English
The Monastery of the Romans is also referred to as Deir al-Baramus:
1.Importance in Historical Context:
The Al-Baramus monastery is located in Wadi al-natrun, one of the most prominent areas in Egypt for Christian monasteries.
It is the furthest north of the four communities located in Wadi al-Natrun area.
It is believed that the orthodox monastery was established by Saint Macarius the Great towards the end of 4th century AD.
It was late Coptic Era by the time St. Macarius moved to dedicate himself here, around AD 340, if not 330.
2.Etymology:
The monastery bears the modern name of al-baramus which in Coptic christians language is derived from the term pa-rameos meaning that of the Romans.
3.But then the reasons behind this name are contentious:
One of which suggests connection with Maximus and Domitius, two Roman noble men who sought the wilds at the time of St. Macarius.
A more probable theory holds that a Roman monk by the name of Arsenius in 394 AD; came to Wadi al Natrun and led the congregatio
Whatever the case, the name does suggest some link to Roman history.
4.Churches and Other Objects:
Five churches are part of the monastery grounds.
The Church of Al Adra (the Virgin) is the most ancient one of them.
They found wall paintings dated from the 7-18 centuries on the plaster layers in the walls of the church.
The themes represented in the paintings are connected with the Virgin Mary and her son Jesus Christ People
Fifty monks live in the convent nowadays.
It is the mother of the St Moses the Black Monastery according to the Muslim historian al-Maqrizi.
Since 1996, the site called Deir Anba Mussaal-Aswad has undergone archaeological investigations, which are related to the Monastery of Moses the Black.
All in all, The Monastery of Romans (Deir al-Baramus) embodies the very essence of ancient Christian monasticism.
