On Thursday, April 10th, our intern coordinator and database editor, Luka Renić, and three of our interns—Khadija Qadri al-Jilani, Mae Lefevre, and Lindy Dubben—visited the monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. The visit was captivating for the CAWU team and provided them with an opportunity to step away from the bustle of Cairo and experience two of Egypt’s most ancient monastic sites. The newsletter below was coauthored by the team. For those celebrating, we felt it would be an appropriate opportunity to wish our readers a blessed Holy Week.

(The CAWU team in front of St. Anthony’s monastery.)

St. Paul's Monastery, located in Egypt’s Eastern Desert near the Red Sea, is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, founded in the 4th century CE. It is named after St. Paul of Thebes (d.343 CE), often regarded as the first Christian hermit, who fled into the desert during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire and lived a life of solitude, apparently surviving mainly on water from a spring and dates from a palm tree. The monastery began as a collective of hermitages in the cliffs, centered around Saint Paul’s cave, where he is believed to have lived and died. The Church of Saint Paul is built in and around that cave, which is adorned with altars, candles, murals, and ostrich eggs (a symbol of the Resurrection). Over the centuries, it became an important center for monasticism, preserving ancient Christian traditions, manuscripts, and art. According to tradition, Saint Anthony visited shortly before Paul’s death. Despite its remote location, the monastery has endured  invasions and environmental challenges, continuing to serve as a spiritual retreat and place of pilgrimage to this day.

(Paintings from the cave of St. Paul)

At the monastery, we were welcomed by Fr. Maximus. He graciously met us at the doors and guided us through this living monument of Christian devotion. The monastery, currently home to 130 Coptic Orthodox monks, radiates both simplicity and impeccable structure, with its high walls and flourishing garden, standing as a testament to centuries of spiritual discipline. Many church services and prayers are offered in different churches and shrines in the complex every day. The monastic community functions as a self-sufficient unit. Fr. Maximus said, "Of course, every monk here has a job. I am responsible for the foreigners who visit. Another father is responsible for the library. There is a father responsible for the manuscripts, and a father responsible for food and cooking." The structure is practical, but its foundation is deeply spiritual.

The fortress above the church, once used as a refuge from Bedouin attacks, still stands watch over the compound. More than a historical site preserved, the monastery is a place where prayer and ascetic life continue to be faithfully practiced for over 1,600 years. We were reminded that the monks here are custodians of a legacy that began in the earliest centuries of Christianity. The monastery originated as a group of hermit dwellings clustered around the cave of Paul of Thebes. In a poignant moment of Christian tradition, it was Saint Anthony himself who is believed to have journeyed across the desert to bury Paul after a vision revealed the saint’s death.

St. Anthony's Monastery, located about an hour away by car from St. Paul’s, is often considered the oldest Christian monastery in the world. It was established in the 4th century CE by the followers of St. Anthony the Great, widely regarded as the father of Christian monasticism. St. Anthony retreated to the desert to lead a life of prayer and solitude, inspiring generations of monks. The monastery is a major center for Coptic Orthodox monastic life. Despite centuries of hardship, including invasions and isolation, the monastery has remained active, preserving ancient manuscripts, artwork, and religious traditions to this day. The Church of Saint Anthony is the oldest structure, built over the saint’s tomb. It features important Coptic wall paintings from the 13th century (some even older), completed in secco style. The monastery has a fortified wall and used to rely on a wooden winch and basket system during attacks.

(St. Anthony’s Monastery.)

In the monastery, we were welcomed by Fr. David, who generously shared with us not only the details of the monastery but reflections on the monastic life itself. With 138 monks living within its walls, this monastery is not only the oldest Christian monastery in the world but also one of the most meticulously cared for.

We were also struck by the nature of the path to monastic life. "The monastic system with us -  you have to be successful in your secular life, your worldly life. You have to have a job. I was working in a company in Cairo before joining the monastery. You have to be educated, have money, and have a successful life before joining the monastery." Monks are expected to lead a successful and fulfilling life prior to committing to the monastery, as though reflecting the sincere intent to choose monastic life and not as an escape or on a whim.

The monks rely on a spring that produces around 100 cubic meters of water daily, nourishing the gardens and sustaining daily life in the desert. We also learned that the monastery includes a hospital and pharmacy, with monks traveling to Cairo when necessary for more advanced care.

(The dining room at St. Anthony’s.) 

Surrounded by high cliffs and desert, the beauty of Saint Anthony’s Monastery is striking—a walled sanctuary filled with several ancient chapels and an intricately cultivated garden. The Church of Saint Anthony, built over the saint’s tomb, contains some of the earliest Coptic frescoes still preserved—paintings in the secco style that reflect both Coptic tradition and the wider Byzantine and Islamic influences of the region.

Our visit to the monasteries of  Saint Paul and Saint Anthony was far more than a historical experience. It was a witness to an ancient way of life that continues in the modern world. We are deeply grateful to Fr. Maximus and Fr. David for their hospitality, openness, and witness to a tradition that is both ancient and alive.

Dialogue Across Borders (Brill)

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April 13, 2025