The Library
1774 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
401–500
3 works
c. 385–465
Coptic
Shenoute of Atripe · c. 348 – c. 465
The vast output of the abbot of the White Monastery, who ruled thousands of monks and nuns for eight decades: sermons against pagan landowners and their household shrines, letters disciplining his own communities, and rules enforced by beating.
c. 400–500
Coptic
Anonymous
Jesus tells the apostles on the Mount of Olives how his foster father died at a hundred and eleven, afraid at the last, with Mary holding his feet and Jesus his hands, and Death waiting at the door until permitted to enter.
c. 465–475
Coptic
Besa
Written by Shenoute's successor: the miracles, the journeys, the confrontations with officials, and an old man who could be heard arguing with God. It is frank about how frightening he was to live under.
601–700
1 work
c. 690
Coptic
John of Nikiu · 7th century
A world chronicle by a Coptic bishop whose closing books describe the Arab conquest of Egypt from the point of view of the conquered population.
801–900
1 work
begun c. 890, compiled later
Arabic
Anonymous
Serial biographies of the Coptic patriarchs, drawn from earlier Coptic sources and continued for centuries, recording church life under successive Muslim rulers.
901–1000
1 work
c. 970–987
Arabic
Severus ibn al-Muqaffa · d. c. 987
An account of the church councils from a Coptic standpoint, explaining to an Arabic-speaking congregation why their church rejected Chalcedon.
1201–1300
1 work
c. 1238
Arabic
Al-Majmu al-Safawi
Al-Safi ibn al-Assal · 13th century
A systematic code of church and civil law for Egyptian Christians, drawing on Byzantine, Syriac, and Islamic legal material.
1301–1400
1 work
c. 1300–1324
Arabic
Misbah al-Zulma
Abu al-Barakat ibn Kabar · d. 1324
An encyclopaedia of Coptic Christianity — doctrine, canon law, liturgy, the calendar, and a catalogue of the church's Arabic and Coptic books.
8 of 1774 works