Monastery of the Romans (Deir al-Baramus)
Traditionally the oldest monastery of Wadi Natrun, named after two Roman princes who became monks.
The oldest of Scetis
Deir al-Baramus, the Monastery of the Romans, stands somewhat apart from the other monasteries, in the north-western part of Wadi el-Natrun. Coptic tradition regards it as the oldest of the surviving monasteries of Scetis, founded in the fourth century on the site where St Macarius the Great first settled. Its name, from the Coptic Pa-Romeos, "that of the Romans", recalls the legend of Maximus and Domitius, two sons of a Roman emperor who renounced their position to live as monks in the desert under Macarius and died young; the monastery was later founded in their memory.
Churches and paintings
Within its walls are several churches, a keep and monks' cells. The main Church of the Virgin, which preserves elements from different periods, has medieval wall paintings, some uncovered during restoration work, and fine wooden screens. Excavations by Dutch and Egyptian archaeologists near the monastery have uncovered the remains of earlier monastic settlements, shedding light on the origins of monastic life in Scetis.
Today
The monastery is an active Coptic monastic community. Because it lies at the end of a road away from the others, it is quieter and receives fewer visitors.
Exhibo editorial
Baramus sits at the end of its own road, apart from the other monasteries, and feels it: quieter, more remote, the desert closer at hand. The legend of the two Roman princes who gave up everything to become monks gives the place a gentle, melancholy charm.
Come if you have time for more than one monastery in Wadi el-Natrun; a monk may show you the old church and its paintings. It's the best place in the valley to feel the solitude that drew the first desert fathers.
How to find it
Deir al-Baramus lies in the north-western part of Wadi el-Natrun, reached by a separate road from the Wadi el-Natrun exit of the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, past the monasteries of St Bishoy and al-Suryan; follow the signs.
