the various typologies of historic coptic orthodox church ... “the coptic builders seem to have...

Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A1-A13

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The various typologies of

Historic Coptic Orthodox Church design Sherif Raouf Amin Morgan

1. INTRODUCTION

The Coptic Orthodox Church is a Church that formulated its style and

elements in Egypt, affected by its geography, climate, and above all the surrounding

civilizations it emerged within. Finding out its way within a paganism society, being

Ancient Egyptian locally or the Roman Empire as a ruler of the country, the Coptic

Church and people were severely prosecuted. Accordingly, rarely can researchers

find information regarding the early buildings of the first three centuries. However,

some churches that were first built in the fourth and fifth century1 after Christianity

was formally accepted as a legal religion by the Roman Empire in 313AD2and

declared the State religion in 381AD3 are still existing and are subject for research.

Although documentation is poor, yet some research has been made regarding the

different typologies of the Coptic Orthodox Church design. Finally, the paper aims

to review the different literature that classifies the historic Coptic Orthodox Church

design.

2. TYPOLOGIES OF HISTORICAL COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH DESIGN

Typology, a well-known word used to classify things in general, and

architectural specifically in this paper, which have similar characteristics. Although

it is mostly widely spread between Christians that the Church form follows a

Cruciform, Circular or an Ark shape4, yet it is not the real situation within Coptic Orthodox Church designs. Those are mostly symbols that are sometimes used for

spiritual meanings and metaphysical significances. Moreover, those shapes are

scarcely used by Coptic Architecture. Butler, a well-known historian that wrote

1 Gabra, et al (2007) p.22 2 Watterson, (1988) p.34 3 Gregorius (Bishop), (1982) p.58 4 Malaty (Father), (2004) pp. 57-62


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about the Coptic Churches in 1884, which is one of the oldest documented writings

on the Coptic Church architecture confirms by saying,

“The Coptic builders seem to have had no liking for or no knowledge

of the cruciform groundplan…. The result is that in the majority of

cases the architecture of the Coptic churches is of a mixed type, half-

basilican and half-Byzantine: while in other cases there is a type

entirely non-basilican yet not entirely Byzantine. But there is no case, as far as I know, of an architecture unleavened by either of these two

elements, however variously they enter into combination with each

other and with other elements.”1 Butler first confirms that there are no cruciform church forms in the Coptic

Orthodox Churches. Moreover, he classifies the churches into two typologies, the

first is a mixed half-basilican and half-byzantine, and the second is non-basilican but

yet not Byzantine. He further mentions some examples regarding the Non-basilican

and refers to Anba Antonious monastery (Saint Anthony) referred to in the figure-1

as letters (A) and (B) having two churches with twelve domed roof, three on the

sanctuary area and nine covering the rest of the church. However, he mentions Saint

Barbara Church as a Byzantine example, referred to in figure-1 as letters (C) and

(D). A barrel vault covers the Naïve and main alter. However, the rest of the aisles

and galleries are covered with a flat horizontal roof.

Figure 1 Comparison between Non-basilican Church design (A) Ariel view2 and (B) Google earth image of Saint Anthony Church Monastery in the red sea and the Basilican plan (C) Ariel view3 and (D) Google earth image of Saint Barbara

Church in Old Cairo.

1 Butler, (1884) pp. 6-7 2 Gabra, et al (2007) p.219 3 Sheehan, (2010) p.60


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Bishop Samuel and architect Badie Habib did another form of classification

to the Coptic Orthodox Church designs. The element of which the classification was

focusing on was the Church Dome and its shape and location within the roof of the

church. The following is the output of their classification.

Figure 1 The Coptic Orthodox Church typologies through the classification of the

Dome distribution on the roof.1

The previous classification relates the domes locations above churches with relevance to date of construction of the church itself, starting from the fifth until the

nineteenth century. The fifth and sixth century dome covers either the main altar or

choir space. The seventh and eighth century dome covers both the altar and choir.

Eleventh and twelfth century twin domes cover the nave and choir, and a smaller

dome covers the altar. Fourteenth and fifteenth century churches have multiple

domes covering the nave and vaults covering the northern and southern aisles.

Sixteenth and seventeenth century churches had a row of altars at the sanctuary areas,

making the church increase in its width. Churches are covered with domes of equal

sizes and heights. Eighteenth and nineteenth century churches are back to three altars

and the whole church is covered with twelve domes, three above the sanctuary area,

and nine covering the rest of the church nave and aisles.

القبة القبطية ,جورجي بديع حبيب ,صموئيل ) األنبا (1


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In 2002, Capuani came out with a new typological classification. He splits

the Churches of Egypt into two geographical zones. The first is the Mediterranean

coast and Delta, where the church style is mostly affected by the Byzantine

architecture. The second is the Nile Valley, where local cultural impact on the

Church designs in his point of view is recognized.1 He further analyzes church

designs chronologically as Bishop Samuel and Badie Habib did, but focused on plan

design itself and not ceiling design. The following table illustrates the different

typologies Capuani mentioned, their periods, shape, typology and examples.

PERIOD SHAPE TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES

5th to 6th

Century

Basilica with transept

Al-Hawariya

Sanctuary of

St.Menas

Hermopolis

4th and 6th

Century

Basilica with nave

and four aisles

Madinat Madi

Antinoopolis

Pbow

Armant

5th to 7th

Century

Church with nave

and two aisles

Kellia

Churches of Old

Cairo

Kom Namrud

Madinat Habu

5th to 7th

Century

Triconch Church

Monastery of Apa

Bane

White monastery

Red monstery

Deir Abu Matta

1 Capuani, et al, (2002) pp.41-44


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PERIOD SHAPE TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES

6th Century

Church with a

central plan

Sanctuary of

St.Menas (east

basilica)

Sanctuary of

St.Menas

(martyrion)

7th to 12th

Century

Church with a

khurus (Choir)

Monasteries of

sketis

Monastery of

Archangel Gabriel

Al-Naqlun

10th to 12th

Century

Church with naves

roofed with cupolas

Monastery of St.

Victor Naqada

Monastery of the

Potter

Monastery of the

Martyrs

Table 1 Capuani’s classification of Coptic Church design typologies1

From the previous table, one can conclude that most historical churches

follow a rectangular shape, and differences are internal and in the ceiling. The

influence of the rectangular shape is purely from the Ancient Egyptian and Jewish

temples. The Basilican influence is dominant in the architectural plan design,

however the Churches of the Mediterranean such as in St. Menas show a Byzantine

effect that is clear in the central dome of the East Church or the huge scale of the

main Church.

1 Capuani, et al, (2002) pp.41-44


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Nicolas in 2004 updated the church classification into a more detailed one

and discussed the sanctuary design, and at some times mentioned the Dome roofing

system and locations. The following table illustrates the period, church shape

sample, remarks and other examples of the same period and typology.

PERIOD SHAPE REMARKS EXAMPLE

1st to 4th

Century

Building is inside a

rectangular shape

Sanctuary with

Triconch/Triapsal

Nave is surrounded

by three aisles

The Basilica of Al

Ashmounein

St.Marina Church

Shams Al-Din, Oasis

4th and 5th

Century


rectangular shape

External Narthex

(western or southern)

Triple Apse

Nave is surrounded

by three aisles

Virgin Mary

Hanging Church

St.Sergius and

St.Bacchus Church

St.Barbara Church

(Old Cairo Region)

5th and 6th

Century


rectangular shape

External Narthex

(western and southern

or on top of them)

Sanctuary with

Triconch/Triapsal

Nave is surrounded

by three aisles

Church of Anba

Shenouda

monastery

White monastery

Red monastery

Church inside

Hatour temple


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6th and 7th

Century

Appearance of the

area of Chorus of

Deacons

Church of Abu

Fana monastery

Abu Mina North

church, Mariut

Churches around

Luxor temple

7th and 8th

Century

Central Altar with

semi circle apse

Rectangular side

chambers

Church in Habo

city, west Luxor

St.Mina Church

complex in Mariut

8th and 9th

Century

Chorus of deacons

separated from nave

by walls and doors

Three sanctuaries

with the central one

bigger in size

Virgin Mary church

in Syrian

monastery

Anba Bishoy

church in Anba

Bishoy monastery

N.B. existing church

dates back to the 14th

century

11th , 12th

and 13th

Century

Appearance of twin

domes covering the

nave

Three rectangular

sanctuaries

Anba Hedra

church, Aswan

Virgin Mary church

in Al-Azab and Al-

Hamam monastery

in Fayoum


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14th and 15th

Century

Appearance of more

than three altars

Shallow nave of two

rows

Church orientation is

in the north south

direction

Anba Bedaba

monastery in

Nagga Hammady

St.Demiana and

Anba Moisys

monastery

16th ,17th

and 18th

Century

Appearance of a new

type in Akhmim

with three semi

circular apses with a

service corridor.

Nave is divided into

two rows with four

columns in between

Virgin Mary

monastery in

Akhmim

Monastery of the

Archangel in

Akhmim

18th and 19th

Century

Appearance of the

twelve domed

churches

3 domes for the

sanctuary

6 domes for the nave

and aisles

Anba Begol church

in Minya

Many churches in

Delta region that

have been built in

this period

Table 2 Stages of Development of Coptic Church Architecture by Maged Nicolas1

1 Nicolas, (2004) pp.218-220


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Several other writers discussed the Coptic Orthodox Church design

typologies but with no real extra input other than the previously mentioned above1.

However, in 2012, Professor Sami Sabri2 published an article on the typologies of

the Coptic Orthodox Historical Churches in the event of the Golden Jubilee of the

establishment of the Church Ministry of Education. His typologies has classified the

Coptic Orthodox Churches into nine different types. The focal elements of

classification are the nave together with its roofing type. Moreover, variations of the

sanctuary area of the Basilican plan3.

The following table shows the typology and sample shape to elaborate the

typology without getting into details of the subdivisions.

SHAPE TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES

Churches with

Domed Nave

(Single, Double, six,

nine, or more)

Church of Virgin Mary Tokh Al-

Nassara

Church of St. Marcorious (Al-

Maymoun monastery)

Church of Virgin Mary and St.

Anthony in St. Anthony

monastery

Churches with

Vaulted Nave

Church of Archangel Mikhail in

St. Bishoy Monastery

The Church in the keep of the

Syrian monastery.

1 Gabra, et al (2007) pp. 22-29 2 Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies, and a professor of Architecture and Urban Design in Cairo

University, faculty of engineering, architectural department. شاكر, )2182( ص 831-828 3


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Churches roofed

with Domes and

Vaults

Church of the monastery of Anba

Thomas, North Akhmim

Church of the monastery of St.

Hedra

Churches with

Square Nave

Virgin Mary church in Fisha Al-

Nassara village

Virgin Mary church in Sabk El-

Ahad

Church of the Martyr Anba

Sarabamon, Melig village

Akhmim Churches

Church of Mar-Guirguis El-

Hadidy monastery

Church of Virgin Mary monastery

in Hawaweesh, Akhmim

Churches influenced

by Byzantine

architecture

Church of St.Menas (east basilica)


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Basilican Plan

Churches

Virgin Mary Church, Syrian

Monastery.

St.Barbara Church, Old Cairo

Sr. Sergius and Backhus

Church, Old Cairo

Basilican Plan

Churches

With Triconch

Sanctuary

Monastery of Anba Shenouda,

Sohag (White monastery)

Monastery of Anba Bishay,

Sohag (Red monastery)

Basilican Plan

Churches

With Transept

St. Menas main church

Al-Ashmunayn Basilica

Table 3 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri

Shaker1

شاكر, )2182( ص 831-828 1


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3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

From all the previous different classifications of Coptic Orthodox Church

Typologies, starting by Butler in 1884, then Bishop Samuel and Badie Habib

between 1962-1981, then Capuani in 2002, then Nicolas 2004, and finally Sami

Sabri Shaker in 2012. One can conclude that typologies were based on either the

architectural plan design, or the ceiling design, or both together. The last two

combine the first two methods of classification, thus results in a deeper

understanding of the historical Coptic Churches.

AUTHOR TYPOLOGICAL THEME ERA

Butler Basilican and Non-Basilican Churches 1884 AD

Bishop Samuel and

Badie Habib Dome distribution on the roof 1962-1981 AD

Capuani Geographical zoning and plan design 2002

Nicolas Functional zoning, sanctuary, and roof

design 2004

Shaker Nave design and roofing system 2012

Table 4 Comparison of typological classification themes, their authors and its era, by

researcher

From these results and conclusions, the researcher would like to recommend

further research in the typological classifications of contemporary churches. This

field of research is missing and is causing a gap in science to understand modern and

contemporary church design outcomes. Moreover, the typologies of Shaker may be

adopted to classify the Churches of a certain region as an exercise of applying those

typologies on case studies and checking if the case studies follow some or all of

those typologies or not.


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List of References

1. Butler, Alfred J. (1884). Ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt (Volume 1), Oxford at the Clarendon Press.

2. Capuani, Massimo, et al (2002). Christian Egypt, The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt.

3. Gabra, Gawdat and Van loon, J.M (2007). The churches of Egypt: From the journey of the Holy Family to the Present Day, The American

University in Cairo Press, Egypt.

4. Gregorius, Bishop (1982). Christianity, the Coptic Religion and Ethnic Minorities in Egypt, GeoJournal, Vol. 6, No. 1, The Nile Countries, pp.

57-62

5. Malaty (Father), Tadros Y. (2004). Church, House of God, St. George church, Sporting, Alexandria, Egypt.

6. Nicolas Kamel, Magued (2004).Design criteria of Coptic Architecture in Egypt, PH.D Degree dissertation, Alexandria University( Faculty of

Fine Arts)

7. Sheehan, Peter (2010). Babylon of Egypt: The Archaeology of Old Cairo and the Origins of the City, The American University in Cairo

press, Egypt.

8. Watterson, Barbara (1988). Coptic Egypt, Scottish Academic Press Ltd, Edinburgh.

,القبة القبطية ,بديع حبيب جورجي ,صموئيل ) األنبا ( .8, مجلة معهد الدراسات القبطية األثريةاألنماط المعمارية للكنائس (. 2182شاكر, سامي صبري ) .2

القبطية, المجلد التاسع

List of Figures

Figure 1 Comparison between Non-basilican Church design (A) Ariel view and (B)

Google earth image of Saint Anthony Church Monastery in the red sea and

the Basilican plan (C) Ariel view and (D) Google earth image of Saint

Barbara Church in Old Cairo. ..................................................................... 2

Figure 2 The Coptic Orthodox Church typologies through the classification of the

Dome distribution on the roof. .................................................................... 3

List of Tables

Table 1 Capuani’s classification of Coptic Church design typologies .................. 4-5

Table 2 Stages of Development of Coptic Church Architecture by Maged Nicolas

.................................................................................................................. 6-8

Table 3 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri

Shaker ...................................................................................................... 9-11

Table 5 Comparison of typological classification themes, their authors and its era,

by researcher……………………………………………………………...12

the various typologies of historic coptic orthodox church ... “the coptic builders seem to have...

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