Restoration: St Antony's Monastery, Eastern Desert

Egypt State Information Service

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawas inaugurated on 21/1 / 2010 the restoration works and development of the monastery of St. Anthony at Red Sea.

It is considered the first monastery in the world and its name is attributed to St. Anthony who was considered the first Egyptian Coptic monk in the world and father of all monks.

The monastery was located on a mountainside tribal desert on an area of 18 acres, and was established in the fourth century.

Its library comprises 1,438 manuscripts that date back to the 13 the century AD.

The oldest form of the Coptic language was found in the monastery. It was about a collection of writings that was founded under the Church of the Apostles.

The establishment of the monastery in Egypt underscores the depth of national unity and cohesion of the fabric of the nation, Hawas said.

He added that the completion of the maintenance of the monastery came after the restoration that lasted for about five years, which included the architectural elements of archaeological work and the monastery wall paintings.