Dont mind at all. I went with a few celibate priests from California, they go every year for the Great Lent. So I tagged along. First of all its in desert of Scete, where some of the most blessed and holy fathers have come from (St. Macarius, St. Moses the Strong, St. John the short...too many to name.) The first day I got there, I was very intimidated. I have visited Monasteries in Egypt as a child, but I never new the treasures of living the life of a monk until very recent. The first day I got there, I met the Bishop (and Abbot) of the Monastery, Amba Isidorus. Very stern yet very loving. The monastery I stayed at, is considered one of the strictest monasteries in all of Egypt. There are so many details that it would literally take a book to write about. But just a quick recap of my routine. Woke up 3:45am every morning starting with Agpeya, the book of Hours, which is made up of Psalms and various prayers with each section (hour) of the book going through the life of Christ, The decent of the Holy Spirit, and three watches during the night hours. This is followed by Tasbeha, or Praise, praying the Midnight Psalmody. Ancient hymns sung in the native Coptic, which is the language of the Pharaohs of Egypt. This would last about 2 1/2 hours. I would then go back to my cell, I was very blessed and lucky to have my own room. I would say a quick prayer and take a nap. I would wake up after a couple of hours. Sometimes I would go and early Liturgy and sometimes to a very late one, it depended on the day. Liturgies were awesome. Then I would come back to my cell and have some time for individual prayers. I also got to draw a lot. I learned a little about iconography. Then I would have quiet time. I would usually go with one of the priests to a cave which about 2 miles away. This cave belonged to Pope Kyrillos, one of the most honored an famous Coptic Popes. If you do a search on his name you will find many miracles, stories and sayings our Lord Jesus Christ worked through this blessed father. He is not a Saint yet because it has not been 50 years since his repose. I would then have a small meal usually beans and then some jam, then I would sit with a monk and just listen. They would teach me about the Bible, about the fathers, how to live pure and live in the world, sometimes they would teach me a hymn. It was spectacular. I hope that I get to go again. If anyone has the chance to do this, do it! It was the most fruitful time of my life.
