Studieturen til Egypt opna ei ny verd for meg. Landet har ei spesiell og lang kulturhistorie, og det er utruleg mykje interessant stoff å gripa fatt i. Det har eg sjølvsagt visst lenge, utan å ha særleg kunnskap ut over det eg ein gong lærte på gymnaset. Derfor var det kjekt å få eit fornya og meir direkte forhold til denne kulturhistoria gjennom å sjå og oppleva i alle høve litt av det landet har å by på.
Det som verkeleg var nytt for meg, var livet i den koptiske kyrkja, både i historisk og dagsaktuelt perspektiv. Dermed har eg fått enda ei interesse, enda nokre fleire bøker og enda eit tema som truleg vil få plass på bloggen i tida framover.
Ja, eg hadde sjølvsagt med meg ein del bøker heim. Eg har funne fram to av dei i kveld, begge gjevne ut av Gawdat Gabra, tidlegare
direktør på det koptiske museet i Cairo:
Den siste av dei er ei stor praktbok, gjeven ut i samband med år
2000-jubileet. Den handlar om den egyptiske tradisjonen som byggjer på bibelforteljinga om flukta til Egypt då
kong Herodes ville drepa ein eventuell utfordrar til
kongekrona (Matt 2,13-15). Eit fascinerande tema, som eg vil koma tilbake til.
Når eg sit her i kveld og tenkjer desse tankane, er det fordi eg nettopp har lese ein artikkel i Al-Ahram Weekly Online med referat frå ein konferanse om koptisk klosterliv i Øvre Egypt. For eit halvt år sidan hadde eg aldri kome på å lesa noko slikt. Men nå har eg altså lese dette, og faktisk funne ting som eg fann interessant! Gawdat Gabra er elles nemnt i artikkelen, men då fordi han ikkje var til stades (og var savna).
Her er nokre utdrag frå artikkelen:
The spirit of monasticism in Upper Egypt
The recent Coptic convention at Naqada drew scholars from all over the
world. The symposium, organised by the Saint Mark Foundation for Coptic
Studies, took place in the church of the Archangel Michael from 6 to 11
February. Its aim was to draw attention to the rich heritage of one of
the lesser-known monastic sites in Upper Egypt; to present an overview
of the current state of research, conservation and restoration in the
Naqada and Qus (Coptos) region; to increase general knowledge of the
area; and to activate concern for conserving and preserving its
Christian heritage. Bishop Beiman gave the opening address in the grand
new hall of the monastery. Attending were Magdi Ayoub, the governor of
Qena, who said a word about the specialised gathering being a part of a
wider culture and identity which spanned the ages, along with VIPs,
participants, guests, the press, and a large number of residents of
Naqada and Qena anxious to witness such an important event taking place
at a site which is not on the regular tourist map and, until relatively
recently, not easily accessible by road.
Entitled «Christianity and Monasticism in Upper Egypt», this was the
fourth in the series of Coptic symposia organised by Fawzi Estafanous
to take place in a monastic setting. Although the smallest of the four
such gatherings to date, it was lacking neither in spirit nor in the
quality and diversity of the papers presented. As for the location, it
was with surprise and pleasure that participants and guests found what
could best be described as «five-star facilities». A great deal of
effort had clearly gone into preparing the monastery for its
distinguished guests, and as a possible venue for future conferences.
The symposium brought together a group of highly professional and
gifted individuals who presented lectures on subjects of their
expertise concerning the Christian heritage of the large area that lies
to the south of the River Nile, where it describes a great
semi-circular loop towards the west at Qena before resuming it’s flow
northward at Nag Hammadi. To the north of this diversion (that is to
say on the east bank of the Nile), is Faw Qibli (Pbow), where St
Pachomius, the founder of cenobitic monasticism, began his life as a
Christian. Beyond rises Gabal Al-Tarif, the lofty mountain range
studded with caves and rock-tombs that were occupied by early hermits,
and where the Gnostic codices were found. Naqada itself is directly
opposite Qus (Coptos).
(…)
On the question of comprehensive documentation, and in view of the
revival of interest in Coptic churches and monasteries since the 1970s,
it was heartening to learn of the multi- media database being developed
by Howard Middleton-Jones. This is designed to produce an interactive
catalogue of all sites, all over Egypt–whether restored, undergoing
excavation, or in various stages of restoration, as well as those that
have never been documented at all. A large number of monasteries,
especially in desert areas such as Naqada, are little known, and some
are in ruinous condition. Clearly there is a need to develop a system
of Coptic sites, whereby information can easily be accessed, alongside
interactive visual multi-media documentation, in an effort to improve
and enhance Coptic research.
This is a major ongoing project, and full text and bibliographical
references will be progressively added along with a complete
photographic survey of each site. «It will include film footage, aerial
and satellite imagery, excavation reports and audio interviews where
available,» said Middleton-Jones. «The end result will be an important
tool for retrieval of archaeological records, for Coptic research in
general, and it will help encourage the survival and spirit of the
Coptic culture–and hopefully enliven new ideas and interest in the
future of Coptology.»
(…)
No seminar on Coptic studies should fail to refer to martyrs, and His
Grace Bishop Martyros of Naqada delivered a paper entitled «The Martyrs
of Esna». This is the site of the Monastery of the
Three-Thousand-Six-Hundred-Martyrs who died for their faith in the time
of Emperor Diocletian. His brutal attack on Christians, His Grace
pointed out, was the tenth in a long chain of persecutions under his
predecessors. In order to establish control of the country, Diocletian
divided Egypt into three regions: Alexandria and the western Delta; the
eastern Delta; and the Thebaid. Irianus governed the latter area from
his headquarters at what is now known as Sheikh Abadah village, and
from there he extended his control in Upper Egypt as far south as the
border with Nubia. Diocletian was so ferocious, said His Grace, that
any region he invaded was abandoned by its inhabitants, either because
they received the crown of martyrdom, or because they fled to the
mountains. A few years ago, while digging in the monastery at Esna,
bodies of martyrs were discovered piled one upon the other, but a study
of the relics has yet to be carried out.
(…)
We missed you at the symposium Gawdat Gabra, and look forward to seeing
you at the International Conference on Coptic Studies slated to take
place in Cairo next September. It is expected to be a bumper event,
coinciding with the foundation of the Coptic Museum by Morcos Samaika
in 1908.
(via PaleoJudaica)
Arne Berge 