The 4th-century monastery of Anba Pola (St Paul the Anchorite) in Egypt’s Eastern Desert close to the Red Sea, some 155km southeast Cairo, is receiving emergency help from the local government of Ras Ghareb to repair severe damages caused by recent torrential rains.
The monastery had yesterday issued a statement declining to receive visitors as of Monday 21 February until the Feast of the Resurrection on 24 April. The statement said the decision applies to all visitors, including trips, individual visits, spiritual retreats, visits by priests, monks or families of the monks.
The statement, signed by the Abbot Anba Danial, explained that the decision came in the aftermath of major damages incurred by the monastery and surrounding area following torrential rains last weekend, in addition to the normal closure of the monastery during Lent which starts Monday 28 February.
Flash floods hit Anba Pola Monastery and the mountainous area surrounding it, damaging roads, and cutting off power and mobile phone networks, also the electric-operated bakery at the monastery.
This morning, Major General Hamed Ahmed, Head of the local government of Ras Ghareb, visited the monastery to inspect the damages there and in the area. He gave orders for repair work to start right away on the road leading to Anba Pola’s, and to restore power and communication services as soon as possible.
The swift response of the local government in repairing the damages was hailed by everyone concerned, especially that since the road was cut off, it was impossible for vehicles transferring water or carrying any supplies to reach the monastery.
The local government of Ras Ghareb has already dispatched construction equipment to the site of the monastery to level the land and suction accumulated waters.
Watani International
21 February 2022