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• World's oldest monastery restored

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  Dr. Nilgün Birgören    Premium Member   Group moderator

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  World's oldest monastery restored

  Egypt has completed the restoration of reputedly the world's oldest Christian monastery, called Saint Anthony's.
  
  The monastery is believed to be 1,600 years old. The government-sponsored restoration project cost over $14m and took more than eight years.
  
  The monastery is a popular site for Coptic Christian pilgrims.
  
  It is hoped the newly-restored monastery in Suez City will be held up as a sign of co-existence between Egypt's Muslim majority and Christian minority.
  
  Speaking at the site, Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass stressed that restoration work at the monastery was carried out by Muslims. "The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslim," said Mr Hawass.
  
  Saint Anthony settled in a cave in remote mountains close to the Red Sea at the end of the 3rd Century to live in isolation. When he died, his followers built the monastery and named it after him.
  
  The project has restored an ancient wall, a tower, two main churches and the monks' quarters.
  
  • 07 Feb 2010, 9:44 pm
  Dr. Nilgün Birgören wrote: > Egypt has completed the restoration of reputedly the world's oldest > Christian monastery, called Saint Anthony's. > > The monastery is believed to be 1,600 years old. The > government-sponsored restoration project cost over $14m and took > more than eight years. > > The monastery is a popular site for Coptic Christian pilgrims. > > It is hoped the newly-restored monastery in Suez City will be held up > as a sign of co-existence between Egypt's Muslim majority and > Christian minority. > > Speaking at the site, Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass > stressed that restoration work at the monastery was carried out by > Muslims. "The announcement we are making today shows to the world > how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, > Jewish or Muslim," said Mr Hawass. > > Saint Anthony settled in a cave in remote mountains close to the Red > Sea at the end of the 3rd Century to live in isolation. When he died, > his followers built the monastery and named it after him. > > The project has restored an ancient wall, a tower, two main churches > and the monks' quarters.