pectoral cross ((
Greek characters)), which should, but now does not, contain relics, also a crozier ((Greek characters))[1] consisting of a staff with two curving serpents at the top. He may not use his mitre or crozier in the Patriarch's presence. The Patriarch adds to the bishop's vestments only the omophorion.[2] This is always sewn together in the form of a broad Y. The omophorion is now also worn by other bishops.
These are the official vestments given at ordination, which should be worn during the holy liturgy. But, as a matter of fact, poverty and carelessness dispense with many of them, except on great occasions. In a small church on an ordinary Sunday the celebrant usually wears only the alb, amice and stole, the deacon (if there is one) alb and stole.
4. Liturgical Books
The liturgical language of the national Egyptian Church is Coptic.[3] But her prayers were originally in Greek. The Coptic forms show the plainest traces of being translations from Greek, and there remain a very great number of formulas throughout the services which are still said in Greek. No other non-Greek rite is so permeated with Greek influence and phrases as that of the Copts. There is a curious point about these Greek formulas. Not only are quantities of short ejaculations and prayers (such as (Greek characters), the Trisagion, Gloria Patri, Sanctus) in Greek, but most commands addressed to the people, which one would expect to be in their language ("Look towards
- ↑ Ar.: 'akāz; Copt.: shvōt. Op. cit. ii. 217-231.
- ↑ Ar.: baṭrashīl, ballīn; Copt.: ōmoforion, pallīn, ballīn. Butler: op. cit. ii. 143-162.
- ↑ G. Steindorff: Koptische Grammatik, 2nd ed. 1904 (Berlin; Reuther u. Reichard: Porta linguarum orientalium). An easier grammar to begin with is A. Mallon, S.J.: Grammaire Copte, 2nd ed., Beirut, 1907. It is an exceedingly difficult language. Since the 3rd century it is written in Greek characters (of a most beautiful uncial form), with seven additional letters, taken from demotic characters, for sounds which Greek cannot represent. There are five Coptic dialects. The liturgy is in Boḥairic, the old dialect of the Nile Delta, and the most important in every way.
sent to him as a present by the King of Abyssinia. It has three bands of ornament round the high metal cap, and so shows an accidental resemblance to the Pope's tiara.
