Our weekend: the pyramids and Wadi Natrun followed by a BBQ

On Friday we went back to see the pyramids of Giza, this time on a guided tour. Apart from the amazing seventh wonder of the world, we visited the Solar boat museum behind the great Cheops pyramid, which contains a boat found on the site; the boat was likely used in the funeral procession to transport the body of the king by river to his pyramid, although like around everything related to the pyramids, there are disputing theories.

Yesterday we visited two of the Coptic monasteries of Wadi Natrun (about an hour and a half drive northwest of Cairo). Although it has not been determined that anchoritic monasticism originated in Egypt, it is generally agreed upon that coenobitic monasticism did. Christian monasticism began in Egypt, and the most important centers of Egyptian monasticism have been the monasteries of Wadi Natrun, probably founded somewhere in the fourth century.

First we visited the Syrian Monastery and its church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which due to recent restoration work, has been discovered preserves some of the earliest and most splendid examples of Egyptian painting. The fourteenth century painting scheme has always been known, but the earlier layers of painting dating to the seventh century were only discovered during the restoration work. In addition the amazing artwork, we were also able to enter the actual cell of St. Bishoi, still containing the famous hook in the ceiling to which he would tie his beard during week-long prayers, so that when he nodded off from exhaustion, his head would be jerked right back up.

We also went into the St. Bishoi monastery, which was founded in the late fourth century by St. Bishoi, a pious anchorite famed for his visions of Christ. The boys specifically enjoyed the story surrounding the keep (qasr) constructed for defense. The keep, which possesses store-rooms, cells for the monks, and chapels for prayer, can only be entered by means of an old wooden draw-bridge giving access to a door high above the ground. When Bedouins, robbers or such would assault the monastery, the monks would withdraw to the keep, remove the drawbridge and wait out the attack.

Upon our return from Wadi Natrun, we attended a BBQ arranged by our friends and downstairs neighbors: great steak, tasty sides, a glass of wine and lovely music - what better way is there to finish off a busy weekend in Egypt?