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Document Details :

Title: Priester van God de Allerhoogste
Subtitle: Iconografische en iconologische aspecten van de ontmoeting van Abraham
Author(s): VAN LOON, Gertrud J.M.
Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies
Volume: 53    Issue: 1-2   Date: 2001   
Pages: 5-29
DOI: 10.2143/JECS.53.1.1043

Abstract :
In the altar room of three Coptic churches, the Church of Saint Macarius in Dayr Abu Maqar (Wadi an-Natrun), dating from the first half or the middle of the twelfth century, the Old Church of Dayr Anba Antuniyus (Red Sea) dating from 1232-1233 and the Church of the Virgin in Dayr al-Baramus (Wadi an-Natrun) dating most probably from the thirteenth century, a wall painting with the Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek can be found. From the third century onwards, Church fathers likened the bread and wine Melchizedek offered to Abraham to the bread and wine of the Eucharist. At the same time, based on psalm 109 (110): 4 and Hebrews 7, Melchizedek can be seen as a prefiguration of Christ. The iconology of the theme is clear. The iconography is puzzling. Melchizedek is not depicted as an Old Testament priest or a king, according to early Christian and Byzantine custom, but as a half naked hermit living in a cave. He offers Abraham a chalice or – in Dayr al-Baramus – from the content of a chalice by means of a spoon. This composition is typical for Egypt and is, up till now, not known to have existed elsewhere. In all probability, the source of this scene can be found in a legend on Melchizedek attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria (PG 28:525-530) and in the Palaea Historica. A version of this story has also found its way into Coptic liturgical prayers. Concerning the composition, a comparison with the Communion of the Apostles permits to conclude that the centre of the latter scene, Christ and the apostle receiving the sacrament, served as a model for the composition of Abraham and Melchizedek. Although the sources of the composition have been identified, questions around the scene remain. To one of these, why the offering of the chalice is depicted in the Communion of the Apostles and in the Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, no solution has been found yet.