Plan to put Wadi Al Natroun monasteries on tourist chart

Wadi Al Natroun at the governorate of Beheira represents an important archaeological site rich in Coptic monuments as Roman monasteries.

The governorate has lately made a deal with the Tourism Promotion Authority to place the area on the tourist chart, the governor of Beheira, Ahmed Ellithy has said.

Wadi Al Natroun embraces the monastery of Abu Maqar, one of the richest monasteries as in manuscripts and annexes.

It includes seven churches of which three are in the centre and four at the old fortress of the monastery.

Moreover, the monastery that occupies an area of two feddans has a guest house and a library.

There is also the monastery of Bishoy, which is one of the most beautiful monasteries as far as planning is concerned.

Its annexed church that dates back to the forth century AD is one of the largest in Wadi Al Natroun.

As for the monastery of Bramous it includes the church of John the Baptist, a large guest house, gardens, a library, a bakery and a cemetery for monks.

The library has a treasure of manuscripts in Arabic, Coptic, Hebrew and Ethiopian.

It includes the bodies of two early famous monks: Mussa Al Asswad and Isosros.

Among the existing monasteries is that of Virgin Mary, which is the smallest, yet the most famous among men of religion.

The monastery which was dwelt by a group of monks in 984 AD goes back to the fourth century AD.

The church of Virgin Mary was annexed to it in the 9th century.

The church displays a wonderful collection of gypsum paintings relating the life of Virgin Mary and a collection of wooden amulets with relief drawings, considered the oldest items in the church.