Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia 7 December 2020
shenouda iii, the iconographical program of the
tomb-shrine of
Mary Kupelian Keywords: Pope Shenouda iii, Mural Paintings, Contemporary Coptic Art, Old Testament scenes, New Testament scenes, Monasticism, Scetis, Wadi al-Natrun, Dayr Anba Bishoi, Archangel Gabriel, Annunciation, Nativity, Dormition, Assumption Introduction Pope shenouda iii (born 1923; patriarch 1971-2012) is one of the most important patriarchs of the Coptic Church, who reigned more than forty years. Upon his death on March 17, 2012, his body was buried in dayr anba bishoi in Wadi al-Natrun (scetis). Pope Shenouda’s tomb-shrine is situated opposite the ancient church of that monastery. Its ceiling is in the shape of a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes (Fig.1). The interior of the tomb-shrine is decorated with marble. Its semi-domes are embellished with beautiful mural paintings which – combined together – represent a unique iconographical program of contemporary coptic art.
Their painter was Bulos el-Anba Bishoi, a monk who served as the pope’s secretary during the last years of the pope’s life. The eastern semi-dome shows Christ in Majesty; the southern semi-dome features a cycle related to the life of the Virgin Mary and the infancy of Christ; the northern semi-dome depicts old testament events, and the western semi-dome is occupied with images of famous monastic figures.
Figure 1: The tomb-shrine of Pope Shenouda iii at Dayr Anba Bishoi in Wadi al-Natrun. © Claremont Graduate University 1 Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia 7 December 2020 Christ enthroned in Majesty:
In the eastern semi-dome, Christ is enthroned inside an oval shaped mandorla (Fig.2). His feet are resting on the globe. The mandorla is surrounded with an interlaced pattern. From its four corners project the four creatures of the Apocalypse. This composition of Christ is flanked by two archangels standing with their wings lowered, each holding a long staff in their left hand as they are coming out of the clouds. The entire background of this semi-dome represents the sky. Figure 2: The eastern semi-dome of the tomb-shrine.
The cycle related to the life of the Virgin Mary and the infancy of Christ:
In the southern semi-dome of the tomb-shrine, the Nativity scene (left) and the Annunciation scene (right) flank the scene of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Fig. 3). In the Annunciation scene, the archangel gabriel is depicted in front of the Virgin Mary, announcing to her the birth of Christ. On the opposite side, St. Joseph and the Virgin are represented in front of the infant Christ, who is in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. In the center of the semi-dome, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is depicted. She is shown lying with her hands crossed as the apostles stand next to her bed. The scene of the assumption is depicted on the top of the semi-dome. Here, the Virgin Mary is shown ascending into heaven carried by two angels.
© Claremont Graduate University 2 Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia 7 December 2020 Figure 3: The southern semi-dome of the tomb-shrine.
Old Testament events (Fig. 4):
The scene of the sacrifice of Abraham occupies the middle part of the northern semi-dome. Isaac lies on an altar and his hands are tied. Abraham raises his right arm, with a knife in his hand, intending to slaughter his son, while an angel holds back Abraham’s hand to rescue Isaac. A ram tied to a tree appears in the background. To the right of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob’s dream is depicted. Here, Jacob reclines upon the ground with feet crossed, the left over the right. Opposite Jacob is a ladder, with angels ascending and descending. Behind Jacob appears archangel michael holding a sword in his right hand. The top of the northern semi-dome is decorated with Christ opening his arms in blessing.
© Claremont Graduate University 3 Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia 7 December 2020 Figure 4: The northern semi-dome of the tomb-shrine.
Great monastic figures (Fig. 5):
On the western semi-dome of the tomb-shrine, which faces the image of Christ in Majesty, Egypt’s most important monastic figures are depicted in a desert landscape. At the top St. pshoi, founder of the monastery that bears his name at Wadi al-Natrun, washes Christ’s feet. In the center, St. paul of thebes, the first hermit, and St. antony of egypt, the first monk, stand in a frontal pose; between them appears a crow with an entire loaf of bread. To their left, St. macarius the egyptian, the founder of the most important monastery in Scetis, is shown also in a frontal position, holding a cross in his right hand and an open scroll in his left hand. The northern end of this semi-dome features St. john colobos, also called John the Little or the Dwarf, standing on a large stone and watering the “tree of obedience.” The southern end of the western semi-dome shows St. moses the black, also called Moses the Robber, carrying a sack over his right shoulder. Moses the Black, a model of repentance, was martyred, and his remains are venerated in dayr al-baramus at Wadi al-Natrun. It is worthy of note that all of these saints are represented among others saints on the wall paintings of dayr anba
antuniyus.
© Claremont Graduate University 4 Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia 7 December 2020 Figure 5: The western semi-dome of the tomb shrine.
The iconographic program of the tomb-shrine of Pope Shenouda iii reflects the vision of the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria in many respects. He was a monk, bishop, teacher, preacher, and spiritual leader of the largest Christian community in the Middle East for more than forty years.