Incredible Egypt - Discover the thousand-year-old monasteries of the Wadi Natrun desert.

#Egypt #Copts #ScetisDesert #Monasteries #WadiNatrun
Today, we leave Alexandria to visit a little known region of Egypt, the Wadi Natrun. Few tourists go there, but it is there that we find the oldest monasteries, still in activity, in the world. We will visit four of them, the Monastery of Baramous, the Monastery of the Syrians (Deir Suriani), the Monastery of Mar Bishoi and the Monastery of St. Macarius.
0:27 Introduction
0:47 Departure to Wadi Natrun
1:35 Visit to the Monastery of Baramous
3:53 En route to other monasteries
4:18 Stop at the Monastery of the Syrians (Deir Suriani)
6:51 Visit to the Monastery of St. Bischoi
9:24 Last stop at the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
11:42 Back to Alexandria
1. Monastery of Baramous:
This is the northernmost of the monasteries of Wadi Natrun. It occupies the place where the oldest monastic community in Wadi al-Natrun was founded. The Arabic name Baramous is a transliteration of the Coptic Pa-Romeos, "that of the Romans", probably referring to the two saints and children of the Roman Emperor Valentinian I (364-357), Maximus and Domitius, whom Saint Macarius received and consecrated here.
The main church of the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and its nave presents scenes from her life such as the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity. The keep of the monastery is the oldest existing keep in Wadi Natroun and probably dates from the 9th century.
2. Monastery of the Syrians (Deir Suriani):
Founded in the 6th century, the Monastery of the Syrians or Deir al-Surian is an important Coptic monastery located five hundred meters northwest of the Monastery of Saint Bishoi. The monastery was occupied by Syrian (Syriac) monks from the 8th century (hence its name). Since the 16th century, it is again occupied by Coptic monks. It is one of the places in which the novel The Sign by Raymond Khouri takes place.
3. Monastery of St. Bischoi:
The Monastery of Saint Bischoi (also spelled Bishoy or Pshoi) is one of the most famous monasteries of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Saint Bischoi would have founded this monastery in the 4th century. On December 13, 84, Pope Joseph I of Alexandria granted Pishoy's wishes and transferred his body there along with that of Paul of Tammah. Today, both bodies rest in the main church of the monastery. Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria is also buried there.
The monastery has five churches, of which the main one is named Bischoi. The other churches are named after the Virgin Mary, Abaskhiron the soldier, Saint George and the Archangel Michael. The monastery is surrounded by a keep, which was built in the fifth century to protect the monastery from attacks by the Berbers.
4. Monastery of St. Macarius :
The Monastery of St. Macarius of Shete or Deir Amba Makar is the largest of the four monasteries visited. It was completely renovated in 1969. The building was built in the 4th century to protect the monks and religious from the Berber hordes. The building preserves the relics of St. Macarius the Great, but also of St. Macarius of Alexandria and Bishop Macarius and houses the Chapel of the 49 Martyrs, 49 monks massacred during a Berber attack in 444.
The monastery has five hundred hectares of land, cultivated by seven hundred people. They also practice breeding. The monks numbered one hundred and thirty, including ten pharmacists, ten doctors and fourteen engineers. This religious complex includes a hospital, a pharmacy and a modern printing house.It operates as a real agricultural enterprise.
Useful links :
Tourism Egypt: egypt.travel/
Desert of Wadi Natroun :
whc.unesco.org...
en.wikipedia.o...
Baramous Monastery : en.wikipedia.o...
Monastery of the Syrians :
www.thelevantin...
en.wikipedia.o...
Monastery of Saint-Bischoi :
www.avabishoy.com/
en.wikipedia.o...
Monastery of Saint-Macaire le Grand : www.stmacarius...