Qays, Al-

qays, al-, city located in Middle Egypt on the west side of the Nile about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Bani Mazar in Minya Province. In Greek it was called Kynopolis ano (Upper Kynopolis). The synaxarion commemorates the martyrdom of Bisadah (Psoi) from al-Qays on 24 Tubah. Records indicate that the city was a bishopric in the Middle Ages. A bishop Maqarah of al-Qays attended a synod held in Cairo in 1078, and a bishop Butrus from the city was present at the preparation of the holy chrism in 1299 (Munier, 1943, pp. 27, 36).