St. Anthony's Monastery is restored

I'm very pleased to read that the restoration of the Monastery of St. Anthony, the oldest monastery in Christendom, has been successfully completed. Discovery News reports:

Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world's oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence.




. . .

Top archaeologist Zahi Hawass ... showed journalists the work at St. Anthony's, an ancient compound at the foot of the desert mountains near Egypt's Red Sea coast.

"The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslim," he said, referring to the dominant Orthodox Coptic Christian sect in Egypt.

. . .

St. Anthony, widely revered as the founder of Christian monasticism, settled in this remote mountainous area at the end of the 3rd century to live in isolation. Upon his death, his followers built the monastery, which was completed around A.D. 350 remains in use to this day.

In the government-sponsored project, workers renovated the fortress-like ancient wall surrounding the monastery and the walls of its two main churches -- the 14th century Church of the Apostles and the 6th century Church of St. Anthony. They also renovated monks' quarters and a 6th century tower into which monks would retreat during attacks by marauding Bedouin tribes throughout the Middle Ages.

A modern sewage system was also installed for the monastery, which is home to several dozen monks and is frequently visited by Christian pilgrims.

Amid the renovations, archaeologists from the American Research Center in Egypt discovered the remains of the original monks' cells dating back to the 4th century under the Church of the Apostles. After they were excavated, archeologists in 2008 covered them with thick glass so that visitors to the church can see them below their feet. ARCE also renovated stucco paintings in Church of St. Anthony.

There's more at the link.

I've visited the Monastery of St. Anthony. It's a place absolutely steeped in prayer. If you have the inner sense to listen, you can hear the silence speak to you. After so many centuries of occupation by men spending most of their time in prayer, meditation and contemplation, it's almost as if a spiritual presence has soaked into the very walls of the place. It's an uncanny feeling.

There are also very old works of religious art, for those so inclined, including frescoes and paintings. Here are a few examples from the Egyptology Online Web page on the monastery (from which the picture above is also taken). It's recommended reading.




If you ever find yourself in Egypt, and near the Monastery, it's well worth a visit. See the Monastery's Web site for more information.

Peter