The Monastery of Saint Pishoy (also spelled Bishoy, Pshoi, or Bishoi) in

Wadi El Natrun Wadi El Natrun (Arabic: "Valley of Natron"; Coptic: , "measure of the hearts") is a depression in northern Egypt that is located below sea level and below the Nile River level. The valley contains several alkaline lakes, natron-rich salt dep ...

Beheira Governorate Beheira Governorate ( ar, محافظة البحيرة ', , "the governorate of the Lake") is a coastal governorate in Egypt. Located in the northern part of the country in the Nile Delta, its capital is Damanhur. Overview Beheira Governorate ...

, Egypt, is the most famous

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

of the

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي� ...

named after

Pishoy Pishoy of Scetis ( Coptic: ''Abba Pišoi''; Greek: Ὅσιος Παΐσιος ὁ Μέγας; 320 – 417 AD), known in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria as the ''Star of the Desert'' and the ''Beloved of our Good Savior'', was a Cop ...

. It is the easternmost of the four current monasteries of Wadi el Natrun.

Foundation and ancient history

Pishoy founded this monastery in the fourth century. On December 13, 841 (4

Koiak Koiak (; cop, Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ, []), also known as Choiak ( grc-gre, Χοιάκ, ''Khoiák'') and Kiyahk. ( cop, Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ, ''Kiahk'', []; ar, كياك or ), is the fourth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between 1 ...

, 557 AM),

Pope Joseph I of Alexandria Saint Joseph I of Alexandria (Abba Yousab), 52nd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was the son of one of the rich nobles of Menouf, Egypt. After his parents died, some believers raised him. As an adult, he gave most ...

fulfilled Pishoy's wishes and moved his body as well as that of

Paul of Tammah Paul of Tammah ( Coptic: ) (died October 17, 415 AD) was an Egyptian saint who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD. He is venerated as a saint in the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Life Paul of Tammah lived as a hermit in the mountain of A ...

to this monastery, both of which were originally interred at the Monastery of Pishoy in

Deir el-Bersha Deir El Bersha ( ar, دير البرشا; also written as Dayr al-Barsha, Deir el-Bersheh) is a Coptic village in Middle Egypt, in the Minya Governorate. It is located on the east bank of the Nile to the south of Antinoöpolis and almost opposite ...

. Today, the two bodies lie in the main church of the monastery.

Modern history

Today, the Monastery of Saint Pishoy contains the relics of Pishoy, Paul of Tammah, and relics of other saints. Eyewitnesses recount that the body of Pishoy remains

incorrupt Incorruptibility is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox belief that divine intervention allows some human bodies (specifically saints and beati) to completely or partially avoid the normal process of decomposition after death as a sign of their ...

Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria Pope Shenouda III (; cop, Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲅ̅ '; ar, بابا الإسكندرية شنودة الثالث '; 3 August 1923 – 17 March 2012) was the List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria, 117th ...

is also interred there. The monastery has five churches, the main one being named after Pishoy. The other churches are named after

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

Abaskhiron the Soldier Abaskhiron the Soldier or Eskhayron the Soldier is a Coptic martyr and saint. The name "Abaskhyron" is derived from two words, The honorific title "Abba" which means ''father'', is given to him out of respect (despite his young age in martyrdom). ...

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

, and the

archangel Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

. The monastery is surrounded by a keep, which was built in the fifth century to protect the monastery against the attacks by

Berbers , image = File:Berber_flag.svg , caption = The Berber ethnic flag , population = 36 million , region1 = Morocco , pop1 = 14 million to 18 million , region2 = Algeria , pop2 ...

. An initial castle was built early in the twentieth century, but was later replaced by a four-storied castle built by Pope Shenouda III. In addition, the monastery contains a well known as ''the Well of the Martyrs''. Coptic tradition says the Berbers washed their swords in this well after having killed the Forty-Nine Martyrs of Scetis and subsequently threw their bodies in the well before

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

retrieved the bodies and buried them in the nearby

Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great The Monastery of Saint Macarius The Great also known as Dayr Aba Maqār ( ar, دير الأنبا مقار) is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun, Beheira Governorate, about north-west of Cairo, and off the highway between ...

. Under Shenouda III,

Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ, translit=Papa; ar, البابا, translit=al-Bābā), also known as the Bishop of Alexandria, is the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, with ancient Christian roots in Egypt. The ...

from 1971 to 2012, new land around the monastery was purchased and developed. Poultry, cattle breeding and dairy facilities were developed. Ancient buildings and churches were restored, and cells for monks, retreat houses, a papal residence, annexes for a reception area, an auditorium, conference rooms, fences and gates were built. Shenouda III was buried here after his death in March 2012.

Popes from the Monastery of St. Pishoy

# Pope Gabriel VIII (1525–1570) # Pope Macarius III (1942–1945) #

Pope Tawadros II Pope Tawadros II or Theodore II ( cop, Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲙⲁϩ ⲃ̅', translit=Papa Abba Theódōros II ; ar, البابا تواضروس الثاني, translit=al-Bābā Tawāḍurūs al-Th ānī, ...

(2012–present)

Abbot

Aghapius, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy.

Other monasteries named after Saint Pishoy

* The Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Deir El Barsha, near

Mallawi Mallawi ( ar, ملوي ; Saidi pronunciation: , ) is a city in Egypt, located in the governorate of Minya. Overview Situated in a farm area, the town produces textiles and handicrafts. The total area of the city is about . The souther ...

* The

Monastery of Saint Pishoy at Armant A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

, east of

Armant Armant ( ar, أرْمَنْت; egy, jwn.w-n-mnṯ.w or ''jwn.w-šmꜥ.w''; Bohairic: ; Sahidic: ), also known as Hermonthis ( grc, Ἕρμωνθις), is a town located about south of Thebes. It was an important Middle Kingdom town, which was ...

Other monasteries of Wadi el Natrun ("Scete")

* Syrian Monastery, Egypt *

Paromeos Monastery The Paromeos Monastery ( cop, ⲡⲁⲣⲟⲙⲉⲟⲥ), also known as Baramos Monastery ( ar, البراموس), is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun in the Nitrian Desert, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. It is the most northern ...

Gallery

References

External links

Official Website of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy (in Arabic)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pishoy, Monastery in Scetes Christian monasteries in Egypt Coptic Orthodox monasteries in Egypt Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 4th century Christian monasteries established in the 4th century Buildings and structures in Beheira Governorate