Deir el-Muharraq-Asyut

Deir el-Muharraq (Arabic: الدير المحرق), also known as Muharraq Monastery, Virgin Mary Monastery and Qosquam Mountain Monastery, is a monastic complex of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. It is one of the oldest functioning monasteries in the world. The Arabic name for the monastery, "Al Muharraq" indicates fire damage or burn, as the monastery has faced several attacks by incendiary invaders, Berbers or other anti-Christian groups in the past.
The monastery complex is located in the Nile Valley just southwest of Cusae or El Qusiya, in Assiut Governorate. It is located more than 300 km south of the metropolitan Cairo. The location is somewhat unusual, most of Egypt's other Coptic monasteries are in the Sahara. The terrain is roughly trapezoidal and measures 275 by 155 meters, so that the size is over 4 hectares.

The monastery falls under the diocese of Alexandria, and has about 100 monks (Koinonia) as residents.
The monastery's stone fortress on Mount Qosquam was built in the 6th or 7th century. The chapel has a lectern from the 12th century, from when the fort was first renovated.
The monastery's library has two sections: one with ancient Coptic manuscripts and archives, and a contemporary reading and research section.

The monastery complex has three churches:

a 12th-century Virgin Mary or al-Adhra church (with three domes added in the 16th century). It is a simple brick building, without decorations.
a 19th-century neoclassical Holy Virgin Mary church (1878-1880); built on the ruins of the 18th century St. Georgius Church.
the new Virgin Mary Church (1940-1964)

The Johannes de Doperkerk, in use from the 17th-19th century, is no longer present; and the St. Takla Church, built in the 19th century and demolished around 1930 due to a weak construction.
The 12th century al-Adhra church was built above a cave. Many Copts believe that Mary and Jesus spent 6 months and 10 days there on their flight to Egypt for King Herod the Great. A marble altar stone with the typical Coptic semicircular shape, has an engraved text with the year 747 AD. Copts believe that the altar refers to a text in Isaiah 19:19: "There shall be an altar to the Lord in the midst of Egypt."
Many Copts consider this church a venerable place, it is said to be one of the first Christian churches in Egypt. A Marian apparition is said to have taken place at the beginning of the 20th century.

On the monastery grounds is a keep with basic facilities such as sleeping quarters, a chapel, a food supply and water supply, in order to be able to sit out a possible siege. It is not known whether it has ever been used. The complex also has a theological seminary and a singing school.