Christian frescos from the 9th and 13th century discovered in Egypt
They were found during restoration works in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy
A series of Christian frescos and architectural elements dated from the 9th and 13th century appeared in Egypt , during restoration works in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy , located in Wadi El Natrun , northwest of Cairo , informed today the Egyptian Ministry of State of Antiquities .
The assistant for Archeological Sites Affairs, Muhammad Abdellatif , declared in a statement that the findings will help to reveal “numerous secrets about the Monastery's architecture and the evolution of its construction.”
Various historical and religious Christian sources reassure that the Monastery of Saint Pishoy, especially the church, experimented several modifications, in particular during the Islamic times , according to Abdellatif.
He informed that the finding happened “ by chance ” while they were applying a layer of stucco on different walls of the church.
For his part, the member of the Scientific Office of Antiquities, Ahmed al Nemr , said that the paintings are executed with the “fresco” technique and represent “ saints and angels with Coptic writings on the bottom.”
On the western wall of the church stands out the representation of “ Saint Rebecca and her five children, who obtained the crown of martyrdom during the repression era,” detailed al Nemr who assured that she “appears with a wide red garment, embracing her five children with her left arm.”
He said that the other distinguishable figures are located on the eastern wall, and depict three saints and one archangel above Coptic writings.
Likewise, there are geometric drawings, crosses, and letters in different parts of the church.
In 2015, heavy rains collapsed a wall of the historic Monastery of Saint Pishoy, founded in the 4th century and considered one of the most important by Orthodox Christians .
mr