Nitria (monastic site)
Nitria (also called the Mountain of Nitria or Petoou Mpihosm in Greek and Latin sources) is one of the earliest Christian monastic sites in Egypt and is located in the
History
Nitria was founded in c. 325-330 by Amoun of Nitria[2] and quickly attracted thousands of monks through the remainder of the 4th century.[1] By 390, it had evolved from a loose collection of solitary monks to an organized settlement of multiple cenobitic monasteries, and included bankers, merchants, and sellers.[1] Jerome, who visited Nitria in 386, said that it had over five-thousand monks.[3][2] Palladius of Galatia, who lived there in 390, gave a similar estimate in his Lausaic History.
Christian pilgrims from the nearby city of Alexandria visited Nitria in large numbers, the monks servicing their needs.[1] Other monks sought more remote areas, away from tourists and merchants, and established a monastic center in Kellia c. 338.
The monastic population in Nitria declined during the fifth and sixth centuries, and the site was abandoned sometime in the middle of the seventh century.[1] Nitria should not be confused with the monasteries at Wadi El Natrun (formally known as Scetis), which are still in existence.
Onomatology
Nitria was named after a nearby town which took its name from the natural deposits of
Although Nitria is often called the Mountain of Nitria, there is little geographical elevation difference between Nitria and the surrounding region. It was likely called this referring to Matthew 5:14 where Jesus describes his followers as being a "city on a hill".
Location
The ancient site of Nitria was located by the
List
Partial list of monks who inhabited Nitria.
- Or of Nitria
- Serapion of Nitria
- Amoun of Nitria
- Cronius of Nitria
- Anthony the Great
- Bessarion of Egypt
- Chaeremon of Nitria
- The Tall Brothers
- Isaac of the Cells
- John of Egypt
- Macarius of Alexandria
- Macarius of Egypt
- Albianos
- Pambo
- Pishoy
- Sisoes the Great
- Ammonas of Egypt
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Roger S. Bagnall, etc. Egypt from Alexander to the early Christians: An Archaeological and Historical Guide, Getty Publications, 2004. pg. 108-112
- ^ a b c d e "Nitria - Coptic Wiki". 2019-12-01. Archived from the original on 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "CHURCH FATHERS: Letter 22 (Jerome)". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "Hugh Evelyn-White (1884-1924) | Special Collections | Library | University of Leeds". library.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Suciu, Alin (2011-09-24). "Nitria and Scetis: H. G. Evelyn White,The Monasteries of the Wadi 'N Natrun". Alin Suciu. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ISBN 978-0-19-875825-9.
External links
- Map of Al Barnuji, via Google Maps. Note the natron lake one kilometer to the south.
- Nitria and Kellia, maps and information.