shaker’s typological classification of coptic orthodox church...

Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A14-A36

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Shaker’s typological classification of

Coptic Orthodox Church design

An application on Historic Coptic churches of

Old Cairo and Fustat Sherif Raouf Morgan

1. INTRODUCTION

The Coptic Orthodox Church is a Church that articulated its style and

elements in Egypt, affected by its geography, climate, and above all the surrounding

civilizations it emerged within. Most of the ancient churches that were built in the

first four centuries were ruined. However, starting the fifth century, churches still

exist and are subject for research. Even though documentation is poor, yet some

research has been made regarding the different typologies of the Coptic Orthodox

Church design.

Different classifications of Coptic Orthodox Church Typologies are made,

starting by Butler in 18841, then Bishop Samuel and Badie Habib in 20022, then

Capuani in 20023, then Nicolas 20044, and finally Sami Sabri Shaker5 in 2012. One

can conclude that typologies were based on either the architectural plan design, or

the ceiling design, or both together. The latter combines the first two methods of

classification, thus results in a deeper understanding of the historical Coptic

Churches. Accordingly, the typologies of Shaker will be adopted by the researcher

to classify the Churches of Old Cairo and Fustat as an exercise of applying those

typologies on case studies and checking if the case studies follow some or all of

those typologies or not.

1 Butler, (1884) pp. 6-7 القبة القبطية, بديع حبيب جورجي, صموئيل ) األنبا ( 23 Capuani, et al, (2002) pp.41-44 4 Nicolas, (2004) pp.218-220 شاكر, )2182( ص 831-828 5


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2. METHODOLOGY

The methodology adopted in this paper starts by explaining and elaborating

Shaker’s typological classification. After which, case studies from the designated

area, which is Old Cairo and added to it Fustat area, are analyzed. The outcome of

the typologies study together with the case study analysis will be compared together

to reach conclusions on whether the Coptic Churches in Old Cairo and Fustat

represent some of the various Shaker’s typologies of Coptic Orthodox Church

designs in general or not. Moreover, if they follow certain typologies, to identify and

classify them accordingly.

3. SHAKER’S TYPOLOGIES OF HISTORICAL COPTIC

ORTHODOX CHURCH DESIGN

Professor Sami Sabri1 in 2012 published an article on the typologies of the

Coptic Orthodox Historical Churches in the event of the Golden Jubilee of the

establishment of the Church Ministry of Education. His typologies has classified the

Coptic Orthodox Churches into nine different types. The focal elements of

classification are the nave together with its roofing type. Moreover, variations of the

sanctuary area of the Basilican plan2. The following table shows the typology and

sample shape to elaborate the typology without getting into details of the

subdivisions.

SHAPE TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES

Churches with

Domed Nave

(Single, Double, six,

nine, or more)

Church of Virgin Mary Tokh Al-

Nassara

Church of St. Marcorious (Al-

Maymoun monastery)

Church of Virgin Mary and St.

Anthony in St. Anthony

monastery

Churches with

Vaulted Nave

Church of Archangel Mikhail in

St. Bishoy Monastery

The Church in the keep of the

Syrian monastery.

1 Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies, and a professor of Architecture and Urban Design in Cairo

University, faculty of engineering, architectural department. شاكر, )2182( ص 831-828 2


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Churches roofed

with Domes and

Vaults

Church of the monastery of Anba

Thomas, North Akhmim

Church of the monastery of St.

Hedra

Churches with

Square Nave

Virgin Mary church in Fisha Al-

Nassara village

Virgin Mary church in Sabk El-

Ahad

Church of the Martyr Anba

Sarabamon, Melig village

Akhmim Churches

Church of Mar-Guirguis El-

Hadidy monastery

Church of Virgin Mary monastery

in Hawaweesh, Akhmim

Churches influenced

by Byzantine

architecture

Church of St.Menas (east basilica)


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Basilican Plan

Churches

Virgin Mary Church, Syrian

Monastery.

St.Barbara Church, Old Cairo

Sr. Sergius and Backhus

Church, Old Cairo

Basilican Plan

Churches

With Triconch

Sanctuary

Monastery of Anba Shenouda,

Sohag (White monastery)

Monastery of Anba Bishay,

Sohag (Red monastery)

Basilican Plan

Churches

With Transept

St. Menas main church

Al-Ashmunayn Basilica

Table 1 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri

Shaker1

شاكر, )2182( ص 831-828 1


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4. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF OLD CAIRO AND FUSTAT

HISTORIC COPTIC CHURCHES

To check whether the Coptic Churches in Old Cairo and Fustat represent

some of the typologies stated by Shaker or not, case studies will be selected from

those regions, their architectural plans and roofing system will be discussed and

finally related to Shaker’s typologies and check whether Old Cairo and Fustat

Churches represent some of those types or not.

Old Cairo includes many historic Coptic buildings, some of which are

functionally not churches, while others are, but have been demolished and

reconstructed during the course of history with no reference to the historic original

building. In both cases they are out of the scope of this research. This leaves four

churches that can be examined according to these criteria: Virgin Mary Hanging

Church, Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus Church, Saint Barbara Church, and Virgin

Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church. Of the other historic buildings is the church of

Saint George which is out of the scope of this research as it is Roman Orthodox and

not Coptic. In addition to Saint George Church are the two modern churches, the

new Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan and the new Saint George Church built on the

site of the historic church. Finally, the Nunnery of Saint George that was originally

a hall then converted into a church in the 14th-15th century. All those churches will

not be part of the analyses. Figure-1 shows the monuments of Old Cairo and the four

historic churches that will be analyzed.

The site location of Al-Fustat includes a complex of three churches and a

nunnery. The three churches are Saint Mercurius Abo Sefein Church, Saint Shenoute

Church, Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church and the nunnery of Saint Mercurius

Abo Sefein. The church of Abo Sefein used to be the main church serving the

nunnery of Abo Sefein as the nunnery had no church within its complex. Later on

several modern chapels and one big church have been built inside the boundaries of

the nunnery complex. However, they will not be part of this research as they are not

historic churches. Figure-2 shows the monuments of Fustat and the three historic

case studied churches in different colors. The colors are not a significant of various

construction eras.


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Figure 1 Plan Showing the Monuments of Old Cairo with the Historic Coptic

Churches in the scope of this research. (N.B. the colors are not significant of various

construction eras) (Sheehan, Peter 2010 p.4) 1

Figure 2 Plan Showing the Area of Fustat and the Historic Coptic Case Study

Churches2

1 Morgan, Sherif (2011) p.52 2 Morgan, Sherif (2011) p.157


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4.1 VIRGIN MARY CHURCH (HANGING CHURCH)

The church follows a basilica plan, rectangular in the East West direction.

Although it is not a typical Basilica with one universal nave, however the case here

shows an exception of a nave split into two due to the construction of the church

above the Babylon fortress walls. Beside the nave are the North and South aisles.

Figure 3 Virgin Mary Hanging Church Plan

Plan prepared, surveyed, and updated by researcher based on Capuani, et al (2002)1

The roof of the church nave and southern aisle are covered with three wooden

barrel vaults, however the northern aisle is covered with a flat ceiling. The southern

chapel has a mix roofing too, where its northern part is covered with a barrel vault

and the southern part is covered with a flat ceiling.

Figure 4 Virgin Mary Hanging Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.2 SAINT SERGIUS AND SAINT BACCHUS CHURCH

The church building style is a basilica plan, rectangular in the East West

direction. The nave is at the center with a north and south aisles together with an

internal narthex.

Figure 5 Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus Church Plan


The roof of the church nave is covered with a pitched roof; the main central

altar is roofed with a barrel vault and a hemisphere. Two shallow domes cover the

north and south sanctuary areas. The rest of the aisles are covered with a plain

horizontal roof.

Figure 6 Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.3 SAINT BARBARA CHURCH


direction, with an attached northern chapel. The naïve is clear at the center with a

northern and southern aisle, and a western internal narthex.

Figure 7 Saint Barbara Church Plan

Plan prepared, surveyed, and updated by researcher

based on Capuani, et al (2002)1

The roof of the church nave is covered with a wooden barrel vault. The

sanctuary area has a flat roof. As for the attached north chapel. The central and

southern altars are covered with a dome; however, to the north apse is covered with

a flat ceiling. All the rest of the church aisles and galleries are covered with a flat

roof.

Figure 8 Saint Barbara Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.4 VIRGIN MARY KASREYAT AL-RIHAN CHURCH

The church building does not follow the normal basilican plan. The central

nave is separated from the northern and southern aisles by two columns, one at each

side. There is no return aisle nor internal narthex. In this church the narthex is an

external type.

Figure 9 Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church Plan

Plan prepared, surveyed, and updated by researcher

based on Capuani, et al (2002)1

The church nave and aisles are covered with six domes roof. The central nave

is covered with two higher domes, and each of the northern and southern aisles are

covered with two shallower domes.

Figure 10 Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.5 SAINT MERCURIUS ABO SEFEIN CHURCH


direction, with an attached northern chapel. The naïve is clear at the center with a

northern and southern aisle, and a western internal narthex. This church is bigger

than all the surrounding ones and acted as the Cathedral at some point in time.

Figure 11 Saint Mercurius Abo Sefein Church plan


The roof of this church nave is a pitched wooden roof. The main central altar

is covered with a dome standing on an octagon with three hemispheres forming a

triconch shape. The southern gallery altar is covered with a dome. The rest of the

galleries are roofed with flat horizontal planes.

Figure 12 Saint Mercurius Abo Sefein Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.6 SAINT SHENOUTE CHURCH


direction. The naïve at the center together with a north and south aisles together with

an internal narthex at the west side. The baptistery and the epiphany tank space are

attached to the church from the southern side.

Figure 23 Saint Shenoute Church Plan


The roof of this church nave is a pitched wooden roof. The main central altar

is covered with a dome on an octagonal shape elevated from the roof level. The north

altar is also covered with a dome that is smaller in size and shallower in height.

Figure 34 Saint Shenoute Church Roof Design Analysis2



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4.7 VIRGIN MARY AL-DAMSHAREYA CHURCH

The church building is a rectangular basilica plan, in the east west direction

with a slight deviation in the western part of the church. The naïve is at the center

with three surrounding aisles, the north, south, and west.

Figure 45 Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church Plan


The roof of this church nave, north, and south galleries are covered with

wooden barrel vaults. The return west gallery is covered with a flat horizontal roof.

The main central altar is covered with a dome.

Figure 56 Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church Roof Design Analysis2



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5. ARCHITECTURAL TYPOLOGIES OF OLD CAIRO AND

FUSTAT HISTORIC COPTIC CHURCHES

The following is a comparison between the seven selected case studies in

terms of their architectural plan. Followed by a comparison of the roof designs. Then

to relate to Shaker’s classification, the case studies plan and roof analysis will be

juxtaposed together to form the 3D analysis comparison of the case study church

buildings. This final 3D analyses will then be compared to Shaker’s typologies to

check if the Old Cairo and Fustat Churches represent some of those types or not. The

juxtaposition is done to relate to the classification system Shaker did regarding

relating the nave and its roofing together.

Figure 67 Methodology of analyses, by researcher

Each case study will undergo the same process in terms of juxtaposing the

architectural plan to the roofing system to reach out the third dimension analyses,

which is then compared to Shaker’s typologies. The following is one sample to

elaborate the process. After which the researcher puts all the seven Churches in one

table to help see the situation as a whole.

+

=


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5.1 CASE STUDIES CHURCH PLANS COMAPRITIVE ANALYSES

From the below figure, and by comparing the Old Cairo and Fustat Historical

case study Church plans, the researcher concludes that six out of seven churches are

following the basilican plan. Only Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church is of another

type, which is not following the basilican plan order.

Figure 18 Case studies Church Plans Comparison1

1 Morgan, Sherif (2011) p.250


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5.2 CASE STUDIES CHURCH ROOFS COMAPRITIVE ANALYSES

From the below figure, and by comparing the Old Cairo and Fustat Historical

case study Church roofs, the researcher concludes that all naves are covered with

special structures. The cases will be compared to Shaker’s classification in a

following diagram to check if they represent some of the common typologies.

Figure 19 Case studies Church Roofs Comparison1



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5.3 CASE STUDIES CHURCH THIRD DIMENSION ANALYSES

The below figure is the outcome of analyzing the case study church plans

with their roofing systems. This will help link to the classification system done by

Shaker to answer the research question of this paper.

Figure 20 Case studies Church Third Dimension Comparison1



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5.4 CASE STUDY CHURCHES COMPARED TO SHAKER’S

TYPOLOGIES

The following figures 19 and 20 have Shaker’s classification system and the

possible examples from the case studies of Old Cairo and Fustat historic Coptic

Churches, to confirm if they represent some of those types and which ones.From

figure 19, it is clear that all Old Cairo Church case studies follow different typologies

suggested by Shaker. Three of which mix between two typologies, which are the

churches with vaulted nave and with a basilican plan order. Those churches are

Virgin Mary Hanging Church, St. Sergius and St. Bacchus Church, and finally St.

Barbara Church. The only different church in this area and even from Fustat area is

Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rehan Church; which only follows the typology of

Churches with Domed Nave. From figure 20, it is clear that all Fustat Church case

studies follow two of the typologies suggested by Shaker. The three case studies

follow the typology of churches with vaulted nave. Moreover, they all follow the

typology of basilican plan churches. Only one exception is that the church of St. Abo

Sefein also follows the typology of basilican churches with triconch sanctuary.


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Figure 21 Comparative Analysis using Shaker's Classification, Old Cairo Area, by

researcher.

Figure 22 Comparative Analysis using Shaker's Classification, Fustat Area, by

researcher.


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6. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

To answer the question if the Coptic churches in Old Cairo and Fustat

represent some of the various Shaker’s typologies of Coptic Orthodox Church design

or not; the researcher went through a systematic process to reach the answer. The

researcher started by stating the methodology adopted to reach the results. Then the

researcher selected Shaker’s typological classification, as it is the most typological

classification that includes most Church designs. Case studies of Old Cairo and

Fustat were then analyzed -based on a previous documentation done by the

researcher to the same case studies- in a manner that helps comparing with Shaker’s

typological selected classification. Comparison has been made and the following are

the results and conclusions.

All historical Coptic Othodox Churches of Old Cairo and Fustat represent

some of Shaker’s typologies. Six of them share two typologies which are the

Churches with vaulted nave together with the Basilican Plan Churches. Only St. Abo

Sefein Church also follows the Basilican Plan Churches with Triconch Sanctuary.

Moreover, the Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church is the only different Church

from the rest of the case studies that does not follow the Basilican plan typology;

however, it follows the Churches with Domed Nave typology.

From these results and conclusions, the researcher would like to recommend

further research in the typological classifications of contemporary churches. This

field of research is missing and is causing a gap in science to understand modern and

contemporary church design outcomes. Moreover, by using the same methodology,

further case studies of different areas may be analyzed and findings might be of

interest if related to geographical regions, climates, and cross-cultural impacts.


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Figure 23 Comparative Analysis Conclusion using Shaker's Classification, for Old

Cairo and Fustat Case studies, by researcher


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List of References

1. Butler, Alfred J. (1884). Ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt (Volume 1), Oxford at

the Clarendon Press.

2. Capuani, Massimo, et al (2002). Christian Egypt, The American University in Cairo

Press, Egypt.

3. Morgan, Sherif (2011). The Architecture of Old Cairo and Fustat Historic Coptic

Churches, M.Sc. Degree dissertation, Cairo University Faculty of Engineering, Giza,

Egypt

4. Nicolas Kamel, Magued (2004).Design criteria of Coptic Architecture in Egypt,

PH.D Degree dissertation, Alexandria University( Faculty of Fine Arts)

,القبة القبطية ,بديع حبيب جورجي ,صموئيل ) األنبا ( .8

, مجلة معهد الدراسات القبطية, للكنائس القبطية األثرية األنماط المعمارية(. 2182شاكر, سامي صبري ) .2

المجلد التاسع

List of Figures Figure 1 Plan Showing the Monuments of Old Cairo with the Historic Coptic Churches in

the scope of this research. (Sheehan, Peter 2010 p.4) ..................................... A19

Figure 2 Plan Showing the Area of Fustat and the Historic Coptic Case Study Churches

.......................................................................................................................... A19

Figure 3 Virgin Mary Hanging Church Plan .................................................................. A20

Figure 4 Virgin Mary Hanging Church Roof Design Analysis ...................................... A20

Figure 5 Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus Church Plan ................................................. A21

Figure 6 Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus Church Roof Design Analysis ..................... A21

Figure 7 Saint Barbara Church Plan ............................................................................... A22

Figure 8 Saint Barbara Church Roof Design Analysis ................................................... A22

Figure 9 Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church Plan .................................................. A23

Figure 10 Virgin Mary Kasreyat Al-Rihan Church Roof Design Analysis .................... A23

Figure 11 Saint Mercurius Abo Sefein Church plan ....................................................... A24

Figure 12 Saint Mercurius Abo Sefein Church Roof Design Analysis .......................... A24

Figure 13 Saint Shenoute Church Plan ........................................................................... A25

Figure 14 Saint Shenoute Church Roof Design Analysis ............................................... A25

Figure 15 Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church Plan ..................................................... A26

Figure 16 Virgin Mary Al-Damshareya Church Roof Design Analysis......................... A26

Figure 17 Methodology of analyses, by researcher ........................................................ A27

Figure 18 Case studies Church Plans Comparison ......................................................... A28

Figure 19 Case studies Church Roofs Comparison ........................................................ A29

Figure 20 Case studies Church Third Dimension Comparison ...................................... A30

Figure 21 Comparative Analysis using Shaker's Classification, Old Cairo Area ........... A33

Figure 22 Comparative Analysis using Shaker's Classification, Fustat Area ................. A33

Figure 23 Comparative Analysis Conclusion using Shaker's Classification, for Old Cairo

and Fustat Case studies, by researcher .......................................................... A35

List of Tables Table 1 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri Shaker

........................................................................................................................... A17

shaker’s typological classification of coptic orthodox church...

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