MONASTERY
Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Deir el-Muharraq)
Al-Qusiya · Assiut
- Locality
- Al-Qusiya
- Type of place
- MONASTERY
- Coordinates
- 27.38855° N, 30.77811° E
- Identity
- Matched to a public listing
A brief history
This Coptic Orthodox monastery stands on Mount Koskam, south of Cusae in Assiut. Its stone fortress was built in the sixth or seventh century, and the fortress chapel keeps a twelfth-century lectern from the repair that followed. The complex holds three churches: the twelfth-century Ancient Church of the Virgin, Saint George's of 1878–1880, and a newer Virgin Mary church built between 1940 and 1964.
An interesting detail
The Church of al-Adhra was built over an ancient cave, which Coptic tradition holds sheltered the Holy Family for six months and ten days. The Gospel names no stopping place on the flight into Egypt.