Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Wadi El Natrun is known to have been the cradle of monasticism since about the 4th century. A visit to Wadi El Natrun takes you back in time to reveal the roots of the Christian tradition. To the ancient Egyptians, these lands were known as a source of sodium carbonate - a necessity in mummification, which sits in his name. 
The Coptic followers of St. Anthony, fleeing Roman persecution, inhabited the lands of Wadi El Natrun, and in the 5th century as many as 60 monasteries were already being built there. Only four survive today, but this does not prevent monasticism from flourishing and enjoying streams of followers.
The most visited in Wadi Natrun is the monastery of Saint Bishoy, playing the role of the official residence of the Coptic Patriarch Shenouda. A typical monk - open and hospitable to visitors, St. Bishoy is a hermit from the V century, known for washing the feet of strangers and his self-proclamation of Jesus Christ in later times. It is mandatory to visit Bishoy's cell, where he used to tie his hair with a rope on a hook in the attic in order to avoid falling asleep during his long prayers. His body is preserved incorruptible because of the sealed tubular coffin, which is taken out every year on July 17 for a procession around the temple.
In order not to disturb the privacy around the monasteries, protective facilities were erected against the Bedouin bandits. Constantly popular among tourists is the monastery of St. Mary, which welcomed monks from the Syrian state. The central church is famous for its frescoes and icons. In-depth research has found that monks use their cells to prepare for their lives as hermits in the desert, where they pray in complete solitude. The other two monasteries, St. Baramus and St. Macarius, are less visited. The building material used to build the monasteries and consisting of brick rings has contributed to their preservation for six centuries.