Location: It is situated at the foot of Al-Qalzam Mountain near Al Zaafarana.
Who built it ? It was founded in 356 AD by St. Antony, who was considered the first one who established the Christian monasticism, which originated in
the Egyptian desert.
Why it was built ? It was built to be dedicated to St. Antony who was buried beneath one of the ancient churches of it.
Explanation : This Monastery is considered the oldest inhabited monasteries in the world. During the sixth and seventh centuries many monks from Wadi Natroun, who were under frequent attacks by Bedouins, migrated to St. Antony's monastery.
Today, it is a self-contained village with gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches, the best of which is St. Antony's Church. There is also a library with over 1,700 handwritten manuscripts, but the Bedouin servants, who plundered the monastery, used many manuscripts for cooking fuel.
At one time, there must have been a much more extensive library. The oldest paintings in the monastery date to the seventh and eighth centuries, while the newest are from the thirteenth century. In addition to the paintings, woodwork inside St. Antony's Church was also restored.
Egypt Travel Guide
Egypt Oases
- Gara Cave
- Al-Deer
- Bagawat
- Black desert
- Cleopatra bath
- Great Sand Sea
- Monastery of Anba Bishoy
- Qarun Lake
- Temple of Amon
- Temple of Hibis
- The Crystal Mountain | Bahariya Crystal Mountain
- The Monastery of El Suryan | Cairo Attractions
- Therapy in Siwa Oasis
- Valley of the Golden Mummies
- Wadi Al- Rayan, Protected Area | Fayoum, Egypt
- Wadi El-Natroun | The Monasteries of Wadi El Natrun
- The White Desert in Egypt
- Fayoum Bird-watching Guide
Ports of Call
Red Sea and Sinai
Famous Mosques in Egypt
Transportation guide in Egypt
Egypt Tourist Attractions
Egypt Pyramids
History of Egypt
Aswan Attractions
Luxor Attractions
Alexandria Attractions
Cairo Attractions
- Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
- Agricultural Museum Egypt, Cairo
- AL Fustat Historical City
- The Cairo Tower
- Birqash Camel Market in Cairo
- Egyptian Museum Guide
- El Mosky Cairo | Bazaars & Souks
- King Tutankhamun Treasures: Inside the World of Egypt’s Most Famous Pharaoh
- The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Cairo
- Royal Mummy Room in The Egyptian Museum
- The Pharaonic Village
- The Great Sphinx of Giza
- Babylon Fortress Facts
- Solar Boat Museum
- Valley Temple of Khafre
- Verdi Aida Opera Show in Giza Pyramids Egypt
Plan Your Trip!
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