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

Ras Gharib is home to some of Egypt's oldest Christian monasteries, considered to be among the holiest places for Egyptian Orthodox Copts. These monasteries represent a rich cultural and historical heritage. One of the most significant is the monastery dedicated to St. Anthony, the oldest Christian monastery in Egypt. Currently, it houses more than 100 monks and features an ancient Coptic church that holds the tomb of St. Anthony. Visitors can admire well-preserved medieval paintings and explore a library filled with valuable ancient manuscripts. Just opposite lies St. Paul's Monastery, built over the cave where Saint Paul, a 4th-century Christian hermit, lived. Preferring an ascetic life in the desert over the comforts of the city, he devoted himself to worshiping God. According to legend, God sent bread to him via ravens to prevent him from starving. It is also said that lions dug his grave after his death at the age of 105, further adding to the mystique surrounding his life.