WATANI International
14 February 2010
Anba Antonious in the limelight
The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has completed a restoration and conservation project in the desert monastery of Anba Antonious, reputedly the oldest Christian monastery in the world. The 1600-year-old monastery, situated in the rugged desert mountains near the Red Sea coast, is today home to 120 monks, and is the burial place of four saints. Its ancient church houses paintings dating to the Middle Ages. The restoration project cost some USD14.5 million and took more than eight years to complete. It involved the restoration of the fortress-like ancient wall surrounding the monastery, a tower, several outbuildings, its two main churches — the 15th century Church of the Apostles and the 4th century Church of St Anthony—and the monks’ quarters. A modern sewage system was also installed for the monastery, which reportedly receives a million visitors every year. Secretary-general of the SCA Zahi Hawass has touted the work as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between Egypt’s Muslims and Christians.
Sanaa’ Farouk