Monastery of Saint Anthony

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Monastery of Saint Anthony

Location within Egypt
Monastery information
Other names	Deir Mar Antonios
Established	300; 1724 years ago (300)
Dedicated to	Saint Anthony the Great
Diocese	Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
People
Founder(s)	Saint Anthony the Great
Site
Location	Red Sea Governorate
Country	Egypt
Coordinates	28°55′N 32°21′E / 28.92°N 32.35°E / 28.92; 32.35
Visible remains	church, mill, bakery, gardens, and cave
Public access	Yes

The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the northern part of the Red Sea Governorate close to the border with the Suez Governorate.

Hidden deep in the Red Sea Mountains, it is located 334 km (208 mi) southeast of Cairo and can be reached from Cairo in just 5 to 6 hours. The Monastery of Saint Anthony was established by the followers of Anthony the Great, an early Christian monk. The monastery is one of the most prominent in Egypt and has strongly influenced the formation of several Coptic institutions, and has promoted monasticism in general. Several patriarchs have come from the monastery, and several hundred pilgrims visit it each day.

In 2002, the Egyptian government began what was to be an 8-year, $14.5 million project to restore the monastery. The modern monastery is a self-contained village with gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches. It has become a popular destination for Egyptians, offering Egyptian Christians religious retreats as well as family excursions.