The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-31
coprIc WEDDING Ar cArRo.


Fr,ri ne Ion ton R.cort
Miss Jane Whately, the hiCgfapher Of
her father Archbishop whatcly now ON avisit
to her sister al Cairo. has sent tAo following
description Of Coptic wedding
The bride was orc Of my sisters old pupils,
the daughter uf the matrOn who has charge ~
the boardcrs. The wedding was hrld az the
htilevrnutu house. as II usual hc.c. when We
came we were shown nv" a sm,ul room So iull
of the friends and ncighbor- OF the bride, all as-
scmhlrd in their -nartc-t attire. mat We did not
at first perceive where the queen of the day
was placed.
She was seated on the floor, her head covered
with red shawl. silent and immuVablc and, a.
etiquette demands. took no notice of the visit
ore Two or three companions were busy 3dorn-
ing her her dress was gay-ruwcrcd brocaded
sik the neck and the whole front OF the cor
SAGE covered with gold coins and necklaces Of
gold spanglcs. Nc. one woman was settling
these gold ornaments while another was fasten-
ing "A splendid set IT diamonds ON hand "
white cloth for security; lhe-e diamonds. con
ssting " u kind of dtndcm and several strings
and chains we're very cosby anu hau 1 Been lvnt
nients Of the wedding dress are generally either
borrowed or hired. When all was ready. Il thick
white scarf hankerchict win broad fringe OF
gold embroidery on II was bound over her head,
ono end hanging down square over her face and
entirely cuuccaling it, over this the diamonds
were carefully adjusted. making . very rich and
brilliant appearance. and over all large white
muslin veil was flung. and adjusted over her
arins Thus blindfuldcd aud bound. she sat Ike
an idol statue to be looked at while -hCrbrt was
handed round aud mplimcnts exchanged.
ceremony was to he performed. The Coptic
Patriarch, who knew the bridegroom. had come
tn preside himself He and twu or three attend
ant priests in large black turbaus, were AZ one
end of the room, a table. with lighted candles.
in the middle on the other ide. row ~ chur
i-tcr boys. in white robes and brocaded scarfs.
and the men, who were friends or relatives AS
sembled round. The women were all in an inner
room. but we wcrp allowed To- remain where the
pricets we're conducting the service. The bride
groom. u dark faced AbVssiniaii, sat opposite
the Pat riar,h. with brocaded mantle tied over
U - ght
greater part consisted Of prayers or psalms
chanted In the Coptic language bv the rhoris-
/ tiers. and quite uuntelligiblc to any one present
unless ~ were the Patriarch himself liut was
! glad 20 observe that there was good deal Of
| Scripture read. and that all Of II was IN Arabic.
and consequently could he followed Ivy the
! audience. \ portion ~ the nr-t CHAPTER ~ II.
| Johns Gospel WAS read by a priest. aud part OF
! the NTH chapter of Ephesians, at the Patriarch
| request. 10y MIR. NJ. Snakuor.
| After nearly An hour Of reading and chanting
| the bride was led In nv her uncle aud an attend
| ant woman. who was wrapped in the red shawl
! She was placed on the diVan beside the bride
| groom. aud then priest first threw an enbroid-
! cred veil or mantle over the shoulders "t the
| two, so a. To shelter both together ana then
| heads. Then lie hcld a book over them. and read
! an eXhOrtation in Arabic after WHICH he laid a
hand ON the head Of each, and gently knocked
! them together. which operation could not be
! performed without n general smile. Then two
rings were produced, the hands joined under
/ priest. All this time the pair sat quite passive
/ not word spoken 10y either and after some
| more prayers read In Arabic and some toptit
! chanting. the whole was concluded, and the
! BRIDE still in her hlindfold condition. wa.
mar'h ned on by her attendants to the women
ruunl to receive the visits NJ her female ac-
! uuaintance, while the husband went up to "A.
/ lutte the Patriarch, kissing small cross he held
| I'm his hand. and In return having his bride man
| tie unft.teurd 10y the great man.
After all was over Mr.. ShakOOr asked and oh
! tanned permission for the brides old school.
] fellows to sing one II their hymns which the,
! did very nicely. led 10y their excellent teacher
! II was the first time probably that the Patriarch
/ had ever heard Gospel hvmn IA his owl
! tongue: lac expressed his delight in the warm
est terms. and actually sent next day to ash fol
! a HMM book to take for himself And here
! should mention that the Patrarh has shown
J himself uniformly most friendly C." my sister
/ schools. and treats the missionaries with marke,
courtesy he l. aware 81 their difference al
! opinion Of course. bat In spite ~ all the dis al
vhntagcs of being brought mp IN an unref"rme,
| church. he seems To- have genuine value fu
| and love of the Word Of God. On Oh" ~ hi
! female acQuaintaucc-, the mother OF 4 pupil 10
the school. telling him she was learning 10 read
] he encouraged her To pcrseVerr. and prom i-cd =
! give her himself a New Testament a. soon ns sh'
! should he sufficiently advanced Ia read it, lie
! is known n % man ~ remarkably liberal views
/ We were glad to observe that during the wh ul
ceremony Of tho marriage NO allusiun was made
! 20 the Virgin or saints. nor wt- any picture O
| Image presented for worship.