cally never cruciform.[1] It is a long hall, generally divided by two rows of columns into a nave and aisles. Over these columns may be either an entablature or arches. Above the aisles are large triforia, where once the women prayed. Now these are generally disused or walled off from the church to form apartments for the priests' families. The churches are always orientated, the altars being at the east. At the west is first a narthex, once used for catechumens, penitents, and for certain offices. Now it is rarely used. In some churches it contains a great tank; not the font, but the place where the blessing of the waters on the Epiphany takes place. There is often a smaller tank for ablutions before entering, as one sees in front of mosques. Inside, the church is divided into three parts by screens across it from north to south. We come first to the nave. Here are divisions, sometimes light open screens, making a special place for women. They occur in various directions and are wanting in the desert monastic churches, to which a woman would hardly come. In the nave sometimes stands a throne for the Patriarch. Beyond the nave is the choir, generally raised a step. This is sometimes cut off by a screen, generally of open lattice-work, often adorned with holy pictures. The pulpit, a longer platform than we see in the West, stands on the north side, just without the choir. Beyond the choir we come to the sanctuary, which they called Haikal.[2] This is again often raised a step, and generally (not always) has a screen across it. The haikal screen corresponds to the Byzantine ikonostasion, except that it does not carry a mass of pictures. It is a solid wall of wood, generally beautifully carved and inlaid with mother-of-pearl in geometric patterns. It has three doors opening inwards towards the sanctuary; in front of them hang curtains; over them are Coptic or Arabic inscriptions. The pious Copt who visits a church goes up to the haikal screen, prostrates himself and kisses the hem of the curtain. The haikal always has three altars in a line. This marks a chief difference between Coptic and Byzantine churches. The Byzantine church has only one altar. In the Coptic Church the side altars are real altars, dedicated to saints, used for the holy liturgy once a year, on the saint's feast.
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THE COPTS IN OUR TIME
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