Al Muharraq monastery Asyut

Al Muharraq monastery Asyut Al Muharraq monastery Asyut The Monastery of Virgin Mary in Koskam or Deir el-Muharraq, also known as the Muharraq Monastery, Virgin Mary monastery and Mount Koskam Monastery, is a monastic complex of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt. Al-Muharraq monastery - Asyut The Virgin Monastery, known as the Muharraq Monastery, is located at the foot of the western mountain, which the people of Upper Egypt call Mount Qusqam. The desert, hills, and sandbanks extend west of the monastery over vast distances along the desert. As for the north and east of the monastery, you can see the beautiful green fields that delights the soul. This monastery of Mount Qasqam is considered one of the largest monasteries in the desert of Egypt, where the area of ​​​​the land of this monastery is more than 20 acres. Al-Maqrizi mentioned in the 15th century AD that Jesus lived in this monastery for six months. Ancient Muharraq Monastery Fort The history of the fort began in 6th / 7th century. However some archaeologists dated back to the 8th century. It is one of the smallest keeps existing now in the inhabited monasteries. Generally speaking, keeps were built to protect the monks against barbarian fierce raids. Ancient Muharraq Monastery Fort The fort Chapel: It has one altar and its nave is divided into two small divisions by two pillars and a wooden partition in between. It seems that the two pillars are probably from ancient ages, were taken from a nearby pagan temples, which existed during the earliest ages of Christianity, as indicated from the broken capital of one of them. Standing to the front of the nave, is a wooden lectern from which the “lectionary book” – the book of ritual readings – is read. It is believed to date back to the 12th century when the keep was renovated. The door of the church, as well as the other doors, is of the same design as those of The Holy Virgin Mary ancient church. The Altar Is the most important content in the sanctuary; is cubic in shape and not equilateral. On its surface there is a marble with a semicircular edge where Greek inscription engraved. It reads “O, Lord repose the blessed Kulthos” dated Kyahk 15th, 463 A.M. (December 11th, 746 A.D. according to contemporary calendar of that period). Coptic Church tradition, ‘the altar’ of The Holy Virgin Mary Church is located “in the midst of the land of Egypt”; this was to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet, saying: “In that day there will be an alter to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.” (Isaiah 19:19). Entries to the sanctuary are all low-rise, which makes the believer passing through it, his head bowed in humility and respect for the house of the Lord. Oil Lamps and Ostrich Eggs: While the church is considered a symbol of Heaven, the oil lamps and candles stand as a symbol for stars; for if the material sky is decorated with lights-stars, rather than should the spiritual Heaven also be decorated. Oil Lambs are placed in front of icons during the liturgy service, and lit with pure olive oil, standing for Jesus Christ who gleams through His saints; now a day, the only remaining oil lamb in the church, is that of the east wall within the sanctuary; and is always lit, so that no strange fire should be used in the church; as a symbol of what was said by the Lord to Moses, that the oil lambs be lighted constantly, (Exodus 27: 20 - 21). The east lamp also symbolizes the star which appeared to the wise men from the East in the Levant. Al Muharraq monastery Asyut