The White Monastery is a monastery of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The monastery is located on the borders of the Libyan desert, on the left bank of the Nile, 6 km from Sohag, Egypt. Dedicated to Saint Shenot, who was the abbot of the second or third monastery at the end of the fourth century - the middle of the fifth century. The library of this monastery is famous for studying manuscripts that made it possible to open Coptic literature to European science. The name of the monastery, which it acquired in the Arab period, was associated with the color of its walls, unlike the nearby Red Monastery.
Today, the monastery is a popular site of pilgrimage, especially on Ibifi 7 (July 14), Saint Chenot's Day.
Until the 10th century, the White Monastery was mentioned several times in various sources, including the Coptic Synaxar. After that, until the thirteenth century, the main source was the reproduction of manuscripts created in the monastery's library. Although the manuscripts were divided into papers and scattered throughout the world, it became possible to date the copies. The consecrated to Patriarch Cyril II says that the monastery preserved artifacts of the apostles Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite. In the History of Churches and Monasteries by Abu Saleh the Armenian (early thirteenth century), great attention is paid to the White Monastery. From the period of the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, frescoes have survived, on which the names of the patriarchs and Archimandrists appear in the monastery. In the fifteenth century, the Arab geographer al-Maqrizi wrote that the monastery was completely destroyed, with the exception of the church. Perhaps in the sixteenth century, an Ethiopian community lived on the ruins of the White Monastery.
In 1672-1673, the German traveler Johan Vansleben was the first European to visit the White Monastery. In the 18th century, the White Abbey was visited by many European travelers, starting with the Jesuit Claude Sicard in 1722-1723. The presence of an extensive library there was first observed in 1743 by Englishman Charles Perry
Today, the monastery is a popular site of pilgrimage, especially on Ibifi 7 (July 14), Saint Chenot's Day.
History
The name of the area in which the monastery is located, Atrib, has been known since pre-Christian times, and is found in Demotic - the ancient Coptic signs of mummies. According to legend, the White Monastery was founded by Saint Berzoul, who was succeeded by his famous nephew Abba Shenot (died 465) in about 385. His immediate successor and biographer was Pisa, who knows almost nothing about his life. In addition, only a few abbots are known in the period leading up to the Arab conquest of Egypt, including Peter in 567 and will be carried by Corsius ibn Joseph. In the seventh century, the monastery was mentioned as bearing the name of Saint Chenot, along with other monasteries in Panopolis and Aphroditopolis. In Patriarch Alexander II's message on Easter, Father Gennady is mentioned.
Until the 10th century, the White Monastery was mentioned several times in various sources, including the Coptic Synaxar. After that, until the thirteenth century, the main source was the reproduction of manuscripts created in the monastery's library. Although the manuscripts were divided into papers and scattered throughout the world, it became possible to date the copies. The consecrated to Patriarch Cyril II says that the monastery preserved artifacts of the apostles Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite. In the History of Churches and Monasteries by Abu Saleh the Armenian (early thirteenth century), great attention is paid to the White Monastery. From the period of the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, frescoes have survived, on which the names of the patriarchs and Archimandrists appear in the monastery. In the fifteenth century, the Arab geographer al-Maqrizi wrote that the monastery was completely destroyed, with the exception of the church. Perhaps in the sixteenth century, an Ethiopian community lived on the ruins of the White Monastery.
In 1672-1673, the German traveler Johan Vansleben was the first European to visit the White Monastery. In the 18th century, the White Abbey was visited by many European travelers, starting with the Jesuit Claude Sicard in 1722-1723. The presence of an extensive library there was first observed in 1743 by Englishman Charles Perry
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