The Churches of Egypt

As we continue to watch with unease the situation in Egypt, and especially the plight of the Coptic Church under their newly elected pope, a new book sheds light on Christian history in Egypt. American University of Cairo Press tells me of a forthcoming edition of The Churches of Egypt: From the Journey of the Holy Family to the Present Day by Gawdat Gabra and Gertrud J.J. van Loon, edited by Carolyn Ludwig with photographs by Sherif Sonbol (AUC Press, 2012), 330pp.

This book, the publisher tells us, offers us a:

New flexibound edition of this stunning tour of Egypt's Christian houses of worship

With over 300 full-color photographs, this is the first fully illustrated book devoted to Christian houses of worship in Egypt. The text incorporates the latest research to complement the broad geographic scope covering nearly all significant Coptic sites throughout the country, from the ancient Coptic churches in Old Cairo to the churches in the monasteries of Wadi al-Natrun, the Red Sea, and Upper Egypt. Churches associated with the Holy Family’s sojourn in Egypt, including Gabal al-Tayr and Dayr al-Muharraq, enrich the volume. Churches of all other Christian denominations in Egypt are also described and beautifully illustrated here. A number of Greek Orthodox churches, Evangelical Coptic, Catholic, Armenian, and Anglican churches are included. Introductory chapters on the history of Christianity in Egypt, the architecture of the Coptic Church, and Coptic wall paintings help readers to appreciate fully the great cultural, artistic, and architectural heritage of Egypt’s Christians.