Establishment of the Society of Coptic Archaeology

The Society of Coptic Archaeology, Société d’Archéologie Copte, was founded on April 24, 1934. From its establishment, the Society succeeded in bringing together a distinguished group of people interested in culture, science, and archaeology.

From the very beginning, the Society worked to fill an important gap within academic circles, namely the absence of a specialized center dedicated to research and publication concerning Coptic antiquities and studies related to the Coptic era. Consequently, the Society of Coptic Archaeology became the only scientific association in the world specialized in this field. It was therefore natural for such an institution to originate in Egypt and establish its headquarters in the heart of Cairo.

Archaeologist Charles Bachatly, who was appointed Secretary-General of the Society in 1936, played a central role in carrying out the Society’s mission, which focused on publishing Coptic research, including studies related to Coptic archaeology, arts, language, literature, and manuscripts.

The Current Headquarters

In 1960, architect Wassef Boutros Ghali, the late president of the Society, designed a large annex to El-Boutrosiya Church, which was completed in 1961. In 1963, the Society moved to its current headquarters within the new annex attached to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (El-Boutrosiya) in Abbasiya.

The church, built more than one hundred years ago, is considered one of the most richly decorated churches in Cairo.

II- Scientific Activities and Publications of the Society of Coptic Archaeology

1- Books and Scholarly Publications

Since its foundation, the Society established the basis for its most important publications, beginning with its academic journal, followed by the Art and Archaeology Series, the Texts and Documents Series, and the Excavation Reports Series. In addition, the Society produced several other publications, including archaeological survey maps of Egypt and books concerning Coptic antiquities in Egypt.

Over time, the Society developed into an internationally recognized academic and scientific institution.

Since its establishment, the Society has published more than fifty books covering various fields of Coptology. These publications can be divided into five main sections:

1) Excavations of the Society

Fouilles De La Société D’Archéologie Copte

Within this section, the American papyrologist Leslie S.B. MacCoull published the results of the Society’s excavations at the Monastery of Phoebammon in Luxor in three volumes.

2) Art and Archaeology Section

Bibliothèque D’Art et D’Archéologie

Three books were published within this section.

3) Texts and Documents Section

Textes Et Documents

This is the largest publication section of the Society. Nineteen books have been published under this category, including:

• The Rite of the Ordination of Patriarchs by Oswald Burmester.
• Siyar al-Bayʻah al-Muqaddasah by Severus ibn al-Muqaffa, considered one of the largest and most important references on the history of the patriarchs of the Egyptian Church.

This major project extended from 1943 to 1974 and involved some of the most prominent scholars in Coptology and Christian Arabic heritage, including:

• Dr. Aziz Suryal Atiya
• Professor Yassa Abdel Masih
• Oswald Burmester
• Antoine Khater

Other important publications include:

• The Chrism Ritual by Youhanna Nessim Youssef and Sameh Farouk Henein.
• The most recent publication in this section is Coptic Arabic Literature by Adel Sidarus, published in 2024.

4) Manuscript Catalogues

Bibliothèque De Manuscrits

To date, catalogues of manuscripts from three churches have been published:

• The Church of Abu Serga
• The Church of St. Barbara
• The Church of St. Mina in Fum El-Khalig

The Society is currently collaborating with Fr. Ugo Zanetti to prepare and publish the expanded catalogue of the manuscripts of the Monastery of Abu Maqar in Wadi El-Natrun, which is expected to appear in three or more volumes.

Several additional catalogues are also currently in preparation.

5) Miscellaneous Publications

Divers

This section includes activities and publications that cannot be categorized under the previous sections. Fourteen books have been published in this category, including The Sermons of Abba Shenouda the Archimandrite in 2011.

2- The Library

The Society’s current library contains more than 17,000 rare books, most of which are written in European languages. The collection specializes in:

• Coptic Studies
• Egyptology
• Syriac Studies
• Ethiopic Studies
• Armenian Studies
• Arab Studies

The upper gallery of the library houses international academic periodicals donated to the Society by institutions and universities from more than fifteen countries as part of scientific exchange programs.

The First Exhibition of Coptic Art – 1944

On December 7, 1944, Charles Bachatly organized an important exhibition of Coptic art in cooperation with:

• The Coptic Museum
• The Museum of Islamic Art
• Several private collectors

This exhibition was the first event dedicated specifically to Coptic art and was inaugurated by King Farouk.

The exhibition achieved great success both in terms of visitor numbers and the quality of its exhibits, which represented various aspects of Coptic art.

The exhibition guide, prepared by Professor A.J.B. Wace and Dr. Étienne Drioton, was printed in:

• Arabic
• English
• French

4- Excavations of the Society of Coptic Archaeology

The Society’s excavations continued from 1935 until 1955.

In 1947 and 1948, Charles Bachatly, Secretary-General of the Society, uncovered the Monastery of St. Phoebammon on the west bank of the Nile south of Luxor.

The Society later published excavation reports in three volumes covering:

• The site’s antiquities
• The site’s texts
• Plant, animal, and chemical remains

The Society also occasionally participated in other archaeological excavations.

5- Establishment of the International Association for Coptic Studies

The Society of Coptic Archaeology gained considerable international recognition and became a pioneer in the establishment of the International Association for Coptic Studies (IACS) in 1975.

Mirrit Boutros Ghali Pasha, one of the founders of the Society, was among the first to call for the creation of this international organization.

Dr. Gamal Mukhtar invited professors and specialists in Coptology to attend the First Conference for Coptic Studies in Cairo, during which it was agreed to:

• Establish the International Association for Coptic Studies
• Hold a conference every four years

It was also decided that one of the Association’s headquarters would be located within the Society of Coptic Archaeology in Cairo, with Dr. Oswald Burmester serving as the first director of that headquarters.

The first IACS conference at the Society’s headquarters took place in Al-Safa Hall in 1976, during which the term “Coptology” was officially established for the first time.

Over nearly a century, several distinguished scholars in Coptology managed the library, including:

• Charles Bachatly
• Oswald Burmester
• Leslie MacCoull
• Antoine Khater
• Youhanna Nessim Youssef
• Margit Tóth
• Fr. Wadi Awad
• Monica Hanna (current librarian)

III- Bulletin de la Société d’Archéologie Copte (BSAC)

The Bulletin de la Société d’Archéologie Copte (BSAC) is considered the first and oldest academic journal in the world dedicated to Coptology.

It is an annual international peer-reviewed journal published by the Society of Coptic Archaeology and internationally recognized under the abbreviation:
BSAC

The journal was founded in 1935, while its first issue appeared in 1936.

During its early years, publication was irregular due to several circumstances, including World War II. However, the journal has maintained regular publication for many years.

Over the decades, the journal became an interdisciplinary academic platform covering:

• Coptic literature
• Architecture
• Art
• Archaeology
• History
• Coptic language
• Liturgy
• Historical texts
• Christian Arabic literature

The journal has published works by leading international scholars in Coptology and related fields.

BSAC is also committed to:

• Publishing the work of young scholars
• Reviewing newly published books
• Honoring distinguished academics
• Presenting recent master’s theses and doctoral dissertations

Conclusion

Throughout the ninety years since its establishment, the Society has remained committed to academic independence and scientific integrity.

As Mirrit Boutros Ghali once wrote:

“The Association has always maintained, and continues to maintain, its complete independence as a scientific institution and is not connected to any church body. Its board of directors includes members affiliated with several Christian and non-Christian faiths