Private Full-Day Tour of Monasteries St Paul and St Antonius

Discover Egypt’s Oldest Christian Monasteries in Ras Gharib

Ras Gharib, located along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, is home to two of the most ancient and revered Christian monasteries in the country. These sacred landmarks are deeply significant to the Egyptian Orthodox Coptic Church and represent an unbroken legacy of spiritual devotion, art, and desert monasticism.

One of the most prominent sites is St. Anthony’s Monastery, widely believed to be the oldest Christian monastery in the world. Founded in the 4th century AD, it continues to thrive today with over 100 resident monks. Visitors to the monastery can explore its historic church, which houses the tomb of St. Anthony himself, the revered “Father of Monasticism.” The walls are adorned with remarkably well-preserved medieval Coptic paintings, and the monastery’s ancient library contains a rare collection of manuscripts and early Christian texts, offering a rich insight into centuries of religious scholarship.

Just a short distance away stands St. Paul’s Monastery, built above the cave where Saint Paul the Hermit spent nearly 90 years in isolation. According to Coptic tradition, Saint Paul chose a life of solitude and prayer in the desert, sustained only by bread brought to him daily by ravens. It is said that, upon his death at the age of 105, lions emerged from the desert to dig his grave—one of the many legends that add to the mystical aura of the site.

These two monasteries are not only places of deep religious significance but also important cultural and historical destinations. A visit to Ras Gharib offers a rare opportunity to connect with the early roots of Christianity, explore the origins of monastic life, and witness the enduring faith and traditions of Egypt’s Coptic community—all set against the serene backdrop of the Eastern Desert.