Deir el-Muharraq 2.74

Deir el-Muharraq, is also known as the Muharraq Monastery, Burned Monastery, Virgin Mary monastery and Mount Koskam Monastery, is a monastic complex of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt. It is one of the oldest still operational monasteries in the world.GeographyThe Deir el-Muharraq complex is located on the Nile just south of Cusae, in Asyut Governorate in Upper Egypt. It is south of Greater Cairo. The monastery is unusual because it is one of the few Coptic ones in Egypt not located in the Sahara.FeaturesThe monastery is within the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria diocese, with about 100 monks of Koinonia or community monasticism in residence.The stone fortress on Mount Koskam at Muharraq Monastery was built in the 6th or 7th century. The fortress chapel has a 12th-century lectern, dating to when the fortress was first repaired.The monastery's library has two entities, an ancient Coptic manuscripts library and archives, and a contemporary research and reading library.ChurchesThe monastery complex has three churches: 12th century Virgin Mary's Ancient Church, 19th century Nepclassical style St. George Church, Mid-20th century Holy Virgin Mary's Recent Church . The Church of al-Adhra at the monastery was built over an ancient cave. It is claimed that Mary and Jesus spent six months and ten days here on their flight into Egypt from King Herod. The altar stone is dated 747 CE.