Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A1-A13
The various typologies of
Historic Coptic Orthodox Church design
Sherif Raouf Amin Morgan
1. INTRODUCTION
The Coptic Orthodox Church is a Church that formulated its style and
elements in Egypt, affected by its geography, climate, and above all the surrounding
civilizations it emerged within. Finding out its way within a paganism society, being
Ancient Egyptian locally or the Roman Empire as a ruler of the country, the Coptic
Church and people were severely prosecuted. Accordingly, rarely can researchers
find information regarding the early buildings of the first three centuries. However,
some churches that were first built in the fourth and fifth century1 after Christianity
was formally accepted as a legal religion by the Roman Empire in 313AD 2 and
declared the State religion in 381AD3 are still existing and are subject for research.
Although documentation is poor, yet some research has been made regarding the
different typologies of the Coptic Orthodox Church design. Finally, the paper aims
to review the different literature that classifies the historic Coptic Orthodox Church
design.
2. TYPOLOGIES OF HISTORICAL COPTIC ORTHODOX
CHURCH DESIGN
Typology, a well-known word used to classify things in general, and
architectural specifically in this paper, which have similar characteristics. Although
it is mostly widely spread between Christians that the Church form follows a
Cruciform, Circular or an Ark shape4, yet it is not the real situation within Coptic
Orthodox Church designs. Those are mostly symbols that are sometimes used for
spiritual meanings and metaphysical significances. Moreover, those shapes are
scarcely used by Coptic Architecture. Butler, a well-known historian that wrote
1
Gabra, et al (2007) p.22
Watterson, (1988) p.34
3 Gregorius (Bishop), (1982) p.58
4 Malaty (Father), (2004) pp. 57-62
2
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about the Coptic Churches in 1884, which is one of the oldest documented writings
on the Coptic Church architecture confirms by saying,
“The Coptic builders seem to have had no liking for or no knowledge
of the cruciform groundplan…. The result is that in the majority of
cases the architecture of the Coptic churches is of a mixed type, halfbasilican and half-Byzantine: while in other cases there is a type
entirely non-basilican yet not entirely Byzantine. But there is no case,
as far as I know, of an architecture unleavened by either of these two
elements, however variously they enter into combination with each
other and with other elements.”1
Butler first confirms that there are no cruciform church forms in the Coptic
Orthodox Churches. Moreover, he classifies the churches into two typologies, the
first is a mixed half-basilican and half-byzantine, and the second is non-basilican but
yet not Byzantine. He further mentions some examples regarding the Non-basilican
and refers to Anba Antonious monastery (Saint Anthony) referred to in the figure-1
as letters (A) and (B) having two churches with twelve domed roof, three on the
sanctuary area and nine covering the rest of the church. However, he mentions Saint
Barbara Church as a Byzantine example, referred to in figure-1 as letters (C) and
(D). A barrel vault covers the Naïve and main alter. However, the rest of the aisles
and galleries are covered with a flat horizontal roof.
Figure 1 Comparison between Non-basilican Church design (A) Ariel view2 and
(B) Google earth image of Saint Anthony Church Monastery in the red sea and
the Basilican plan (C) Ariel view3 and (D) Google earth image of Saint Barbara
Church in Old Cairo.
1
Butler, (1884) pp. 6-7
Gabra, et al (2007) p.219
3 Sheehan, (2010) p.60
2
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Bishop Samuel and architect Badie Habib did another form of classification
to the Coptic Orthodox Church designs. The element of which the classification was
focusing on was the Church Dome and its shape and location within the roof of the
church. The following is the output of their classification.
Figure 1 The Coptic Orthodox Church typologies through the classification of the
Dome distribution on the roof.1
The previous classification relates the domes locations above churches with
relevance to date of construction of the church itself, starting from the fifth until the
nineteenth century. The fifth and sixth century dome covers either the main altar or
choir space. The seventh and eighth century dome covers both the altar and choir.
Eleventh and twelfth century twin domes cover the nave and choir, and a smaller
dome covers the altar. Fourteenth and fifteenth century churches have multiple
domes covering the nave and vaults covering the northern and southern aisles.
Sixteenth and seventeenth century churches had a row of altars at the sanctuary areas,
making the church increase in its width. Churches are covered with domes of equal
sizes and heights. Eighteenth and nineteenth century churches are back to three altars
and the whole church is covered with twelve domes, three above the sanctuary area,
and nine covering the rest of the church nave and aisles.
‫ القبة القبطية‬,‫ بديع حبيب جورجي‬,) ‫صموئيل ( األنبا‬1
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In 2002, Capuani came out with a new typological classification. He splits
the Churches of Egypt into two geographical zones. The first is the Mediterranean
coast and Delta, where the church style is mostly affected by the Byzantine
architecture. The second is the Nile Valley, where local cultural impact on the
Church designs in his point of view is recognized. 1 He further analyzes church
designs chronologically as Bishop Samuel and Badie Habib did, but focused on plan
design itself and not ceiling design. The following table illustrates the different
typologies Capuani mentioned, their periods, shape, typology and examples.
PERIOD
SHAPE
TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES
 Al-Hawariya
5th to 6th
Century
 Sanctuary of
Basilica with transept
St.Menas
 Hermopolis
 Madinat Madi
4th and 6th
Basilica with nave
Century
and four aisles
 Antinoopolis
 Pbow
 Armant
 Kellia
5th to 7th
Century
Church with nave
and two aisles
 Churches of Old
Cairo
 Kom Namrud
 Madinat Habu
 Monastery of Apa
5th to 7th
Century
Bane
Triconch Church
 White monastery
 Red monstery
 Deir Abu Matta
1
Capuani, et al, (2002) pp.41-44
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PERIOD
SHAPE
TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES
 Sanctuary of
St.Menas (east
6th Century
Church with a
central plan
basilica)
 Sanctuary of
St.Menas
(martyrion)
 Monasteries of
7th to 12th
Church with a
Century
khurus (Choir)
sketis
 Monastery of
Archangel Gabriel
Al-Naqlun
 Monastery of St.
Victor Naqada
10th to 12th
Church with naves
Century
roofed with cupolas
 Monastery of the
Potter
 Monastery of the
Martyrs
Table 1 Capuani’s classification of Coptic Church design typologies1
From the previous table, one can conclude that most historical churches
follow a rectangular shape, and differences are internal and in the ceiling. The
influence of the rectangular shape is purely from the Ancient Egyptian and Jewish
temples. The Basilican influence is dominant in the architectural plan design,
however the Churches of the Mediterranean such as in St. Menas show a Byzantine
effect that is clear in the central dome of the East Church or the huge scale of the
main Church.
1
Capuani, et al, (2002) pp.41-44
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Nicolas in 2004 updated the church classification into a more detailed one
and discussed the sanctuary design, and at some times mentioned the Dome roofing
system and locations. The following table illustrates the period, church shape
sample, remarks and other examples of the same period and typology.
PERIOD
SHAPE
REMARKS
 Building is inside a
rectangular shape
1st to 4th
Century
 Sanctuary with
Triconch/Triapsal
 Nave is surrounded
EXAMPLE
 The Basilica of Al
Ashmounein
 St.Marina Church
 Shams Al-Din, Oasis
by three aisles
 Building is inside a
rectangular shape
4th and 5th
Century
 External Narthex
(western or southern)
 Triple Apse
 Nave is surrounded
 Virgin Mary
Hanging Church
 St.Sergius and
St.Bacchus Church
 St.Barbara Church
(Old Cairo Region)
by three aisles
 Building is inside a
rectangular shape
 External Narthex
(western and southern
5th and 6th
Century
or on top of them)
 Sanctuary with
Triconch/Triapsal
 Nave is surrounded
by three aisles
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 Church of Anba
Shenouda
monastery
 White monastery
 Red monastery
 Church inside
Hatour temple
Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A1-A13
PERIOD
SHAPE
REMARKS
EXAMPLE
 Church of Abu
6th and 7th
Century
 Appearance of the
Fana monastery
area of Chorus of
 Abu Mina North
Deacons
church, Mariut
 Churches around
Luxor temple
 Church in Habo
 Central Altar with
7th and 8th
semi circle apse
Century
 Rectangular side
city, west Luxor
 St.Mina Church
complex in Mariut
chambers
 Chorus of deacons
separated from nave
8th and 9th
Century
by walls and doors
 Three sanctuaries
with the central one
bigger in size
 Virgin Mary church
in Syrian
monastery
 Anba Bishoy
church in Anba
Bishoy monastery
N.B. existing church
dates back to the 14th
century
 Appearance of twin
domes covering the
nave
th
th
11 , 12
and 13th
 Three rectangular
sanctuaries
Century
 Anba Hedra
church, Aswan
 Virgin Mary church
in Al-Azab and AlHamam monastery
in Fayoum
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PERIOD
SHAPE
REMARKS
 Appearance of more
than three altars
14th and 15th
Century
 Shallow nave of two
rows
 Church orientation is
in the north south
EXAMPLE
 Anba Bedaba
monastery in
Nagga Hammady
 St.Demiana and
Anba Moisys
monastery
direction
 Appearance of a new
type in Akhmim
 Virgin Mary
with three semi
monastery in
16th ,17th
circular apses with a
Akhmim
and 18th
service corridor.
Century
 Nave is divided into
two rows with four
 Monastery of the
Archangel in
Akhmim
columns in between
 Appearance of the
twelve domed
18th and 19th
Century
churches
 3 domes for the
sanctuary
 6 domes for the nave
and aisles
 Anba Begol church
in Minya
 Many churches in
Delta region that
have been built in
this period
Table 2 Stages of Development of Coptic Church Architecture by Maged Nicolas1
1
Nicolas, (2004) pp.218-220
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Several other writers discussed the Coptic Orthodox Church design
typologies but with no real extra input other than the previously mentioned above 1.
However, in 2012, Professor Sami Sabri2 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 plan3.
The following table shows the typology and sample shape to elaborate the
typology without getting into details of the subdivisions.
SHAPE
TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES
 Church of Virgin Mary Tokh Al-
Churches with
Domed Nave
(Single, Double, six,
nine, or more)
Nassara
 Church of St. Marcorious (AlMaymoun 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
Gabra, et al (2007) pp. 22-29
Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies, and a professor of Architecture and Urban Design in Cairo
University, faculty of engineering, architectural department.
3 831-828 ‫) ص‬2182( ,‫شاكر‬
2
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Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A1-A13
SHAPE
TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES
 Church of the monastery of Anba
Churches roofed
with Domes and
Vaults
Thomas, North Akhmim
 Church of the monastery of St.
Hedra
 Virgin Mary church in Fisha AlNassara village
Churches with
Square Nave
 Virgin Mary church in Sabk ElAhad
 Church of the Martyr Anba
Sarabamon, Melig village
 Church of Mar-Guirguis ElAkhmim Churches
Hadidy monastery
 Church of Virgin Mary monastery
in Hawaweesh, Akhmim
Churches influenced
by Byzantine
architecture
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 Church of St.Menas (east basilica)
Eng. Sherif Morgan / Engineering Research Journal 151 (September 2016) A1-A13
SHAPE
TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES
 Virgin Mary Church, Syrian
Basilican Plan
Churches
Monastery.
 St.Barbara Church, Old Cairo
 Sr. Sergius and Backhus
Church, Old Cairo
Basilican Plan
 Monastery of Anba Shenouda,
Churches
Sohag (White monastery)
With Triconch
 Monastery of Anba Bishay,
Sanctuary
Basilican Plan
Churches
With Transept
Sohag (Red monastery)
 St. Menas main church
 Al-Ashmunayn Basilica
Table 3 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri
Shaker1
1
831-828 ‫) ص‬2182( ,‫شاكر‬
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3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
From all the previous different classifications of Coptic Orthodox Church
Typologies, starting by Butler in 1884, then Bishop Samuel and Badie Habib
between 1962-1981, then Capuani in 2002, then Nicolas 2004, and finally Sami
Sabri Shaker in 2012. One can conclude that typologies were based on either the
architectural plan design, or the ceiling design, or both together. The last two
combine the first two methods of classification, thus results in a deeper
understanding of the historical Coptic Churches.
AUTHOR
TYPOLOGICAL THEME
ERA
Basilican and Non-Basilican Churches
1884 AD
Dome distribution on the roof
1962-1981 AD
Capuani
Geographical zoning and plan design
2002
Nicolas
Functional zoning, sanctuary, and roof
design
2004
Shaker
Nave design and roofing system
2012
Butler
Bishop Samuel and
Badie Habib
Table 4 Comparison of typological classification themes, their authors and its era, by
researcher
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, the typologies of Shaker may be
adopted to classify the Churches of a certain region 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.
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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. Gabra, Gawdat and Van loon, J.M (2007). The churches of Egypt: From
the journey of the Holy Family to the Present Day, The American
University in Cairo Press, Egypt.
4. Gregorius, Bishop (1982). Christianity, the Coptic Religion and Ethnic
Minorities in Egypt, GeoJournal, Vol. 6, No. 1, The Nile Countries, pp.
57-62
5. Malaty (Father), Tadros Y. (2004). Church, House of God, St. George
church, Sporting, Alexandria, Egypt.
6. Nicolas Kamel, Magued (2004).Design criteria of Coptic Architecture
in Egypt, PH.D Degree dissertation, Alexandria University( Faculty of
Fine Arts)
7. Sheehan, Peter (2010). Babylon of Egypt: The Archaeology of Old
Cairo and the Origins of the City, The American University in Cairo
press, Egypt.
8. Watterson, Barbara (1988). Coptic Egypt, Scottish Academic Press Ltd,
Edinburgh.
,‫ القبة القبطية‬,‫ بديع حبيب جورجي‬,) ‫ صموئيل ( األنبا‬.8
‫ مجلة معهد الدراسات‬,‫ األنماط المعمارية للكنائس القبطية األثرية‬.)2182( ‫ سامي صبري‬,‫ شاكر‬.2
‫ المجلد التاسع‬,‫القبطية‬
List of Figures
Figure 1 Comparison between Non-basilican Church design (A) Ariel view and (B)
Google earth image of Saint Anthony Church Monastery in the red sea and
the Basilican plan (C) Ariel view and (D) Google earth image of Saint
Barbara Church in Old Cairo. ..................................................................... 2
Figure 2 The Coptic Orthodox Church typologies through the classification of the
Dome distribution on the roof. .................................................................... 3
List of Tables
Table 1 Capuani’s classification of Coptic Church design typologies .................. 4-5
Table 2 Stages of Development of Coptic Church Architecture by Maged Nicolas
.................................................................................................................. 6-8
Table 3 Architectural typologies of Historical Coptic Churches, by Dr. Sami Sabri
Shaker ...................................................................................................... 9-11
Table 5 Comparison of typological classification themes, their authors and its era,
by researcher……………………………………………………………...12
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