The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-11
coPTIC WEDDING AT CAIRO.
Knocking the Brides and BridegrOOm's Heads
Together.


Knocking the Brides and Backgrounds Heads
Together.
Miss Jane Whately, the biographer OF
her father Archbishop Whately, now on
visit to her sister at Cairo, has sent
the following description OF Coptlc
wedding:
The bride was one of my sisters old
pupils, the daughter of the matron who
has charge of the boarders. The we'd
ding was held at the bridegroom's house,
as is usual here. When we came we
were shown into a small room, so full OF
the friends and neighbors OF the bride,
all assembled in their smartest attire,
that we did not at first perceive where
The "queen of the day. was placed.
She was seated on the floor, her head
covered with a red shawl, silent and i'm
movable, and, as etiquette demands,
took no notice OF the visitors. Two Or
three companions were busy adorning
her, her dress was a gaY-howered, bro
cade silk, the neck and the whole front
of the corsage covered with gold coins
and necklaces Of gold spangles, etc.
One woman was setting these gold orna-
ments, while another was fastening
a splendid set of diamonds on a band
of white cloth, for security. These
diamonds, consisting OF a kind
OF diadem and several strings
and chains, were very costly, and had
been lent by Moslem friend for tae
purpose. The ornaments OF the wedding
dress are generally either borrowed or
hired. When all was ready, thick
white scarf handkerchief, with broad
fringe of gold embroidery on it, was
bound over her head, one end hanging
down square over her face, and entirely
~ n q
were carefully adjusted, making q very
rich and brilliant appearance, and over
all large white muslin veil was flying,
and adjusted over her arms. Thus blind
folded and bound, she sat like an idol
statue, to be looked at, while sherbet
was handed round and compliments
exchanged.
We then passed into larger room,
where the ceremony was to be per-
formed. The Coptic Patriarch, who
knew the bridegroom, had come to pre-
side himself. He, and two or three at.
tendant priests in large black turbans,
were at one end Of the room, a table,
with lighted candles, in the middle; on
the other side row of chorister boys,
in white robes and brocaded scarfs, and
the men, who were friends or rela-
tives, assembled round. The women
allowed to remain where the priests
were conducting the service. The BRIDE
g oJm, a dark-taced Abysslnian, sat op-
Dosite the Patriarch, with broeaded
mantle tied over his shoulders. The
service was very long; the greater part
consisted OF prayers or psalms chanted
in the Coptic language by the chorister,
and quite unintelligiDle to any one pres
ent, unless 1t was the Patriarch himself.
But was glad 10 observe that there was
a good deal OF Scripture read, and that
all Of it was in Arabic, and consequent
ly could be followed by the audience. A
portion of the first chapter of st. Johns
Gospel was read by priest, and part Oh
the fifth chapter of Ephesians, at the
Patriarch's request, by MIR. NJ. Shakoor.
After nearly an hour of reading and
chanting, the bride was led in by her
uncle and an attendant woman, who
was wrapped in the red shawl. She
was placed on the divan beside the
bridegroom, and then priest first threw
an embroidered veil OF mantle over the
shoulders of the two, so as 10 shelter
both together, and then placed two
pastebOard gilt crowns on their heads.
Then he held book over them, and read
an exhortation in Arabic; alter which
he laid hand on the head OF each, and
gently knocked them together, which
operation. could not be performed
without a general smile. Then Two rings
were produced, the hands joined under
the BRIDES veil, and the rings put on by
the priest. All this time the pair sal
quite passive-not word spoken by
either; and after some more prayers
read In Arabic and some Coptlc Chant
ing, the whole was concluded, and the
bride, still in her hlindfold condition,
was marched off by her attendants to
the womeRs room to receive the visits
of her female acQuaintances, while the
husband went up to salute the rat
riarch, kissing a small cross he held in
his hand, and In return having his
bridal mantle unlastened by the great
man.
After all was over Mr.. Shakoor asked
and obtained permission for The BRIDES
old scAoo fellows 10 sing one Of their
Dymns, which they did nicely, led by
their excellent teacher. 1t was the first
time probably that the Patriarch had
ever heard Gospel hymn in his own
tongue; he expressed his delight in the
warmest terms, and actually sent next
dAy Tor a nymn-D Jok to lake Ior himself.
And here L should mention that the Pa
lriarch has shown himself most friendly
to my sisters schools, and treats the
missionaries with marked courtesy
he is aware OF their differences OF
opinion, OF course; but in spite of all
the Disadvantages Of being brought up ia
an unrelormed church, he seems to have
a genuine value tor and love ol the word
of God. On one OF his female acqualnt1
ances, the mother OF pupil III the
school, telling him she was learning to
read, he encouraged her to persevere,
and promised to give her himself New
Testament as soou as she should be sui
ticlently advanced 10 read it. He is
known as man of remarkably liberal
views. We were glad TO observe thai
during the whole ceremony of the mar
rage no aliusion was made TO tne Vir-
GIN or saints, nor was any picture or
image presented lor WorShip.-lLondon
Record.