Wadi an-Natrun (Arabic: وادي النطرون, Literally meaning: "Valley of Natron"; copt .: Ϣ ⲓ ϩ ⲏⲧ, Shee-Hyt; Greek: Sketis or Sketes) - a land located between Alexandria and Cairo in the governorate province of Al-Buhajra in northern Egypt, as well as the city that is part of it.
The Arabic word wadi essentially means valley. The likely reason for giving such a name was the fact that this flat land is surrounded by 10 lakes. These reservoirs are fed with water from rainfall during desert storms. In turn, natrun is the Arabic term for natural soda. The area, especially two of the aforementioned lakes, Bouhaïret el-Gounfadiya and Bouhaïret el-Hamra, is rich in huge deposits of sodium carbonates and salt, which were used by the ancient Egyptians centuries ago to mummify the bodies of the dead.
In Christian literature, this land is called the Nitrian desert. It is here in the monastery of St. Maria Deipara - one of the local monasteries found in 1842 the palimpsest, the so-called Of the Nitrian Code, including the Gospel of St. Luke. The Greek name Sketis or Sketes survives in the form of a skit as a term for an isolated building, a hermitage.
Christian monuments in Wadi an-Natrun
Of the approximately fifty Old Christian Coptic monasteries in the area in the past, only four have survived to this day.
St. Makarios in Wadi an-Natrun
St. Pschoï in Wadi an-Natrun
Frescoes in Wadi an-Natrun
- Saint Macarius Monastery (Deir Abu Makaria) - founded in the 4th century. The largest and most important Coptic monastery in Wadi an-Natrun. It is 94 km from Cairo. It has the appearance of a fortress that has been rebuilt over the centuries. St. Makary, after years spent in the monastery of St. Anthony in the Arabian Desert, he settled here in order to live a contemplative life. After his death in 390, his disciples continued his hermit life. The monastery was plundered in the fifth century, but recovered in the sixth century. It was a refuge for the then Patriarch of Alexandria seeking protection from the Melchites. In 866, defensive walls were built that allowed the monastery to survive to the present day. The three-story tower gave the monks shelter during attacks. The relics of St. Makary.
- St. Makarygo - is the most important and oldest church in the monastery. A well-preserved fresco from the 7th century inside shows a tetramorph (symbolic representation of the four evangelists). The square dome of the chapel is crowned with an arch from the 10th or 11th century. The church underwent a comprehensive renovation in the middle of the 20th century.
- The Forty Nine Martyrs Church recalls the massacre of monks of the monastery carried out by looters in 444. Since the Council of Chalcedon, the holy myron oil has been prepared in the chapel of "Myron" for use by the entire Coptic Church. An Arabic-style dome rises above the altar. The building was renovated several dozen years ago.
- Monastery of the Romans (Deir el-Baramos). The church of St. Theodora (Anba tardus) is no longer used. Additional chapels were added in the 19th century. The three-story tower dates back to the 7th century. The second church of the complex - pw. st. Michael - it is decorated with frescoes dating back to the 12th century.
- The Syrian Monastery (Deir es-Souriyan) - founded in the 6th century - was occupied by Syrian monks until the 16th century. The main church of the monastery is the church of St. Virgin. Its interior is covered with frescoes depicting the Ascension. Also from the 10th century is an ivory-decorated iconostasis depicting religious scenes, portraits and geometric patterns. The dome of the chancel is also covered with frescoes. Thousands of ancient manuscripts are kept in the monastic library.
- Monastery of Saint Bishvi, also known with the monastery of Saint Paisius (Deir Amba Bichoi), 10 km from the monastery of Saint. Makary - founded by St. Pschoï, a student of St. Makary. It consists of 5 churches. The main one is - probably from the 9th century - the church of St. Pshoï. Used only in summer, while the church of St. The Virgin, near the church of Iskhurum, is used during the winter. In the church of Archangel Michael there are icons from the 18th century.
The Arabic word wadi essentially means valley. The likely reason for giving such a name was the fact that this flat land is surrounded by 10 lakes. These reservoirs are fed with water from rainfall during desert storms. In turn, natrun is the Arabic term for natural soda. The area, especially two of the aforementioned lakes, Bouhaïret el-Gounfadiya and Bouhaïret el-Hamra, is rich in huge deposits of sodium carbonates and salt, which were used by the ancient Egyptians centuries ago to mummify the bodies of the dead.
In Christian literature, this land is called the Nitrian desert. It is here in the monastery of St. Maria Deipara - one of the local monasteries found in 1842 the palimpsest, the so-called Of the Nitrian Code, including the Gospel of St. Luke. The Greek name Sketis or Sketes survives in the form of a skit as a term for an isolated building, a hermitage.
Christian monuments in Wadi an-Natrun
Of the approximately fifty Old Christian Coptic monasteries in the area in the past, only four have survived to this day.
St. Makarios in Wadi an-Natrun
St. Pschoï in Wadi an-Natrun
Frescoes in Wadi an-Natrun
- Saint Macarius Monastery (Deir Abu Makaria) - founded in the 4th century. The largest and most important Coptic monastery in Wadi an-Natrun. It is 94 km from Cairo. It has the appearance of a fortress that has been rebuilt over the centuries. St. Makary, after years spent in the monastery of St. Anthony in the Arabian Desert, he settled here in order to live a contemplative life. After his death in 390, his disciples continued his hermit life. The monastery was plundered in the fifth century, but recovered in the sixth century. It was a refuge for the then Patriarch of Alexandria seeking protection from the Melchites. In 866, defensive walls were built that allowed the monastery to survive to the present day. The three-story tower gave the monks shelter during attacks. The relics of St. Makary.
- St. Makarygo - is the most important and oldest church in the monastery. A well-preserved fresco from the 7th century inside shows a tetramorph (symbolic representation of the four evangelists). The square dome of the chapel is crowned with an arch from the 10th or 11th century. The church underwent a comprehensive renovation in the middle of the 20th century.
- The Forty Nine Martyrs Church recalls the massacre of monks of the monastery carried out by looters in 444. Since the Council of Chalcedon, the holy myron oil has been prepared in the chapel of "Myron" for use by the entire Coptic Church. An Arabic-style dome rises above the altar. The building was renovated several dozen years ago.
- Monastery of the Romans (Deir el-Baramos). The church of St. Theodora (Anba tardus) is no longer used. Additional chapels were added in the 19th century. The three-story tower dates back to the 7th century. The second church of the complex - pw. st. Michael - it is decorated with frescoes dating back to the 12th century.
- The Syrian Monastery (Deir es-Souriyan) - founded in the 6th century - was occupied by Syrian monks until the 16th century. The main church of the monastery is the church of St. Virgin. Its interior is covered with frescoes depicting the Ascension. Also from the 10th century is an ivory-decorated iconostasis depicting religious scenes, portraits and geometric patterns. The dome of the chancel is also covered with frescoes. Thousands of ancient manuscripts are kept in the monastic library.
- Monastery of Saint Bishvi, also known with the monastery of Saint Paisius (Deir Amba Bichoi), 10 km from the monastery of Saint. Makary - founded by St. Pschoï, a student of St. Makary. It consists of 5 churches. The main one is - probably from the 9th century - the church of St. Pshoï. Used only in summer, while the church of St. The Virgin, near the church of Iskhurum, is used during the winter. In the church of Archangel Michael there are icons from the 18th century.
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