St Anthonys Monastery Day Tour

Early pick up from your Hotel in Hurghada for your transfer to Zafarana and the Monastery of St. Anthony. The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the southern part of the Suez Governorate, some 50km from the red sea coast. Hidden deep in the Red Sea Mountains, St Anthony’s Monastery is the largest and oldest Coptic monastery in Egypt.

Monasticism, as founded by St Antony the Great, is considered to be Egypt’s greatest gift to Christianity. The Monastery was founded by his disciples in 4th century AD just a short distance beneath the cave where St Anthony lived, the monastery was plundered on many occasions also, being partly destroyed in the 11th century. Due to such attacks, this is a fortress style monastery. Though Coptic today, over its many years the monastery was often multi-faith, housing monks of several different Christian religions. St. Antony’s Cave (magharah), where he lived as a hermit, is located 2 km away up 1200 steps, the 45 minute trundle up 276m is well worth it for the breathtaking views across the wadis and out to the red sea. Journey through 17 centuries of fascinating history and experience the awe of the natural mountain cave that St Antony loved and called his home for 43 years of his life.

Although some parts of the monastery remain off limits to tourists, visitors are given a guided tour one of the monks. 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.

The Monastery has exceptional wall paintings of holy knights in bright colours and the hermit founders of the monastery in subdued colours and icons. These wall paintings, widely know to monks and art historians, were obscured by soot, candle grease, oil and dust, but recently, in a collaborated effort between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the American Research Center in Egypt, these unique paintings were restored. The oldest paintings date to the seventh and eighth centuries, while the newest are from the thirteenth century. In addition to the paintings, woodwork inside At. Antony’s Church was also restored.

At the end of your Tour, sit back and relax for your transfer back to your Hotel in Hurghada.