The Suryan Church
It is the oldest and most beautiful church in the monastery. It is one of the works of the fifth century AD. It is distinguished by the beautiful carvings that cover its walls, doors, and domes, especially within its sanctuaries. It is considered the oldest place after Anba Bishoy’s cave in the monastery. Built in the basilica style, it is 30 meters long and 12 meters wide. It consists of a sanctuary, a first chorus, a second chorus, the nave, and the cave of Anba Bishoy.
The Sanctuary of the Suryan Church
The middle sanctuary bears the name of the Virgin Mary, and we find in it beautiful stucco decorations of clear colors, including:
The stucco decoration inside the sanctuary of the Suryan Church
Inside the sanctuary, on the walls and above the first row of windows, we find decorations represented by soft plaster shapes dating back to the tenth century AD and engraved using recessed and prominent engravings. There are three apses surrounded with various stucco decorations representing shapes of leaves of different trees, branches of climbing plants, leaves of vines and grapes, overlapping bands in the shape of a cross, and shapes of overlapping flowers represented on the columns that border each apse, as well as shapes of palm trees. We also find the windows decorated with different shapes, such as wheat spikes, a symbol of the bread offerings, bunches of grapes, a symbol of the blood of Christ, and fish shapes, in addition to some musical instruments which was used by David the Prophet in the past.
The Altar of The Virgin Mary in the Suryan Church
Inside the middle sanctuary of the Suryan Church, there is an altar, which dates back to 1830 AD, and certainly it is in the place of another older altar, and it is topped with a dome built on four columns of wood. Between the two eastern columns, we find a picture representing Lord Jesus Christ in the tomb. It is a very beautiful icon representing Lord Jesus while He was lying inside the tomb, and below the stone, we find two angels represented in clear red and yellow clothes, and the Virgin Mary stands in the middle, raising her hands to the top and wearing a blue robe with a red scarf on it. On both sides of St. Mary, we find two angels, followed by the Disciples of Christ on the right side, and the Marys and the women bearing myrrh on the other side. And near the head of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find a representation of Joseph of Arimathea, and on the four walls of the icon, we find paintings of the four Evangelists, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There is also a group of stucco windows with beautifully made stained glass dating back to the tenth century AD.
Frescoes on the Dome of the Sanctuary
Frescoes on the dome of the sanctuary represent several subjects, such as the Ascension, the Transfiguration, and the Pentocrator. The drawings are divided into eight equal parts. In the center of the dome, there is a cross, and the cross has four equal wings, drawn in red against the background of three united circles in different shades of blue. Four light blue rays appear from the center of the cross, which is surrounded by different circles. The eight parts of the dome’s surface are in the form of an arc that narrows as we go upwards. As for the four parts on the eastern, southern, western and northern sides, there are various frescoes, with decorated parts in-between.
The eastern Fresco of the dome represents the Ascension of the Lord Christ, where the Lord Christ appears blessing with his right hand and holding with his left hand an open book containing some verses in Coptic letters from the Gospel of our teacher (John 8: 12 and 11: 25) and above His head the word “Emmanuel” is written in Coptic letters. Also, there are four angels at the four corners. In the lower part, the Virgin Mary appears, raising her hands, with the twelve apostles.
The southern fresco of the dome has a similar composition to the eastern one, in addition to two visions from the Old Testament from the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Letters appear in the Fresco above the head of Christ, as in the eastern fresco, surrounded by the four creatures and the word “Holy” is showing three times, as in the Book of (Isaiah 6: 3), where the Seraphim repeat this praise. Also, on either side of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a cloud with angels inside it. In the lower part, two prophets appear, standing on either side of the altar, on which are the cup and the tray.
To the left of the altar, Isaiah the Prophet is shown in a half-kneeling position, his face towards the right, and some Coptic letters of his name appear, and above his head are the six-winged seraphim, as it is recorded in the vision of Isaiah the Prophet. Each seraph has four heads, which have the forms of a human, the biggest in size, a lion, an eagle, and a bull, and one of the seraphim holds a piece of coal in the shape of a cross with tongs in his hand, and touches the lips of the prophet Isaiah with it.
On the other side of the altar appears the prophet Ezekiel, who has been identified through some of the letters of his name in the Coptic language. He holds in his left hand a scroll with some Coptic texts on it, and extends his right hand to the foot of one of the seraphim above his head as the seraph puts a roll of book in the mouth of the prophet according to (Ezekiel 3:1).
The western fresco of the dome shows the events of the Transfiguration, as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 17: 1-8, Mark 9: 2-8, Luke 9: 28-36). Christ appears in the upper part of the fresco, inside a blue oval shaped, on which is written in the Coptic language, “Fay bi bashiri pameneret” (This is my beloved son), as it is recorded in (Matthew 17:5).
In the lower part, on both sides of His legs, is written in the Coptic language the word (Emmanuel). Six white rays radiate from Him appearing behind his back and giving an impression of transparency. Moses and Elijah appear on both sides of Christ, who holds in his left hand a wrapped book bound by a red rope. The identities of Moses and Elijah have been defined through the Coptic letters of their names. Also in the lower part, the three disciples Peter, James, and John appear: Peter to the left, James under the feet of Christ, and John to the right. Both Peter and John stand raising their hands, and in the background some buildings, houses, and towers appear bearing crosses.
As for the fourth fresco of the dome, the upper part of it contains a person sitting with gray hair and a gray beard on a richly decorated throne, surrounded by a blue oval, and above his head written in Coptic letters “the ancient of days,” a clear reference to the vision of Daniel (Dan. 7: 9). Around His head is a halo, next to which are some letters in the Coptic language, which means (Emmanuel), and to His right and left are five angels, whose eyes are directed towards Him.
In the lower region of the fresco, the Prophet Daniel is shown wearing the traditional clothes: a pair of pants, a short jacket, a scarf and a cap. He points with his right hand to the Ancient of Days, and he holds in his left hand a scroll written on it “Anuk Daniel,” meaning I am Daniel. To the right of his head are the letters of the word Daniel, as further evidence that he is Daniel the Prophet.
In the upper part of the lower region, a number of living creatures, a fire, and a horn appear, as in the vision of Daniel (Dan. 11:7). On the left side, Abraham, the father of the fathers, is shown, and at the right side of his head, there is an open book, which may be a reference to the vision of Daniel (Daniel 7:10), as it says in it: “…and the books were opened.”
Between Daniel the Prophet and Abraham, the father of the fathers, Melchizedek appears offering bread and wine to our father Abraham, as in the book (Genesis 14: 18-19), symbolizing the Eucharist in the New Testament according to the Coptic liturgy. Accompanying Abraham is a person holding a plate with scissors in it, and some Coptic letters of the word “Isaac” written next to him – which is strange because Isaac had not been born yet.
