CAIRO – There's a very spiritual atmosphere at the ‘Coptic Art Revealed' exhibition in Amir Taz Palace in Islamic Cairo, born of the Coptic nature of the exhibition and the Islamic nature of the palace, located in the heart of Islamic Cairo. ‘Coptic Art Revealed', Egypt's first Coptic exhibition, celebrates the centenary of the Coptic Museum, highlighting the splendours of the Coptic era and the Copts' outstanding contribution to Egypt's rich, diverse heritage. Through its 14 sections, this exhibition reveals almost everything about Christianity, something that Nadia Tomoum, the exhibition's creator and director, had been dreaming of for the past two years. “Egyptian history is multifaceted, as defined by its interwoven epochs. ‘Coptic Art Revealed' sheds light on Egypt's Coptic era in an exceptional presentation of complex concepts,” says Tomoum, who also works for the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). Egypt's Christian era yielded a remarkable wealth of artistry and spiritual wisdom that has spread throughout the world and endures to this day. ‘Coptic Art Revealed', a temporary exhibition organised by the SCA, will travel to other cities in Egypt and then abroad. The exhibition at the Palace of Amir Taz presents hidden treasures from the Coptic Museum's storerooms, as well as priceless artefacts from the museum's permanent dis- play. Some artefacts have also been borrowed from other museum collections in Egypt: the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, the Museums of Beni Sueif and el-Arish, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Greco-Roman Museum, the National Museum and the Museum of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria. “The exhibition highlights a striking feature of Coptic art: the blending of influences drawn from a multicultural milieu and its intensive exchange with the Mediterranean region, while maintaining and reshaping the integrity of local artistic traditions,” Tomoum adds. More than 200 masterpieces of Coptic art are being displayed, including colourful icons painted by famous artists Yuhanna el-Armani, Ibrahim el-Nasikh and Anastasi el-Rumi; beautiful textiles; illuminated manuscripts from the Coptic Museum's archives, stone and wooden friezes with intriguing designs; splendid metal objects and pottery; and other price- less items that express Coptic culture. The exhibition begins with an event of the utmost importance in Coptic history: the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. According to the Holy Bible, the Virgin Mary, Jesus and Joseph the Carpenter travelled from Bethlehem to Egypt to take refuge from the persecution of King Herod the Great. “Copts feel immense pride to have been blessed by the Holy Family's stay of three years or more in Egypt, during which they are said to have travelled about 2,000km,” she explains. Important pilgrimage centres, churches, monasteries and convents were built on the sites visited by Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph. Moving to the second section in the exhibi- tion, we find that Nadia has focused on the Veneration of the Virgin Mary. The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt led to the Virgin Mary being afforded a special place in the Coptic Church and in the daily life of the faithful. “The Copts venerate the Virgin Mary above angels, martyrs and saints, not only as the Mother of Jesus, but the Mother of God and humanity. The veneration and motherhood of the Virgin Mary is an integral part of the Coptic liturgy, inspiring, over the centuries, literature, art, music, poetry, history and belief,” Tomoum stresses. Delving deeper into the spiritual exhibition, you reach another interesting section about biblical stories. The Bible, which comprises the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, consti- tutes not only the basis for the Christian faith but also Christian art. The miracles of Jesus recorded in the New Testament are often displayed in Coptic art, such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the healing of a blind man. Illustrations of biblical stories are depicted not only in books, but also on the walls of churches and monasteries, and objects of personal piety. Coptic liturgy has a very special place in the exhibition, it includes all the items used dur- ing masses and in churches in general. This liturgy is characterised by the extensive use of incense, which, combined with the visual effect of the icons decorating Coptic churches, is intended to engage all the senses of the faithful. The Coptic liturgy is chanted, with minimal use of musical instruments. At the heart of the Coptic liturgy is the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. This is the simple act of breaking and sharing bread and drinking wine, a symbol of earthly life, and its sacramental transformation into the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. There is a wooden chalice case embellished with an image of the Last Supper, the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, the Archangel Michael and the Communion of St. Mary of Egypt. The chalice case is used in Holy Communion to hold a cup of wine, a symbol of the Holy Blood of Jesus. There is also an illuminated psalmody, with a picture of the Archangel Michael. On the opposite page is the beginning of the first prayer in the morning is written in Coptic, dat- ing back to the 18th century. The exhibition has attracted Muslims as well as Christians; many of the Muslim visitors have been impressed by its atmosphere, adding that it's allowed them to learn many things they never knew about Coptic culture.
