© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiSt Anthony’s Monastery nestles amid the Red Sea Mountains, at an oasis in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, dozens of kilometers away from the Red Sea. There are seven churches on its territory of approximately ten hectares. One of them, the oldest, stands on the site where St Anthony was buried.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
St Anthony’s Monastery nestles amid the Red Sea Mountains, at an oasis in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, dozens of kilometers away from the Red Sea. There are seven churches on its territory of approximately ten hectares. One of them, the oldest, stands on the site where St Anthony was buried.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiParticular attention was paid to the murals during the monastery’s renovation.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
Particular attention was paid to the murals during the monastery’s renovation.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiA donkey-powered olive press has also been restored.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
A donkey-powered olive press has also been restored.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe well is now protected from tourists.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
The well is now protected from tourists.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe restorers aimed as much as possible to preserve or restore the original appearance of the monastery’s buildings.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
The restorers aimed as much as possible to preserve or restore the original appearance of the monastery’s buildings.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiMonastic cells in the Monastery of St Anthony.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/07/157830751_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_94c74bde11b502bd4ef3e39ce9573d67.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
Monastic cells in the Monastery of St Anthony.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiInside the monastery, the monks work in the gardens.
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Inside the monastery, the monks work in the gardens.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe monks’ black cassocks are believed to have remained unchanged since the 4th century.
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
The monks’ black cassocks are believed to have remained unchanged since the 4th century.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe monastic cowl is adorned with twelve crosses to protect its wearer from temptations.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/07/157830791_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_faee1ab6f8014a17f5123dff6ad4c2cb.jpg)
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The monastic cowl is adorned with twelve crosses to protect its wearer from temptations.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiSt Anthony the Great is believed to have lived as a hermit and died in a rock cave above the site of the present-day monastery. More than a thousand stairs lead to the cave of St Anthony.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/08/157830804_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_a98db7e8519b17797d454f26a6c3387d.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
St Anthony the Great is believed to have lived as a hermit and died in a rock cave above the site of the present-day monastery. More than a thousand stairs lead to the cave of St Anthony.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe monastery houses the relics of its former abbots.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/08/157830817_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_dc97b1c52d8d64302f24459db96091ae.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
The monastery houses the relics of its former abbots.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiThe Monastery of St Anthony houses a large library of ancient books and manuscripts written in the Coptic language.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/08/157830830_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_e6eef96e9680404bf70aa3b77eabbd5d.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
The Monastery of St Anthony houses a large library of ancient books and manuscripts written in the Coptic language.
© RIA Novosti . Nadim ZuauyiMurals in a church in the Monastery of St Anthony.
![The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world The Monastery of St Anthony in Egypt: the oldest monastic retreat in the world - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15783/08/157830843_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_4fa6da05a397fa5695ff7fc596027190.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Nadim Zuauyi
Murals in a church in the Monastery of St Anthony.