8- Wadi El Natron
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Wadi Al-Natron one of the holiest places in Christianity. There is a trace of the passage of La Sainte Famille.
A hundred monasteries were born there, attracting at the beginning of the Middle Ages, hundreds of thousands of people.
Several hermits have chosen to live in the desert in order to learn self-discipline and dedicate their lives to God,
Four monasteries exist today. they date back over 1,600 years.
These buildings look like small forts with large solid walls because the monks had to be protected from the attacks of the Berber and Bedouin tribes.
These monasteries housed many monks, including some very important Coptic saints.
This tour allows you to see the finest examples of Coptic art of the time.
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Itinerary:
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Departure in the morning by private air-conditioned car to visit:
Itinéraire :
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Départ le matin en voiture privée climatisée pour visiter:
Monastery of the Romans (Deir El Baramus)
It is one of the oldest sites in Wadi El Natron. It includes five churches.
Legend has it that two Roman priests fleeing persecution of Christians lived there and built this monastery.
These five churches are: the Church of El-Adra, the Church of Anba Tadrous, the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Chapel of Mari Gerges and the Church of the Angel Michael.
The monastery was founded around 335 AD. To this day, it retains its old character.
The church dedicated to the Virgin Mary dates from the 6th century, it is considered to be the oldest in Scété.
The monastery has been renovated and enlarged throughout its history, it has an astonishing infrastructure where some fifty monks live.
Syrian Monastery (Deir Al-Sorian)
Built in the 6th century, this monastery was named so because, in the 8th century, Syrian monks inhabited it.
You will admire magnificent murals in the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary as well as frescoes written in Coptic.
Monastery of St. Bishoi
(Deir Anba Bishoy in Egyptian)
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This monastery, built in the 4th century, is named after the patron saint Bishoi who lived alone in this place.
It includes five churches, the main one of which is that of Saint Bishoi where his body rests, which, according to legend, does not decompose. It also has two chapels.
Apart from these churches, there is also a keep and a castle dating from the 5th century and a water source called source of the martyrs because it is in this water that the Berbers had washed their bloody swords and threw the bodies of the 49 martyrs of Scete.
The Christians subsequently recovered the bodies and buried them in the monastery of Saint Macarius the Great.
Pop Shenouda III, pop of Alexandria and patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who died in 2012 is buried in this monastery.
Starting point :
Hotel in downtown Alexandria or Cairo.
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Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
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Earlier or later departures are available.
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Return to the hotel.
Cost:
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145 dollars per person.
Prices are indicative and for a minimum of 2 people.
(15% reduction from 3 to 5 people.)
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Visits include:
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Entrances to the sites, travel by private vehicle, the services of a private French-speaking guide.
* Tips for drivers and guides are not included.