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                    POPULAR COPTIC SITES IN EGYPT
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The following are some of the most  popular Coptic touristic sites in Egypt.
It is not  meant as a  complete or exhaustive  list of Coptic  sites. Such a
list is  far beyond what  could be described  in a single file. Comments and
suggestions are always welcome.
          

1. The western desert (Wadi ElNatroun)
   ----------------------------------- 
   Monastery of St.  Maccarius  in   the western  desert  (almost   half-way
   between     Cairo    and    Alexandria)   is   the    most important site
   (historically)   in    the  western desert.     Other   Monasteries  (few
   kilometers    away  from St    Maccarius) include  St.  Mary's  Monastery
   (better  known    as  the Monastery of   ElBaramous),  St.  Mary  and St.
   Yehnis Kama's   Monastery (better known  as  the Syrian  Monastery),  and
   St.  Bishoy's  Monastery,  which is by  far  the largest in  terms of the
   number  of monks and the most  popular as  it  is  the monastic residence
   of the Pope Shenouda.

2. Old Cairo
   --------- 
   The Coptic Museum  is  world-famous  for its  amazing  cross-section   of
   pre-Islamic Egypt. This Museum   deserves  a   full   day.  In the   same
   neighborhood, the church  of St. Mary (better  known as  ElMoaallaka,  or
   the  suspended) is one  of the oldest churches in  the area.   The church
   of  Abu-Serga  is another one  of  the  oldest  churches  in Egypt. Other
   less important  close by  sites include  the church  of  St.  George, and
   the    monastry    of       Markorious    (Abu-Saffein)     for     nuns.

3. Sinai
   -----
   Mount  Sinai and  St Katherine Monastery  next  to it  are among the most
   important   sites outside  the  delta. The    monastery follows the Greek
   Orthodox church, not the Coptic church.

4. Cairo
   -----
   St Mary's church  in  ElZaytoun is  the site where  the Virgin  St.  Mary
   appeared to the crowds  every night for  over 2  months starting on April
   2, 1968. The  sightings  were  confirmed    by  thousands of   Copts  and
   Muslims. Hundred of   miracles were reported.   Right  now  there are two
   churches: the  old small  church where  the appearances  happened,  and a
   newly built  Cathedral. St Marc Cathedral in  ElAabbasseya is the  center
   of the Pope.  Weekly meetings  are held  there where  the pope  addresses
   the crowds.

5. Alexandria
   ----------
   The Greco-Roman Museum has  a sizable  collection of  Coptic  art. It  is
   highly recommended for  its "tanagra" collection  --  a   huge collection
   of miniature statues depicting  the style  of life during the  Roman era.
   The  Coptic Cathedral of  St Mark is  the  site of the  very first church
   built in Alexandria. It is claimed  that  the  head of St Marc is burried
   there. Over one hundred of the Coptic Popes are burried there too.

6. Mariotis
   --------
   Once  a  magnet  for  Christian   pilgrims   from  all over   the  world.
   Mariotis  is  now  home  for the   young   St  Mena monastery,  which was
   erected  by the late  Pope Kyrelloc 1  mile away from  the remains of the
   old Cathedral  of  St  Mena,   which was  built by   a Roman emperror  in
   recognition of the  miraculous healing of   his daughter by St Mena.  The
   monastery is  very  popular among  Copts.  The  remains of  Pope Kyrelloc
   rest there and is believed to have caused many miracles.

7. Upper Egypt
   -----------
   There is a series  of monasteries  marking the  steps of  the Holy Family
   in their journey in Egypt.  These include the 3  monasteries  named after
   St. Mary in Samallout,    Dronka   (or Mt.  Assuit),  and    el-Mehharaq.
   Further  south  are  numerous  monasteries  where   different  schools of
   monasticism    where  practiced  few  centuries  ago.  These  include the
   monasteries of St. Shenouda and St. Pachomius.

8. Red Sea
   -------
   The Monasteries of St Boula and St Antonius.

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