Places to See and Stay: The Monasteries of St Paul and St Anthony - Egypt

Located southeast of Cairo and not far from the Red Sea, these are Egypt's two oldest monasteries.

St Anthony, regarded as the father of monasticism, retreated here to live in a cave in the 4th century AD. Soon after his death at the ripe old age of 105, a monastery was founded on the site of his grave, making this the oldest active monastery in the world. The church built over his final resting place houses the largest array of Coptic wall paintings in Egypt. A second monastery marks the final resting place of St Anthony's companion, St Paul. It is said that during his time as a hermit, a raven brought him half a loaf of bread every day, and that lions appeared on his death to dig his grave.

Both monasteries contain various churches with vivid frescoes in excellent repair: in this remote desert setting they are particularly striking. Thick walls and fortress-like construction date back to harsher times when Bedouin raids were a part of monastery life.

A more tolerant environment exists today and has allowed a recent resurgence in monk numbers.

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