This text included excerpts of the sayings of Saint John Chrysostom, translated from Greek to Arabic, and thirty-four spiritual essays. The manuscript was composed by Butrus Girgis, and it was handwritten by Yusuf Hanna in 1843. It includes decca, a typical form of Coptic Orthodox illustration. Saint John Chrysostom, the author, served as the patriarch of Constantinople, a position forced upon him in 389 C.E. Born in Antioch circa 347 C.E., he devoted several years to monastic life, spending part of this time as a hermit. Chrysostom means "golden-mouthed."
This manuscript includes books of the Old Testament with notes and commentary about their interpretation according to the Coptic Orthodox faith. Chapters from the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings are included.
This manuscript features three books of the Torah or the Pentateuch, including Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The book is described as the property of Fahim Moftah.
"This manuscript is Iryan Moftah's manual for teaching Coptic grammar in the newly introduced Bohairic dialect. Moftah introduces rules of modern Greek pronunciation to the antiquated style of the traditional Coptic Orthodox Church."
"This manuscript is Iryan Moftah's teachings on the principles of the Coptic langauge in the Bohairic dialect. Iryan Moftah was a Coptic langauge specialist (1626 - 1886). He was appointed to teach Coptic in the newly established College founded by the father of Coptic reformCyril IV (1854 - 1860)who aimed at modernizing the Coptic Orthodox Church. Moftah is known to have written manuals and grammar books for teaching the Coptic langauge in the reformed modern style. This probably occurred under the influence of the ecumenical spirit of his superiorCyril IVwho aimed at bringing the Greek and Coptic churches closer."
This manuscript is an epiclesis to the Virgin Mary. This invocation of Saint Mary and the Holy Spirit at the consecration of the elements is a common practice in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
"This manuscriptis a historical dissertation on the lives of members of King Herod I's family during the Roman Empire's occupation of Judea from 37 B.C.E. to 4 C.E. Herod the Great is one of the most important characters in Jewish history. He was appointed king of Judea by the Roman Empire in 37 B.C.E. and ruled until his death in 4 C.E. Herodin an attempt to prove his Jewish faithmarried his second wifeMiriamnein 45 B.C.E. Miriamne was the Hasmonean Alexandrosand thus one of the last heirs to the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea. Although Herod is fabled to have loved the reknown beautyhe murdered her brotherAristobulusand Mariamne was executed in 29 B.C. JealousHerod murdered his two sons by MiriamneAlexandros and Aristobulus in 7 B.C.E."
The manuscripts of Saint Anthony, the first Christian to live a life of consecrated solitude, include correspondence, pedagogy, and excerpted speeches. The letters were written by Saint Anthony to the monks of Kīmān Fāris, or Arsinöe and they feature teachings in the principles of monasticism and urge the monks to pursue the ascetic and spiritual life of devotion. . Known as the Father of Monasticism, Saint Anthony, also referred to as Antonious, was born in Coma, Egypt, near the ancient site of Heracleopolis Magna. He was the proto-hermit and, in spite of his Greek name, was a Copt who spoke only Coptic, even when in conversation with the learned and spiritual master Athanasius (circa .296 - 373 C.E.) who was his biographer.
This manuscript includes the great Anaphora, or prayer of consecration. The holy gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ and are shared by the people. In no other Christian tradition is the matter expressed more starkly than with the Orthodox Coptic Church.
This manuscript, entitled Al-Rahmah wal Adl Talaqiyyan, is a dissertation on the divine justice and mercy of God according to Coptic Orthodox Church dogma. It describes the book of Genesis.
"This manuscript comprises the second volume of a two volume set. It contains 15 essays that begin with numbers 16 - 30. It consists of laudatory doctrinal essays and sermons written by the Coptic Church Fathers in the fourth century CEpaying tribute to St. Gregory of Nazianzus (circa 330-90 C.E.)the theologianwho was Bishop of Constantinople from 379 to 381 C.E. This manuscript is the first Arabic translation from the Greek manuscript written by St. Gregory of Nazianzen to the priest Claudianus (d. circa 404 C.E.). It was a counter argument to Apollinaris of Laodicea's (circa 315-390 C.E.) doctrine on the nature of Christ. Apollinaris reasoned that God's human nature is incompleteas it lacks human reasoning. Apollinaris opposed Arianism and was a pro-Nicene."
