Church of the Holy Virgin Durunka mountain Asyut

Church of the Holy Virgin Durunka Asyut Church of the Holy Virgin Durunka Church of the Holy Virgin (Cave-Church) The Church if the Holy Virgin is located to the right of the main entrance of the monastery. Parts of the ancient cave church of the Holy Virgin where the Holy family took refuge during their flight into Egypt in the time of King Herod are still accessible by flight of steps (Kamel 2011; Meinardus 1965; Meinardus 1999). The western part of the church of the Holy Virgin is the oldest part of this church which is cut into the rock of an ancient quarry from the Old Kingdom, while the eastern part was built on an artificial platform (Meinardus 1999; Clarke 1912). This ancient cave was inhabited by early Copts during the times of the Roman persecution. The cave was transformed into a church from the first to the end of third century AD. Then, the church was converted into a monastery by St. John of Asyut who inhabited this cave for thirty years in the fourth century AD. Church of the Holy Virgin (Cave-Church) dronka asyout That is, inside the monastery is a cave, inside the cave is the church and inside the church is the house of the Holy Virgin al-‘Adra (Michka 2021). The normal subdivisions of the church are maintained; men’s division, next women’s division, choirs and lastly the altars. The entrance of the church is at the western end of the church within the ancient quarry (Clarke 1912). The ceiling of the quarry is slightly higher than the roof of the church which permitted the necessary light to get inside the church . The cave contains a new altar dating back to modern times dedicated to the Holy Virgin with a modern icon of the Last Supper at the top. The cave church also contains a main icon depicting the Holy Virgin sitting on the throne and carrying Jesus Christ with the twelve disciples . Church of the Holy Virgin Durunka Asyut