Sinai is known to be the original birth place for monasticism, during the period of Roman oppression in Egypt, which later on spread throughout the world east and west.

    Monasticism went through several stages; the first was that of the anchorite under which a monk found individual seclusion in a cell locked by a key or closed by a large stone.

    The cells were clustered and every newcomer would knock each door for a few times to announce his advent.

    At Wadi Al-Awag in south Sinai many of these cells were found.

    The second stage of monasticism, as Abdul Rehim Rihan of Sinai Antiquities Department said, is cenobite derived from the Greek word Koivobion where monks also stayed in individual cells but they gathered in a public place on religious occasions and on Saturdays and Sundays.

    One of these centers was also uncovered at Wadi Al-Awag nine kilometers north Al-Tor.

    The uncovered center takes the shape of a rectangular structure made of sun-dried bricks and covered with mortar from the inside and outside.

    The structure includes a one- portico church having an area of ll.5 x 4.3 meters.

    On the two sides are two rectangular halls with benches indicating that these halls were in use as dining rooms.

    The third stage of monasticism as revealed by remains found in Sinai is that of the monastery. In fact, the monastery of Wadi Al-Tor (Tor Valley) is the only one found intact in Sinai.

    The monastery includes four churches; the major one follows a basilican style, an oil press and a services centre.

    Annexed to the monastery is a structure that houses 96 rooms over two storeys. While some of these rooms functioned as monks’ cells others were dedicated to pilgrims heading to St.Catherine on their way to Palestine as the monastery is situated in a middle position between St. Catherine Monastery and Upper Egypt.