the
right bank of the Nile, lie the ruins of the ancient
Antinoe, and near them the town of Madinah, where,
in an ancient quarry, may be found the subterranean
church of St. John, which is said to have
been built by the Empress Helena, the mother of
Constantine.