COPTIC MONSTERS | Cairo - Alexandria 07 days
COPTIC MONSTERS | Cairo - Alexandria 07 days
Location
DAY 02: Visiting the Egyptian Museum, head to the Coptic district known as Old Cairo to visit the Coptic Museum and the most famous churches in all Egypt St.Sergio, St.Barbara and the Hanging Church (St.Marie), drive back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
"The Egyptian Museum, owes its existence to the Egyptian Antiquities Service, established by the Egyptian government in 1835 to limit the looting of Egypt's priceless artifacts. The museum opened in 1858 with a collection assembled by Auguste Mariette, the French archaeologist retained by Ismail Pasha. It was originally housed in an annex of the palace of Ismail Pasha in Giza, the museum moved to its present location in 1900."
"The Coptic Museum, is a museum in Coptic Cairo, Egypt with the largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts in the world. It was founded by Marcus Simaika Pasha in 1910 to house Coptic antiquities. The museum traces the history of Christianity in Egypt from its beginnings to the present day. It was erected on 8,000 square meters offered by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria under the guardianship of Pope Cyril V."
"Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, The church of St. Sergio (also known as St. Sergius or Abu Serga) was built in the centre of the Ancient Roman fort of Babylon. The church is considered as one of the sites visited by the Holy Family during their escape from King Herod to the land of Egypt."
"Saint Barbara, Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr. Her historicity is open to doubt, but legendary accounts place her in the 3rd century. There is no reference to her in the authentic early Christian writings, nor in the original recension of Saint Jerome's martyrology. Her name can be traced to the 7th century, and veneration of her was common, especially in the East, from the 9th century. Because of doubts about the historicity of her legend, she was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Roman rite in 1969 in Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis."
"The Hanging Church, is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church, The land surface has risen by some 6 metres since the Roman period so that the Roman tower is mostly buried below ground, reducing the visual impact of the church's elevated position. The entrance from the street is through iron gates under a pointed stone arch. The nineteenth century facade with twin bell towers is then seen beyond a narrow courtyard decorated with modern art biblical designs. Up the steps and through the entrance is a further small courtyard leading to the eleventh century outer porch."
DAY 03: Breakfast, then coach along the Gulf of Suez to visit St. Antonio Monastery via Za’afran. Lunch at the Monastery (lunch baskets).
St. Antonio, Visit the Monastery where the earliest community of Monks sought refuge at the beginning of the 4th century (205 A.C). The Monks have declared the manuscripts and the Holly Bibles as part of the treasury of this Monastery. This is in addition to the ancient paintings, the “Fresco” which stands to attest the glory of the ancient Coptic arts. Return back to Cairo for dinner and overnight.
Day 04: Breakfast then transfer to Wadi Natrun, (100 km from Cairo), where laying 50 Monasteries dating back to the 5th century, only 4 Monasteries still remain and visited on day to day basis. The Monastery of St.Makar, Suriani Monastery, Amba Bishoy, Amba Baramus, St. Krolous, continue to Alexandria, arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight.
"Anba Bishoy, The most eastern surviving Christian monastery in the Wadi el-Natrun of Egypt is Dier Al Anba Bishoy (Pshoi, Bishoi), which was founded by St. Bishoy (Pshoi). Though similar, the story of Saint Bishoy is sometimes told with varying details. However, in general, we believe that Saint Bishoy was born in the Egyptian Nile Delta in 320 AD. Apparently, his parents were deeply religious, and it is said that in a dream one night, an angel of the Lord asked for the services of one of his mother's children."
"Suriani Monastery, The Syrian Monastery, also known as Suryan Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in the Nitrian Desert. It is located about 500 meters northwest of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy. Ecclesiastically, the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and carries her name. However, it is better known as the Syrian Monastery because it was mainly used by Syrian monks.
DAY 05: Breakfast, transfer to El-Alamein where we can visit the famous cemeteries dating back to the 2nd world war, return back to Alexandria in the afternoon a city tour of Alexandria. Drive back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 06: After Breakfast, transfer to Cairo, lunch upon arrival at Giza plateau in the pyramid area, then visit the Pyramids, Sphinx and its temple. Proceed to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
"Pyramids of Giza, There are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt or for that matter elsewhere in the world, than the Great Pyramids at Giza. They are, without question, the icon most associated with the Egypt. They have been both the main destination for tourists and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over three thousand years."
DAY 07: After Breakfast, Transfer to Cairo airport for final departure.
