Christian Monuments
Monasteries

Monastery of St Anthony (Deir Qaddis Antunyus)

Monastery of St. Catherine

In the foothills of Gabal Gallalah Al-Qibliyyah. It was founded in the 4th century and dedicated to the godfather of priesthood St Anthony, one of the earliest hermits who sought refuge there until his death. The Monastery houses five churches and a library with 1562 books, 1438 of which are in manuscript form.

Monastery of St Paul (Deir Amba Bula)

Founded in the 4th century in the shape of a fort among the high hills near the Red Sea. It houses four churches and a library of 764 manuscripts. St Paul is known to be the earliest hermit.

Monastery of St Catherine (Deir Saint Katarin)

Founded in the early 6th century in the foothills of Gabal Mussa, it is surrounded by a garden in the midst of which stand a church and a mosque, representing love and brotherhood in Egypt. The mosque dates back to the reign of the Fatimid Khalif Al-Amir Bi Akham Allah, in 1106 (500H). The church is a basilica with a gable roof. Seperating the central nave from the side aisles are two rows of granite pillars.

It has a library containing a magnificent collection of 2600 manuscripts. Next to the library is the museum which hosts precious objects, offered as gifts to the monastery by the kings and rulers of the Christian World. These include gold crowns inlaid with

precious stones and crosses.

Monasteries of Wadi al-Natroun (Valley of Natron) in the Western Desert

There are four great monasteries here: Deir al-Baramus (Monastery of the Romans), Deir al-Amba Bishay (Monastery of St Pschoi), Deir Abu Maqar (Monastery of St Marcius) and Deir al-Suryan (Monastery of the Syrians). Founded in the 9th century, Deir al-Suryan is the oldest and houses three churches.

Deir al-Muharaq

Situated in the town of Nazali south, in Upper Egypt, the monastery was founded in the 4th century on the site traditionally visited by the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. It contains the earliest church in Egypt, the Church of Al Adra (The Virgin), which has a magnificent painting depiciting the Virgin and Child.

Deir al- Muharaq

Deir Al-Abyad (The White Monastery)

Built in the 5th century near the city of Suhag in Upper Egypt, it is dedicated to Amba Shenudah (St. Shenute), one of the most prominent figures in the history of the Coptic Church. In appearance, the monastery resembles an ancient Egyptian temple.

Deir al-Amba Hadra

The monastery known as Deir al-Qaddis Saman (Monastery of St. Simeon) is situated on the West Bank of the Nile in Aswan. The foundation was dedicated to Amba Hadra, a prominent monk who was ordained bishop in the 4th century.