Egypt pilgrimage tour: monasteries of Egypt

Pilgrimage tour to different monasteries in Egypt includes visiting of the Christian shrines of Cairo, Wady el-Natron and Eastern Desert monasteries, the christian shrines of Alexandria, plus a day tour to the ancient White and Red monasteries in Sohag.

Arrival in Cairo

Arrival at Cairo airport. Meeting with our representative and transfer to the 4* hotel. Free time at the hotel on a half board basis.

Pilgrimage tour to Wady el-Natron monasteries

Departure from Cairo after breakfast towards Wadi el-Natron. Wadi el-Natrun is a remote part of the ancient hermitage desert. It was from its name that the monastic desert monasteries, in which the monks lived in strict solitude and silence, began to be called hermitages. Here we will visit 3-4 monasteries of the Coptic Orthodox Church: the monastery of St. Macarius, St. Bishoy, the monastery of Al-Sirian and Al-Baramus.

The Monastery of Paisius the Great, IV century. Here the Monk Paisius the Great began his exploit, here are the relics of the saint can be found. The Al-Sirian monastery contains particles of the relics of 8 saints and unique frescoes of the 7th and 13th centuries. In the monastery of Macarius the Great, you can touch the relics of both Macarius the Great himself and Macarius of Alexandria, John Kolov.

At the end of our pilgrimage to the holy places of Wadi al-Natron we will return to Cairo for dinner at the hotel and rest.

Tour to the Monastery of St. Anthony and Paul

Pilgrimage to the Eastern Desert, which is located 220 km from Cairo, includes visiting to the very first monasteries founded in the world: the monastery of St. Anthony and St. Paul.

The Christian Monastery of Saint Anthony, Deir Mar Antonios, is the first known monastery to be founded in the world. The monastery was built on the shores of the Red Sea, east of the Fayoum oasis. Founded in 356 AD immediately after the death of the saint, the monastery began to bear his name. Two km far from the monastery there is a cave in which the saint lived as a hermit. It is believed that the saint himself was buried within the walls of the monastery. But where exactly is still unknown.

Our next stop is at the Monastery of St. Paul. The Coptic Monastery of St. Paul on the shores of the Red Sea dates back to the fourth century AD, it grew up around the cave in which Paul, the first Christian hermit, lived in seclusion. The cave, which became a shrine in late antiquity, turned into a church in the Middle Ages and expanded in the early modern period.

The monastery is located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, near the Red Sea Mountains, about 155 km southeast of Cairo. This monastery has received the nickname "Monastery of the Tigers" due to its isolated location in the wilderness. The territory of the monastery covers an area of ​​about five acres of land and has a rectangular shape 200 meters long and 100 meters wide.

After a trip to the holy monasteries, return to Cairo for rest, after dinner, free time.

Christian monuments of Alexandria

Let's visit Alexandria city where the Coptic Patriarchate is situated - the Cathedral of St. Mark the evangelist. A tour of Alexandria includes visit to the fortress of Qait Bay, a short stop for photos near the Alexandria Library, the Coptic Monastery, where the head of the Coptic Church lives; visit to the old Greek Metropolis, which contains a marble slab with blood traces of St. Catherine. Also, our tour includes a visit to the Greek Church of Sava the Sanctified (here we find the column on which the head of the Great Martyr Catherine was truncated).

Optional lunch in the city can be arranged, back to to Cairo for dinner, rest at the hotel.

Christian Cairo walking tour

This day will be devoted to the Old Cairo trip, where the main Christian attractions, old churches and shrines are located. In one of those places, according to the legend, the Holy Family was hiding. Our tour of Christian Cairo will begin with a visit to the Coptic Cathedral in Abbasia (the relics of the Apostle Mark and St. Athanasius the Great are kept here). Next, we will visit a small church in Zeytun (here in 1968 the Virgin appeared to parishioners).

After we will move to the Coptic quarter to visit the following:
the hanging church of al-Mu'alak, which contains particles of the relics of many saints,
Church of Sergius and Bacchus, where particles of the relics of the saints are also kept,
Church of the Great Martyr Barbara (particles of relics),
Greek Church of St. George (dungeon and chains of the Great Martyr),
Greek Assumption Church (Holy Family stopped there)

Tour to Sohag: Red and White monasteries

Pilgrimage tour to Sohag with a visit to one of the oldest monasteries in the world: Red and White Coptic monasteries.

Optional excursion to the pyramids

On this day, before leaving for the airport, you can visit the pyramids in Giza or stay at the hotel until departure. Transfer to the airport as scheduled.