The Feast of the Desert of Apa Shenoute: A Liturgical Procession from the White Monastery in Upper Egypt

An edition and translation of a trilingual manuscript recording the rite

of a medieval liturgical procession at the White Monastery (Dayr al-Anba

Shinudah) in Upper Egypt, accompanied by two introductions. Primarily in

Coptic, with selected sections in Greek and Arabic, the original text is

preserved in the Bibliotheque nationale in Paris (BN Copte 68), and it

includes rubrics of biblical passages and a sermon by Shenoute meant to

be read at different points during the procession. The first

introduction situates the manuscript in relation to the history,

archaeology, and ritual practice of the monastery. The second

introduction provides a technical description of the manuscript and of

the editorial methods used in producing the edition. The introductions,

edition, and translation are supplemented by tables with selected

images, an index of biblical citations, and a bibliography.