St.Barsoum El-Erian Monastery

Saint Barsoum was born in Cairo in 1257 AD. He was an only child an conceived after long prayers and fasting. Therefore, he was named Barsoum–son of Fasting.
When his parent died, his uncle took all his inheritance.
Barsoum did not argue for his right, but deserted the world & all its pleasures. He lived an ascetic life and his dress was only a wool cloak, therefore he was called El–Erian, the Naked One.

He lived in a cave where there was a big snake. He prayed to Jesus Christ and signed him self and the snake with the sign of the cross and recited–psalm 27– “The lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear…” Then he ordered the snake to stop moving and said: “From now on be blessed and you shall have no power to hurt anyone, and will obey everything I tell you. “The snake obeyed his words. St. Barsoum lived in this cave for a long time.
After that he moved to the roof of St. Mercorious Church in Old Cairo where he lived about ten years.

St. Barsoum preached to people to confirm their faith.
However, he was accused by some and beaten and imprisoned. After he was set free, he was detained in St. Mercorious Monastery in Shahrn (El Maasara).
He died in 1317 AD and Buried in the monastery which carries his name St. Barsoum El–Erian.

At the end of 1995 , during a clean-up of the land of the monastery, a palm tree was discovered. Its trunk branc

hes into three at the height of 1.70 m. normal branching in palm trees occurs at the base of the trunk. Therefore, this tree is thougt to resemble the Christian faith in the Holy Trinity–three in one and oen in three.
In the name of God and prayers to him, a lot of miracles happen even in the present day.
May his blessing be with us all, Amen

St. Barsoum Commemorations are:
- on 5th Sunday of the greatLent
- on 10th the of September / 5 Nasee (his heavenly and final rest)