DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0180
164 TRAVELS IN UPPER
The want of something to do had rendered ns
devout, and we scarcely ever failed of attending
the service. The monks had conceived, that we
should receive much pleasure from being present
at it in the night also ; and the superior himself
took the trouble to awake us in the middle of the
first we spent there. This, however, was at least
an unnecessary attention, of which 1 requested
him to save himself the trouble in future. To
witness their extravagances by day was quite suf-
ficient for us. We observed the same ceremonies
on the occasion as the Cophts, and conformed to
the numerous practices of their ritual. 1 noticed
what my neighbour did, and followed his ex-
ample ; and all my people did the same. This
.sometimes gave rise to ridiculous situations and
comic scenes, at which my companions could not
help bursting out into loud laughs, to the great
offence of the community.
During the time of service, the congregation
neither sit, kneel, nor stand upright. They arc
on their feet, it is true, but with their loins rest-
ing against the wall, and their body inclining
forward, supporting themselves by a sort of crutch,
or staff, which has the figure of the letter tau, or
T. The sanctuary is separate, and shut, as in
the Greek churches. The priest celebrates the
mass with water. Their sacred vessels are no-
thing
The want of something to do had rendered ns
devout, and we scarcely ever failed of attending
the service. The monks had conceived, that we
should receive much pleasure from being present
at it in the night also ; and the superior himself
took the trouble to awake us in the middle of the
first we spent there. This, however, was at least
an unnecessary attention, of which 1 requested
him to save himself the trouble in future. To
witness their extravagances by day was quite suf-
ficient for us. We observed the same ceremonies
on the occasion as the Cophts, and conformed to
the numerous practices of their ritual. 1 noticed
what my neighbour did, and followed his ex-
ample ; and all my people did the same. This
.sometimes gave rise to ridiculous situations and
comic scenes, at which my companions could not
help bursting out into loud laughs, to the great
offence of the community.
During the time of service, the congregation
neither sit, kneel, nor stand upright. They arc
on their feet, it is true, but with their loins rest-
ing against the wall, and their body inclining
forward, supporting themselves by a sort of crutch,
or staff, which has the figure of the letter tau, or
T. The sanctuary is separate, and shut, as in
the Greek churches. The priest celebrates the
mass with water. Their sacred vessels are no-
thing