Massive restoration operation at Monastery of St. Anthony on Red Sea
Egypt, History, 11/28/2001

Experts of the Supreme Counsel for Antiquities ( SCA ) have started restoring the archaeological structures annexed to Monastery of St. Anthony the Great on the Red Sea. The monastery derives its importance from the fact that St. Anthony (251-356 AD) was the first to establish monasticism in the world. The monastery was built by his disciples in the same spot in which he had lived.

The area of the monastery increased by time until it became the largest in Egypt. Its buildings are occupying an area of more than 18 feddans.

Within the walls of the monastery are a number of churches. Annexed to the monastery is a fortress to which monks fled in time of danger. The fortress, built in the 6th century AD is linked to an adjacent building by a wooden bridge which is the only entrance to the fortress.

The monastery comprises several floors including storing houses while the ground floor houses a stone alter. A mill also lies to the southern side of the monastery, which is a stone building having wooden oil press to press olives. Outside the building are two big stones used for crushing olives before being pressed.

The ten-metre high stone fence encircling the complex dates back to the 18th century. At the northwestern side of the fence lies the gate of the main monastery on top of which is the historic water wheel building and another building that provides protection for the monastery.

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