- Coptic monasticism
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Europe · South AmericaReligions Language Writing Systems Coptic Monasticism is claimed to be the original form of Monasticism as Saint Pachomius the Cenobite, a Copt from Upper Egypt, established the first communal living in the Monastery of Saint Anthony[1] in the Red sea area. St. Anthony's Monastery (also known as the Monastery of Abba Antonious) is now the oldest monastery in the world.
Contents
Origins
Institutional Christian monasticism seems to have begun in the deserts in AD 4th century Egypt as a kind of living martyrdom. Scholars such as Lester K. Little attribute the rise of monasticism at this time to the immense changes in the church that had been brought about by Constantine's acceptance of Christianity as the main Roman religion. This ended the position of Christians as a small group that believed itself to be the godly elite. In response a new more advanced form of dedication was developed to preserve a nucleus of the dedicated. The end of persecution also meant that martyrdom was no longer an option to prove one's piety. Instead the long-term "martyrdom" of the ascetic became common.
Many Egyptian Christians went to the desert during the 3rd century, and remained there to pray and work and dedicate their lives to seclusion and worship of God. This was the beginning of the monastic movement, which was organized by Anthony the Great, Saint Paul, the world's first anchorite, Saint Macarius the Great and Saint Pachomius the Cenobite in the 4th century.
Pachomius spent most of his time at his Pabau monastery. From his initial monastery, demand quickly grew and, by the time of his death in 345, one count estimates there were 3000 monasteries dotting Egypt from north to south. Within a generation after his death, this number grew to 7000 and then moved out of Egypt into Palestine and the Judea Desert, Syria, North Africa and eventually Western Europe.[2]
Monasticism
Coptic monks between 1898 and 1914
Christian Monasticism was born in Egypt and was instrumental in the formation of the Coptic Orthodox Church character of submission, simplicity and humility, thanks to the teachings and writings of the Great Fathers of Egypt's Deserts. By the end of the fifth century, there were hundreds of monasteries, and thousands of cells and caves scattered throughout the Egyptian desert. A great number of these monasteries are still flourishing and have new vocations to this day.
All Christian monasticism stems, either directly or indirectly, from the Egyptian example: Saint Basil the Great Archbishop of Ceasaria of Cappadocia, founder and organizer of the monastic movement in Asia Minor, visited Egypt around 357 A.D. and his rule is followed by the Eastern Orthodox Churches; Saint Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin, came to Egypt, while en route to Jerusalem, around 400 A.D. and left details of his experiences in his letters; Benedict founded the Benedictine Order in the sixth century on the model of Saint Pachomius, but in a stricter form. Countless pilgrims have visited the "Desert Fathers" to emulate their spiritual, disciplined lives.
The Coptic monasticism took three forms:[3]
- Monarchism
- The Coenobitic System
- The Communal System or Semi-eremitic Life
Modern Coptic Monasticism
The Coptic Orthodox Church has many Monasteries and convents that host many Monks and Nuns. All of the Coptic Bishops are chosen from monks, although this was not necessary traditionally.
Coptic Monasticism saw a revival that started in the 1960s during the papacy of Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria,[4] and currently there are Coptic Monasteries and Convents in Egypt, the US and Europe that have been recognised by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.[5]
There are currently 33 monasteries in Egypt and in the lands of the immigration with a total of more than 1,000 monks, and six convents with about 300 nuns.[6] The largest monasteries, and most famous, are at Wadi Natrun,[7] about 60 miles northwest of Cairo. They are the only four of the ancient fortified self-sufficient monasteries which have survived out of many that were in the Wadi Natroun valley.
List of Coptic Monasteries
Upper Egypt
- Monastery of Saint Fana
- Monastery of the Martyrs
- Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter
- Red Monastery
- White Monastery
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, near Sohag
- Monastery of St. Michael at as-Salamuni
- Monastery of St. Thomas at Sawamiah Sharq
- Monastery of St. Pachomius the Martyr
- Monastery of St. Georges (Dair al-Hadid)
- Monastery of St. Bisada
- Monastery of the Seven Mountains at Bir al-'Ain
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, near Minya
- Monastery of al-Sanquriya, near Oxyrhynchus
- Monastery of Saint Apollo at Bawit, near Asyut (uninhabited)
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, near Asyut (Deir Dronka)
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary (Muharraq)
- The Hanging Monastery, near Asyut (Deir El-Mualaq)
- Monastery at Qubbat al-Hawa, near Aswan
- Monastery of St. Simeon, near Aswan (uninhabited)
- Monastery of Archangel Gabriel, near Fayoum
- Monastery of Saint Samuel, near Fayoum
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary (Deir al-Hammam), near Fayoum
- Monastery of Saint Georges, near Fayoum
- Monastery of Prophet Jeremiah, near Saqqara (uninhabited)
- Monastery of Abu Hinnis (St. John) South of Antinoe (uninhabited)
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, near Minya (uninhabited)
- Naga ed-Deir (ancient monastery excavation site near just north of Girga)
- Monastery of St. Pachomius, at Edfu
- Monastery of St. Georges of Rozaikat, near Luxor
- Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Deir El Barsha at Deir el-Bersha, near Mallawi
- Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Armant, east of Armant
Red Sea
Cairo
- Convent of St. Merkorius (Abu-Sefein)
- Convent of St. Mary (Old Cairo)
- Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner
- Convent of St. Theodorus (El-Amir Tadrus, Haret el-Room)
- Convent of St. Mary (Haret Zuela)
- Convent of St. George (Haret Zuela)
- Monastery of St. Barsoum El-Erian
- Monastery of Saint Mina (Old Cairo)
Scetes (Natron Valley)
- Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
- Monastery of Saint Pishoy
- Paromeos Monastery
- Syrian Monastery
- Monastery of Saint John the Dwarf (uninhabited)
- Armenian Monastery (uninhabited)
- Monastery of Saint Moses the Black (uninhabited)
Lower Egypt
- Monastery of Saint Mina
- Convent of St. Damiana
- Enaton Monastery between Alexandria and Mersa Matruh (uninhabited)
Diaspora
- Monastery of Saint Anthony, Kröffelbach, Germany
- Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary and Saint Moses the Black, Sandia, Texas
Image gallery
- Coptic Monasteries
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Coptic Monastery in Scetes, Egypt
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Monastery of Saint Pishoy, Scetes, Egypt
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Monastery of Saint Pishoy, Scetes, Egypt
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Monastery of Saint Pishoy, Scetes, Egypt
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Syrian Monastery, Scetes, Egypt
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Monastery of Saint Anthony, Kröffelbach, Germany
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Frescos at the Syrian Monastery, Scetes, Egypt
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Frescos at the Syrian Monastery, Scetes, Egypt
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Desert Fathers
- Monastery
- Monasticism
- Monk
- The Daughters of St. Mary
References
- ^ Monasticism in Egypt by H. H. Pope Shenouda
- ^ Kenneth W. Harl (2001), The World of Byzantium, ISBN 1565850904 (audio recording)
- ^ Coptic centre
- ^ Religion: The Desert Revival. Published 19-04-1976, TIME Magazine. Accessed 09-02-10.
- ^ St Takla.org Coptic Monasteries & Convents Links
- ^ CNEWA
- ^ Lexicorient
- Gruber, Mark. 2003. Sacrifice In the Desert: A Study of an Egyptian Minority Through the Lens of Coptic Monasticism. Lanham: University Press of America. ISBN 0-7618-2539-8
Upper Egypt: 
Middle Egypt: Monastery of Saint ParsomaLower Egypt: Eastern Desert: Scetes: Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great · Monastery of Saint Pishoy · Paromeos Monastery · Syrian MonasterySinai: Category – Christianity in Egypt – Monasteries by country Categories:- Coptic Orthodox Church
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