t, the Copts agree with the Greek Church.

Hierarchy.

"The most holy pope and patriarch of the great city of Alexandria and of
all the land of Egypt, of Jerusalem the holy city, of Nubia, Abyssinia
and Pentapolis, and all the preaching of St Mark," as he is still
called, had originally jurisdiction over all the places named.
Jurisdiction over Abyssinia remains, but from Nubia and Pentapolis
Christianity has disappeared. The ancient rule is that no bishop is
eligible for the patriarchate. The requirement of a period of desert
life has so far prevailed that no one but a monk from one of the desert
monasteries is now qualified. This rule, harmless perhaps when the
monasteries were the great schools of learning and devotion, now puts a
premium on ignorance, and is disastrous to the church; more particularly
as even bishops must be chosen from the monks. The patriarch is elected
by an assembly of bishops and elders. The candidate is brought in chains
from the desert, and, if only in monk's orders, is passed through the
higher grades except that of bishop. The patriarch's seat was
transferred some time after the Arab conquest from Alexandria to the
fortress town of Babylon (Old Cairo), and in modern times it was shifted
to Cairo proper. The other orders and offices in the church are
metropolitan, bishop, chief priest, priest, archdeacon, deacon, reader
and monk. The number of bishoprics in ancient times was very
large--Athanasius says nearly 100. At present there remain ten in Egypt,
one at Khartum and three in Abyssinia.

Buildings.

The numerous remaining churches in Egypt but faintly represent the vast
number standing in ancient times. Rufinus says that he found 10,000
monks in the one region of Arsinoe. Later, in 616, the Persians are
described as destroying 600 monasteries near Alexandria. Ab[=u] S[=a]lih
(12th century) gives a list of churches surviving in his day, and their
number is astonishing. The earliest were cut out of rocks and caverns.
In the days of Constantine and Justinian basilicas of great splendour
were built, such as the church of St Mark at Alexandria and the Red
Monastery in Upper Egypt. This type of architecture permanently
influenced Coptic builders, but there prevailed also a type, probably
native in origin, though possessing Byzantine features, such as the
domed roofing. There is no church now standing which bears any trace of
the fine glass mosaics which once adorned the basilicas, no