Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

A TIME OF SIGNS: CAELUM ET TERRA 73A Coptic FamilyWhen we returned to Emil’s home, his parents broke into tears,both in joy for their son who will be able to live in the UnitedStates (a dream that many have) but, of course, also a joy tingedwith sorrow because they will lose him to a great distance.Emil comes from an interesting family. His father and motherare first cousins; their parents were also first cousins. They all livedin a village in Upper Egypt in which the Christians are few innumber. Since the draw from which they could marry was relativelysmall, it became the custom there to prefer to marry one’scousin. As a result, the Kamal-Hanna family told me that they havefirst cousins in their parental lines as far back as seven generations.The Kamal-Hannas are very traditional Coptic. Their manner,their sense of family and lineage, of tradition, and of trust in Providenceall speak of great stability. They’re from an old lineage and,although they are by no means well off, they expect that every oneof their children will marry into a good family. Rich or otherwise,it doesn’t matter; wealth is not the issue for them. The issue is thestrength of the family, its solidity, and the character that strongfamilies create.Emil’s mother, Madame Juliet, has a French name and wasFrench-taught in one of the Catholic schools in Cairo. Emil’s fatherspeaks English because he was taught in an English-speakingCatholic school. The Coptic families, if they could at all afford it,sent their children to Catholic schools. Consequently, in manyCoptic homes, the wife speaks French in addition to Arabic, andthe husband speaks English in addition to Arabic. This dual languagepattern appears to be a mark of polite society.When I am visiting the home of the Kamal-Hannas, MadameJuliet always attempts to speak to me in French. She cannot reallybelieve that an educated American, an educated priest, cannotspeak French. So I try to make do. I try to figure out what she issaying from the etymologies of the few Latin bases I know. She isespecially interested in hearing me sing any parts of the old Massthat I know, because when she attended the Catholic school as achild, she fell in love with the Tridentine Mass. I know some partsof the Missa de Angelis and I sing the Salve Regina from the Office