DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0182
i66
TRAVELS IN UPPER
These Cophts are very fond of the bustle of rites
and ceremonies that succeed each other with rapi-
dity. They are always in motion during the time
of service : the priest that officiates, particularly,
is in continual action, incensing the saints, pic-
tures, books, &c. every moment. After each par-
ticular act of incensing, he kisses his left hand;
and when he has been exercising his censer some
time, he comes, always running, and applies his
hand on the face of every one present; which
done, he instantly resumes his censer. When he
has finished all his rounds, he gives his benedic-
tion with a little cross, on the top of which he
previously sticks a short end from a roll of wax
candle. After all the service is gone through,
they kiss a little cushion covered with a dirty cloth,
then a cross, and afterwards the shrine of the
saints, on which they rub and roll their heads.
If we may believe the Arabs, true reprobates,
who deem religious knavery common to all coun-
tries, this shrine, which is very large, contains only
the bones of camels and asses that have died in
the desert, collected from various quarters by the
monks. These, on the contrary, assert, that it is
the repository of the bodies of seven saints, among
whom they more particularly revere two, Saint
Maximous and Saint Domadious, who only are
represented
TRAVELS IN UPPER
These Cophts are very fond of the bustle of rites
and ceremonies that succeed each other with rapi-
dity. They are always in motion during the time
of service : the priest that officiates, particularly,
is in continual action, incensing the saints, pic-
tures, books, &c. every moment. After each par-
ticular act of incensing, he kisses his left hand;
and when he has been exercising his censer some
time, he comes, always running, and applies his
hand on the face of every one present; which
done, he instantly resumes his censer. When he
has finished all his rounds, he gives his benedic-
tion with a little cross, on the top of which he
previously sticks a short end from a roll of wax
candle. After all the service is gone through,
they kiss a little cushion covered with a dirty cloth,
then a cross, and afterwards the shrine of the
saints, on which they rub and roll their heads.
If we may believe the Arabs, true reprobates,
who deem religious knavery common to all coun-
tries, this shrine, which is very large, contains only
the bones of camels and asses that have died in
the desert, collected from various quarters by the
monks. These, on the contrary, assert, that it is
the repository of the bodies of seven saints, among
whom they more particularly revere two, Saint
Maximous and Saint Domadious, who only are
represented