The Greek Seven Girls' Monastery (it may
be referred to as the Monastery of Moses, the Monastery of Feiran, the Seven
Sisters Monastery, the Monastery of the Seven Nuns or even Dir Za'ir Monastery)
is located on a spring in the middle of the oasis where it is thought that
Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses and Aaron gave prayerful support.
Many visitors to Egypt who go on to the Sinai will visit the convent on their
way to or coming from St. Catherine's Monastery. Today, the Seven Girl's
Monastery falls under the authority of St. Catherine's Monastery.
Old paths lead to the top of Jabel Tehuna
which overlooks the wadi, and passes through the remains of ancient graves and
buildings, including two Byzantine churches. It is from this mountain that
Moses supposedly observed the battle with the Amelecites.
The Wadi Feiran is a beautiful four
kilometer area surrounded by palms, vines and trees and is the Southern Sinai's
largest oasis, often called the "Pearl of the Sinai". A little of
everything is cultivated here, from corn to barley, wheat to tamarisks, but the
main harvest is still dates
The Oasis is also one of the first
Christian centers in the Sinai. This was once the seat of the archbishop of
Sinai (from the 4th through the 6th century) and the ruins of the archbishopric
can be seen near the convent. The convent itself was established in the fourth
century, but the oasis Christian community is mentioned as far back as the second
century and there are references to early Anchorites (the predecessors of
monks) here as early as 365 AD.
Near the Oasis is also, according to
legend as well as locals and some scholars, the rock that Moses struck with his
staff to bring forth a spring so his people could drink.