DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0181
AND LOWER EGYPT. 165
thing but a sort of glass plates, resembling those
that are employed in setting out a dessert upon our
tables. They consecrate common bread. This
the priest cuts into little bits, and mixes with
Water, likewise consecrated, which forms a mess
resembling soup. Having eaten a few spoonfuls
of it, he administers the lommuniun in the same
manner with the spoon, to all who offer them-
selves to partake of it. After the communion,
the priest that administered it washes his hands,
places himself at the door of the sanctuary, with
his wet hands stretched out, and every one going
in procession, holds up to him his face, which he
strokes with them, so that the faces of the con-
gregation are the only towel on which his hands
are wiped. During the mass the priest blesses
likewise some little round loaves, very slightly
baked. These are distributed when the mass is
finished, but the distribution never takes place
without quarrels. In celebrating mass the priest
is clothed in a sort of white shirt, which has a
cowl, and is spotted with little crosses. During
the other prayers, the officiating priest is distin-
guished only by a large band of white linen, spot-
ted with crosses in a similar manner, which he
wears half wrapped round his head like a turban,
and the ends hanging down, one before, the
other behind.
II 3 Thcc
thing but a sort of glass plates, resembling those
that are employed in setting out a dessert upon our
tables. They consecrate common bread. This
the priest cuts into little bits, and mixes with
Water, likewise consecrated, which forms a mess
resembling soup. Having eaten a few spoonfuls
of it, he administers the lommuniun in the same
manner with the spoon, to all who offer them-
selves to partake of it. After the communion,
the priest that administered it washes his hands,
places himself at the door of the sanctuary, with
his wet hands stretched out, and every one going
in procession, holds up to him his face, which he
strokes with them, so that the faces of the con-
gregation are the only towel on which his hands
are wiped. During the mass the priest blesses
likewise some little round loaves, very slightly
baked. These are distributed when the mass is
finished, but the distribution never takes place
without quarrels. In celebrating mass the priest
is clothed in a sort of white shirt, which has a
cowl, and is spotted with little crosses. During
the other prayers, the officiating priest is distin-
guished only by a large band of white linen, spot-
ted with crosses in a similar manner, which he
wears half wrapped round his head like a turban,
and the ends hanging down, one before, the
other behind.
II 3 Thcc