Description
The object of the present little book is to provide English speaking
travellers in Egypt with a means of following intelligently
the Sunday morning service of the native Christians. The writer
hopes that, at the same time, it may be of some interest to those
who occupy themselves with philology or Liturgiology.
The Coptic Liturgies were translated into Latin long ago by
Renaudot, whose translation has been translated into English by
Dr. Neale, and reprinted by Mr. Hammond; and fresh translations
from the original language have been made by Mr. Malan.
But these works were executed without familiarity with the present
use, being based entirely upon medireval MSS., which seem
moreover to contain hardly anything but the parts read by
the Priest. The reader may easily convince himself by comparing
them with the form of the service here placed before
him, how very little they would enable him to follow the actual
usage.
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