0 The monastery of el- baramus

The name and origin of the monastery:

The monastery name el-baramus. Is an arabzied form of the Coptic paromeos which can mean “the one of the Romans “

There is however a Coptic legend relates that maximums and domitius the sons of the roman emperor of the west valentinian I (died 379 ad) left the palace to become monks. After various wandering they were carried by an angel to the wadi el –natrun in the -days st.macarius the Egyptian and lived there in a monastic cell at or near the site of the present monastery.

According to The legend after the death of these two young roman princes a church was erected over their tombs in their memory.

Although valentinian had no known sons and he certainly had no legitimate sons maximums and domitius may have been historical persons but of a somewhat later period.

However According to the author of the Coptic life of st. macarius (probably of the eighth century) that the monastery of el baramus evolved from the earliest monastic settlement in scetis. If so the earliest settlement in wadi al-natrun was formed at , or near the site of the present monastery between (330 and 340 ad) by admirers gathering around macarius the Egyptian although his name has remained associated with other monastery dair anba maqar.

The site of the monastery:

The monastery of el- baramus is situated on the northwest edge of the wadi al-natrun (ancient scetis) .the level of the floor of the monastery rises 85m. Above sea level.

The entrance gate:

Like the other egyptian monasteries the monastery of baramus enclosed by a high wall stretching  out in a east-west direction the man entrance lies on the north side although the monastery today s normally entered through a small side door on the west side .

Within the gate there is lofty barrel-vaulted passage .above this passage is the gate house.  

The principal church “the holy virgin Mary”:

 Holy Virgin Mary al-adhra church the main church of the astery goes back in its origins probably to the seventh century and is the oldest remaining church in wadi el-natrun.

In its constructional design the church is a basilica. It contains tripartite sanctuary (three haikals) a nave and aisles on the north, south and west and return aisle.

Doorway of the church is provided with a porch.

 The nave is covered by a barrel vault burnt brick. The vault carried by arcades, resting on piers, and separating the nave from the aisles. At the west of end of the nave there is the mandatum tank (lakan)     

 Set in the floor, which was used in the ceremonial washing of feet on Monday Thursday.     

The church of saint john the Baptist:

It was built at the end of the nineteenth century. As usual, the church contains the sanctuary with its three haikals. At the west end it has an epiphany tank , the only one in wadi el –natrun.