Monastery of Saint Anthony, Coptic monastery in Red Sea Mountains, Egypt.
The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a complex of buildings that extends across multiple levels on mountain slopes and includes churches, chapels, and residential quarters for monks. The site sits at 445 meters elevation and is surrounded by gardens and walls.
The monastery was founded between 361 and 363 AD at the burial site of Saint Anthony and is considered the oldest active Christian monastery in Egypt. Over the centuries the complex was expanded and renovated several times.
The complex serves today as a spiritual center for Coptic monks who live and work according to ancient monastic rules. Visitors can observe how the community holds daily prayers and tends the gardens.
The site opens daily and requires visitors to wear appropriate clothing with covered shoulders and knees. Photography is restricted in certain areas, so visitors should ask permission beforehand.
A cave about two kilometers northeast of the monastery marks the spot where Saint Anthony spent his final years in solitude. Hiking paths lead to this remote point that has drawn pilgrims for centuries.
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