UNDER THE DOME ‘SAPECIT ENTI’ESKINI’, A MODERN BOOK IN BOHAIRIC COPTIC BY THE COPT BASHANDY

Bashandy, a pseudonym, is a Coptic activist well known for his knowledge and fluency in Bohairic Coptic. He uses the Old Bohairic phonology. He has recently published an ebook by the title of sapecit enti’eskini (New Bohairic pronunciation), which translates into ‘Under the Dome’. The reader can find access to it here.

It is an anthology of contemporary Coptic hymns, songs, poems, new doxologies and acrostic poems (psali), in addition to hymns adapted to Coptic language. The work is written in Bohairic Coptic.

It is very welcome. I have previously said that revival of Coptic will not be achieved by learning Coptic alone, but by foremost writing modern Coptic literature in it.[1] I have also previously written about the amateurish internet publication, Coptic Quill.[2] Such writings are essential, and must be encouraged.  Still, we await a novel in Coptic, for this is what will really establish Coptic on a solid ground.

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[1] See, e.g., A nation without a vibrant modern literature is threatened (February 25, 2016).

[2] See: A Coptic quill: the first book in modern Coptic literature (September, 2019).