The monastery of the Archangel Gabriel at Naqlun

The Monastery of the Archangel Gabriel is a monastery perched on limestone cliffs overlooking agricultural land roughly 16 kilometers southeast of Faiyum in Egypt. The site contains rock-cut monk cells, burial areas, and a church with three separate sanctuaries.

The monastery was founded in the 4th century by Bishop Aur and expanded over subsequent centuries with multiple churches and structures. A major fire in the 13th century destroyed many of these buildings on the site.

The church holds three sanctuaries honoring the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and Saint George, each space decorated with paintings of saints and biblical scenes. These images reveal how monks and visitors connected their daily devotion to the stories of their faith.

Visiting requires physical effort as access to the site involves climbing steep paths up the rocky terrain and navigating stone steps. Bring sturdy shoes and water, and plan your visit for earlier in the day to avoid the intense midday heat.

A wooden piece called Abu Khashaba was placed in the Nile each year to measure flood levels and predict whether crops would thrive or fail in the coming season. This simple tool connected the monastery to local farming communities who relied on such forecasts for survival.