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Favorite thing: The Monastery of the Syrians is called in Arabic Deir as-Suriani: it's the smallest and most compact of the 4 Wadi Natrun Monasteries. It's very near the Saint Bishoi monastery (500 metres) but it was settled two centuries later, after an internal dispute about the importance of the Virgin Mary. Saint Bishoi spent a long time here, locked in a tiny hole in the wall (it can be visited), in meditation and prayers.
Fondest memory: This monastery is the reason why we travelled to Wadi Natrun, and it was because of its name: Suriani - which happens to be one hald of my family name. We had high expectations and were not disappointed. amazing architecture and the most splendid frescos and icons of the 4 wadi natrun monasteries.
Written Mar 3, 2005
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Favorite thing: The Monastery of St. Macarius is the most difficult to visit of the four monasteries of Wadi Natrun. it's normally closed to the public, unless you have made prior arrangments in Cairo... where, I don't know. We were incredibly lucky - when we arrived there was a Coptic family (who had emigrated to the States) who was visiting, so we were admitted inside, too.
Although this is the oldest established monastery, because of renovations and reconstructions, it has lost part of its charm... but not its importance: most Coptic patriarchs are chosen from this monastery - 16 of them are buried here, but their graves can't bi visited.
So what can one visit? The relics of the forty nine martyers killed by the Berbers and buried in the church of the Elders. You can also see the relics of three Saint Macarius: St. Macarius the Great, St. Macarius the Alexandrian and the St. Macarius Bishop of Edfu. If you are into icons, there are some really spectacular and old ones.
Fondest memory: The peace and quiet... unlike the other monasteries, this was not busy... monks were praying and fasting in their cells, so the place was empty... am oasis or religiousness, which could be breathed in the air.
Written Mar 3, 2005
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Favorite thing: Wadi Natrun is a semi-arid plain about 100 kilometres from Cairo, roughly off the Cairo/Alexandria road. It's home to 4 wonderful and old coptic monasteries: Al Baramus, As Suriani, Al Anba Bishoy, Abu Maqar. In the past, however, there were more than 50 monasteries - which have since then been destroyed by Berber tribes.
They are all built according to a similar pattern: an outer wall with one or more churches inside, storerooms, a dining hall, kitchen, bakery, a free standing fortress and monks' cells. Wadi Natrun, for the record, meand valley of the Natrun, and Natrun is the mineral used for mummifying purposes.
Fondest memory: We went to vist As Suriani in particular - becuae of the surname I bear (Medici Suriani). While it was very interesting visiting it - it's in Al Anba Bishoy that we found perfect beauty: a truly stunning Monastery.
Written Jan 16, 2005
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Favorite thing: The Monastery of Al Anba Bishoy was founded by St. Bishoy in the 300's AD. There are five churches in this large monastery: the churches of St. Bishoi, of the Virgin, of St. Iskhirun, of St. George and of the Angel Michael (in the castle).
Theres also a building, called the Old Castle, which served as a defensive tower to protect the monastery and monks from the Berbers. Another interesting sight is the Well of the Martyrs.
Fondest memory: This monastery turned out to be our most favourite... the architecture was the most stunning, and at times looked like the set of a science fiction film. We were also invited to visit the monastery's castle: impressive. The monk who guided us around was friendly and witty.
Written Jan 16, 2005
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Favorite thing: The Monastery of al-Baramus is said to be the oldest established monastery in Wadi Natrun - today, however, of the old monastery only ruins remain, and what you visit is the new monastery. A legend says that it is built on the place where Macarius the Great settled down when he devoted himself to monastic life. This monastery is also known as the Monastery of the Romans: the origin of the name can be found in the coptic word Pa-Rameos, which means "that of the Romans". it is possibly due to the visit and stay of two roman saints: Maximus and Domitius.
Fondest memory: The Monastery of Al Baramus is possibly the most isolated but least scenic of the four: it suffered six attacks in the past, and each attack damaged th buildings greatly. Not much original is left inside, but outside the protective outer wall is stunning. There are two churches: one dedicated to the Virgin Mary and one to Saint John; none of them is too spectacular. The most interesting sight of the monastery, maybe, is the sight of tens and tens of monks looking after the monastery's gardens: they are shaping them in several wqays and turning them into little landscape works of art.
Written Jan 14, 2005
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The Monastery of al-Baramus is said to be the oldest established monastery in Wadi Natrun - today, however, of the old monastery only ruins remain, and what you...
Q: How long does it take to get from Cairo to Wadi Natrun? And if you had a choice between going there and going to see the...
A: I think you want the northern africa/Egypt forum--Johannesburg is about 8000 miles south (at least).
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It may not be on the top list of must-see sights in Egypt but we were amazed by the kindness of the monks in the monastery of St. Pishoy there. The most popular one was founded by Saint Pishoy in the...
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