Wadi Natrun Monasteries — Desert Fathers
Wadi El Natrun · Scetis
Coptic Late Antique to Present (330–860 CE foundation, continuous)·Coptic Orthodox (Desert Fathers) / Egyptian·🇪🇬 Beheira Governorate, Egypt
About
About Wadi Natrun Monasteries — Desert Fathers
Wadi Natrun (Scetis) is the 60 km depression -23 m below sea in Western Desert containing 4 surviving Coptic monasteries of 60 (4th c Desert Fathers): Saint Macarius (Deir Anba Maqar, 360 CE), Paromeos, St. Pishoy (living 100 monks, Weeping Madonna icon), and Syrian (Deir al-Surian, 7th c). 10 km lake with natron salt harvested since Pharaonic mummification. Libraries with 1,000+ Coptic manuscripts. Wall of Asketic. UNESCO tentative 1994 Wadi Natrun.
Why it mattersOrigin of Christian monasticism (Desert Fathers) and Pharaonic natron source.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How many of 60 monasteries remain undiscovered under sand
Theories
- 01Natrun as conscious imitation of Pharaonic natron sacredness
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 360 CE St Macarius; Paromeos 335; Pishoy 9th c
- Period
- Coptic Late Antique to Present (330–860 CE foundation, continuous)
- Culture
- Coptic Orthodox (Desert Fathers) / Egyptian
- Builders
- St Macarius the Great & Desert Fathers
- Purpose
- Monastic desert retreat and natron harvesting for mummies then asceticism
- Rediscovered
- 19th c European manuscript hunters
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
330
St Macarius hermit cells
360
First monastery founded
817
Syrian monastery built by Syrian merchants
On the ground
Structures & features
30.2924° N · 30.4735° E · -23 m · 3 mapped features
Deir Anba Maqar — St Macarius Monastery (360)
monastery200×150 m walled monastery with 4th c keep 20 m and cave of Macarius
30.2930° N · 30.4740° EDeir Anba Bishoy — St Pishoy & Weeping Icon
monastery200×150 m with church 15×10 m and icon of Saint weeping, 100 monks living
30.2910° N · 30.4720° EWadi Natron Lakes — Pharaonic Salt Pans
hydraulic4 lakes 5×1 km each with natron crust 30 cm harvested since 2000 BCE
30.2950° N · 30.4750° E