Egypt
Copts – Egyptian Christians – are unique carriers of the ancient Egyptian Civilization. They have saved very special art environment that has an independent value as such and inspires the contemporary artists. Copts are direct continuers of The Early Christian art tradition that they preserved in spite of huge Islamic influence. Surviving matters in Islam society bring Copts together and made them very religious that can be seen as in daily life as well as in art. Hidden and closed Copts society, have extreme religious emotional experience and the meeting with sacred sometimes turn into the miracles.
My photographs creating the story mostly thought work with architecture and interiors. I am very found of the unique cocktail of Islam and Christianity, Pharaoh past and the present – fusion of time and culture that thousands years of Egyptian history have made. This is outsider view – ironic sometimes.
Mulid (Egypt)- August 2008
Virgin Mary Mulid –pilgrimage festival that take place every August in Monastery of St. Mary (Deir Dronka) in Upper Egypt about 10 kilometers from Assiut, situated on the west bank of the Nile. It is not only one of the most unusual monasteries in Egypt, but is also believed to have been one of the last destinations visited by the Holy Family on their journey through Egypt. Many scholars believe that Assuit was as far south as the Holy Family, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph got before leaving Egypt for Nazareth. Since that time, monks of the monastery believe that this area has been constantly inhabited by Christians.
Dronka monastery hosts more then million people every year.
