Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul (Monastery of St. Anthony and monastery of St. Paul) description and photos - Egypt: Zaafarana (Topic)

Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul (Monastery of St. Anthony and monastery of St. Paul) description and photos - Egypt: Zaafarana. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Monastery of St. Anthony and monastery of St. Paul.

Photo and description

The Monastery of St. Anthony is the oldest Coptic monastery in Egypt. According to legend, Saint Anthony, orphaned at the age of 18, went to the mountains to become a hermit and serve God. After his death in the 4th century, this monastery was founded on his grave. The monastery has been repeatedly attacked by Bedouins and Muslims.

The monastery includes not only a temple and cells for 25 monks, but also several chapels, a bakery, a mill, a library, a refectory and utility rooms. The church of St. Anthony is decorated with magnificent frescoes of the XIII century.

80 km from the monastery of St. Anthony is the monastery of St. Paul. According to legend, Paul was born into a wealthy Alexandrian family, but at the age of 16 he went into the desert and became a hermit. For several decades he lived in a cave, like St. Anthony, around which the monastery subsequently grew.

The main church of the monastery of St. Paul is decorated with frescoes depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child and archangels. On the territory of the monastery, a high tower has been preserved, where water from a hidden source was kept, which saved the monks from death during the Bedouin attack.

We also recommend reading House of the Valleys (Casa de la Vall) description and photos - Andorra: Andorra la Valla

Topic: Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul (Monastery of St. Anthony and monastery of St. Paul) description and photos - Egypt: Zaafarana.