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Situated between Egypt`s capital,
Cairo, and Alexandria, the Wadi Natrun is a depression long of
25 kilometers and having numerous saline lakes. There were fifty
Coptic monasteries in Wadi Natrun, from which only 4 still exist
today. One monastery of Wadi Natrun is Deir Abu Magar (the Saint
Macarius) situated at 94 kilometers from the south of Egypt's
capital, Cairo. At only 10 kilometers away are the other three
monasteries: Deir Anba Beshoy (the Saint Boshoi), Deir Es-Souriyan
(the Syrians` monastery) and Deir El-Baramus (the Romans`
monastery). The remains of the monasteries, of the hermitages
and of the caves that used to be the hermits living places
litter the Wadi Natrun's landscape. Wadi Natrun is the place
where 20 monastic settlements were found; the settlements are
from the earliest period and the most of them are buildings
covered with mud and having vaults and domes. Among these
settlements are the ruins of the Dir al-Arman (the monastery of
the Armenians), the monastery of the Nubians, the monastery of
the Abyssinians, the Saint John the Little` s monastery and a
church dedicated to him (anba Yuhannas) and the monastery of
Moses the Black, although this monastery could be the ancient
Monastery of the Romans. The role played by the monasteries of
Wadi el-Natrun in the Coptic Christian Church` s history was a
crucial one. The majority of the bishops and of the Coptic
patriarchs were chosen from the monks of these Coptic Christian
Churches, especially beginning with the 8th century. These
monasteries of Wadi el-Natrun are also a precious source of
indispensable information for the Coptic heritage study,
especially for the Coptic architecture, art and literature. So,
if you travel to the Wadi Natrun depression, don`t miss the
occasion to visit these remaining monasteries. |
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