Gawdat Gabra is the former director of the Coptic Museum and the author‎,‎ coauthor‎,‎ or editor of numerous books on the history and culture of Egyptian Christianity‎,‎ including The Treasures of Coptic Art ‎(‎AUC Press‎,‎ 2006‎)‎ and The History and Religious Heritage of Old Cairo ‎(‎AUC Press‎,‎ 2011‎)‎‎.‎ He is currently visiting professor of Coptic studies at Claremont Graduate University‎,‎ California‎.‎ Gertrud J‎.‎M‎.‎ van Loon specializes in Coptic art and archaeology‎.‎ She holds a PhD from Leiden University‎,‎ where she is currently working as a researcher‎.‎ Carolyn Ludwig‎,‎ editor‎,‎ publisher‎,‎ and lecturer‎,‎ is the author of Jewels in Our Crown‎:‎ Churches of Los Angeles ‎(‎2003‎)‎‎.‎ She lives in Los Angeles and is a frequent visitor to Egypt‎.‎ Sherif Sonbol is a highly regarded Egyptian photographer‎.‎ He has contributed photographs to numerous illustrated books‎,‎ including Egyptian Palaces and Villas‎,‎ 1808‎-1960 ‎(‎AUC Press‎,‎ 2006‎)‎‎.‎