لقان عيد الغطاس و تقديس مياة النيل - الأرشيدياكون الدكتور رشدي واصف Overview Dr. Rushdy Wassef explores the significance of the Nile River in Coptic Christian rituals, particularly during the feast of Theophany. He discusses the historical practices of sanctifying the Nile waters, the transition from riverside ceremonies to church rituals, and the importance of preserving Coptic traditions and teachings. #Coptic Christianity #Nile River rituals #Theophany celebrations #Sanctification of waters #Coptic traditions Timeline 00:00:12 - 00:04:29 Introduction to Dr. Rushdy Wassef's Lectures 00:00:12 The speaker joyfully welcomes Dr. Rushdy Wassef, a beloved professor and head of the Liturgies and Rituals Department at the Coptic Orthodox Clerical College. 00:01:21 The speaker expresses personal happiness and honor in Dr. Rushdy's presence, highlighting their long-standing friendship and Dr. Rushdy's role as a mentor. 00:01:48 Dr. Rushdy will present two lectures, which are essentially two of his doctoral dissertations, with special mention of his recent third doctorate achievement. 00:02:32 The first lecture will cover the sanctification of the Nile waters, and the second will discuss pre-prepared holy gifts (Prosgomeni), both subjects of his doctoral research. 00:04:29 - 00:14:58 The Sanctification of the Nile River Waters in the Alexandrian Tradition 00:06:47 The speaker introduces the topic of sanctifying the Nile River's waters within the Alexandrian tradition, highlighting its importance to the Church of Alexandria, which historically encompassed all of Egypt. 00:09:08 A key aspect of Alexandrian liturgies is the ritual of sanctifying the Nile's waters, a subject the speaker researched for their second doctorate, emphasizing the river's vital role in both Egyptian life and the Church. 00:11:30 Herodotus's statement, 'Egypt is the gift of the Nile,' underscores the river's role as the lifeblood of Egyptians, upon which their agriculture and civilization depend, leading to ancient celebrations of the Nile's bounty. 00:12:30 When Christianity arrived in Egypt, it did not abolish these traditional celebrations but rather infused them with Christian meaning, transforming ancient Egyptian festivals into Christian ones, such as the Feast of the Archangel Michael. 00:14:58 - 00:25:49 Theophany and the Consecration of the Nile Waters 00:14:58 The Coptic Church's daily liturgy includes a prayer for the blessing and abundance of the Nile waters, reflecting its historical significance. 00:15:48 Historically, four services were performed on the banks of the Nile: consecration of Theophany waters, blessing of the Nile waters, prayer for the rise of the Nile, and blessing of the Nile floodwaters. 00:16:42 The Feast of Theophany, celebrated on the 11th of the Coptic month of Toba, is a major Lord's feast, commemorating Christ's baptism and the manifestation of His divinity. 00:18:41 Third-century sources indicate Christ's baptism occurred at 10 PM, a time when the heavens were believed to open and the Holy Spirit descended to purify the waters, explaining why water consecration rituals are performed at night. 00:25:49 - 00:36:36 The Evolution of Epiphany Celebrations and the Nile's Sanctification 00:25:49 The celebration of Epiphany rituals on the banks of the Nile ceased, leading to the creation of large baptismal fonts, or 'Maghtas', inside churches. 00:29:13 Early Christians near the Jordan River celebrated Epiphany by bathing in it, while Egyptian Christians brought water from the Jordan to sanctify their own water for the celebration. 00:30:00 Historical accounts, including those from Muslim historians, describe grand Epiphany celebrations on the Nile's banks with torches and communal bathing. 00:33:17 Due to various decrees and restrictions, Christians were eventually prohibited from descending into the Nile for Epiphany, leading to the full transition of the celebration indoors and the use of the 'Maghtas'. 00:36:36 - 00:42:07 Historical Changes in Epiphany Celebrations 00:36:36 Historical records, including those by Al-Maqrizi, indicate that Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah prohibited Copts from celebrating Epiphany on the Nile's banks, leading to a change in the ritual's location. 00:37:09 Following this prohibition, the blessing of water moved inside churches, and the 'Mukhtas,' a large water basin, became a common feature in church architecture, especially in churches built or rebuilt after the Arab conquest. 00:38:24 Severus ibn al-Muqaffa' in his book 'Arrangement of the Priesthood' describes the 'Mukhtas' in the church as representing the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized, emphasizing the symbolic importance of replicating this act. 00:39:10 Currently, the 'Mukhtas' ritual has transitioned to the 'Lakan' (basin), performed on Epiphany Eve in all Coptic Orthodox churches, with Greek and Coptic texts of this service preserved in ancient manuscripts. 00:42:07 - 00:44:13 The Sanctification of the Nile Waters 00:42:07 The second service performed on the Nile's banks was the sanctification of its waters, traditionally held on two fixed dates: the Sunday of the 318 Holy Fathers before Pentecost, according to the Roman system. 00:42:34 Additional timings for this service included All Saints' Day, as per manuscript 144, and a third occasion mentioned in the Syriac text, following the liturgy for the feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist. 00:43:00 The feast of Saint Mark, celebrated on September 23rd according to the ancient Alexandrian tradition, was a significant event in Alexandria, though its observance has since ceased. 00:43:25 During the feast of Saint Mark, all Egyptians would gather by the Nile and the sea to perform the service of sanctifying the Nile waters, which flowed to Alexandria through its various branches. 00:44:13 - 00:46:44 The Service for the Rising Nile Waters 00:44:13 The third service was for the rising of the Nile waters, as sometimes the flood would decrease, impacting the land. 00:44:43 The Nileometer, located in Old Cairo's St. George's Monastery, measured the Nile's water level annually. 00:45:10 The Nileometer operates on the principle of communicating vessels, where water levels equalize across connected containers, indicating the Nile's height. 00:45:35 When the Nile reached a certain level, taxes were levied, but if it fell below that, the state would not collect taxes due to insufficient irrigation. 00:46:44 - 00:51:17 Theophany and the Sanctification of the Nile Waters 00:46:44 The current Greek text for the service of sanctifying the Nile waters was arranged by Patriarch Gerasimos I Sparteliotes in the 17th century, based on a manuscript from the Library of the Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria. 00:47:07 The earliest reference to the sanctification services for the Nile River in the Coptic Orthodox Church dates back to the era of Saint Anba Shenouda, the archimandrite, in the early 5th century. 00:48:29 Anba Shenouda, the archimandrite, along with his disciple Wisa, performed the sanctification of the Nile waters, a testament of particular importance as it came directly from Saint Anba Shenouda himself. 00:50:09 Abu al-Makarim recounts an incident at the Church of Mar Boutros in Giza, where Christians gathered to pray day and night and fasted for a week when the Nile's flood was delayed, after which the Nile's water rose significantly. 00:51:17 - 00:54:23 Theophany and the Sanctification of the Nile Waters 00:51:17 Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa' in his book 'History of the Patriarchs' describes the custom of bishops gathering twice a year at the Patriarchate in Alexandria, one of which was for the Feast of the Cross. 00:52:15 During one such occasion, a large gathering assembled at the Church of Saint Peter in Giza, overlooking the Nile, which had receded significantly. 00:52:42 Before sunrise, the Patriarch raised the cross, and everyone went to the riverbank, praying and crying out 'Kyrie eleison' for three hours until the river rose by one cubit. 00:53:15 Another account mentions that when the Nile's rise was delayed, monks at the Monastery of Saint Macarius would perform a water ritual and pour it into the sea, which would then cause the water to increase significantly. 00:54:23 - 01:01:53 The Baptism Feast and the Sanctification of the Nile Waters 00:54:23 The blessing of the Nile flood waters ritual is found in manuscripts from the Muharraq Monastery, with most other rituals having moved to the Coptic Orthodox Church's Lakan tradition. 00:55:17 Complete Greek texts of this ritual are preserved in various manuscripts according to the order of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, including one from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. 00:57:12 The speaker explains that musical notations in the manuscripts differentiate between vocal solfège for the throat and instrumental solfège, a distinction often confused in modern studies. 01:00:58 The speaker recounts how his ailing professor, despite his illness, personally transcribed a difficult manuscript for him, emphasizing the importance of a supervisor's dedication to their students. 01:01:53 - 01:09:35 The Coptic Rite of Blessing the Nile Waters 01:01:53 The speaker emphasizes the importance of a mentor's handwritten notes, which were included as a document in his doctoral research, showcasing the mentor's significant influence and love for the Coptic Church. 01:02:50 The mentor always advised to be wary of the Byzantine rite, calling it a 'royal rite,' and stressed that Coptic rituals originated in Alexandria, urging the speaker to preserve and share this knowledge. 01:05:26 Before the High Dam, the Nile's floodwaters would reach monasteries like Deir El-Muharraq and Deir Al-Moallaq, necessitating a special service. 01:06:39 Copts would perform a service on the Feast of the Cross, processing to the floodwaters, praying over them, and casting a wooden cross, a tradition known as the 'prayer of the water in the sea' (referring to the Nile). 01:09:35 - 01:16:34 Observations on Greek and Coptic Texts for the Consecration of the Nile Waters 01:09:35 The speaker begins by noting important observations regarding the Greek and Coptic texts used for the consecration of the Nile waters. 01:09:50 Despite many names for the Nile, these liturgical services primarily used two distinct names: 'Nilos' (Nile) and 'Gihon' (Gihon River), following ancient historical and geographical texts. 01:11:46 In some texts, like during Great Thursday, the word 'sea' was used as a metaphor for the Nile, as the sea does not irrigate land, but the Nile does. 01:15:05 The speaker concludes by stating that the liturgies and rituals adopted names for the Nile that were commonly recognized in ancient history and geography, mentioning his doctoral thesis on the topic. 01:16:34 - 01:23:52 The Importance of Dedication to Theological Study 01:17:15 The speaker explains that listening to a doctoral thesis provides the essence of extensive research, which can be challenging for those unaccustomed to academic discourse. 01:18:15 The segment highlights that the liturgy is a crucial part of their worship and history, with scholars like Professor Fondoli recognizing the importance of Coptic contributions. 01:19:33 Students are encouraged to embrace the opportunity at Tyrannus to receive fresh theological knowledge, akin to studying in Greece, the origin of theological science. 01:21:26 The speaker sets expectations for punctuality and commitment, emphasizing that the school is a serious academic environment, not a casual drop-in, and encourages students to engage with Mina Haroun for transportation issues. > Generated by WayinVideo | https://wayin.ai/wayinvideo/