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العربية (Arabic)
The monastery is located on the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria, at the 92nd kilometer, across from El-Sadat city and on the left of those coming from Cairo.
The monastery first appeared in the last third of the fourth century, in the year 385 A.D. The monastery began with the cell of Saint Macarius then his disciples gathered around him and built their cells far away. They then built a church to pray in, nearby cells, stores, a well and rooms for the sick and visitors.
Ancient features:
1. The ancient arc which was built during the time of Pope Benyameen the first; the 38th patriarch.
2. The Myron dome: during the fifth century, Pope Theophilus the twenty-third commanded the consecration of the Myron in the monastery of Saint Macarius, in obedience to the angelic vision on the sixth Friday of the Great Lent which is known as ‘The Last Friday of Lent’.
3. The fort.
4. The ancient table.
5. The tomb.
6. The ancient cells.
Monastery Churches:
1. The Church of Saint Macarius.
2. The Church of Saint Abaskhiroun the Soldier.
3. The Church of the 49 Martyrs.
4. The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
The monastery’s supervisor: Pope Tawadros II
During the restorative works in 1976, the relics of St John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet were discovered underneath piles of dust and rubble which were lifted to reach the ground of the original church.
The head of Saint Mark the Apostle was buried in this altar; the altar of John the Baptist.
In the northern side of the church are the relics of the three Saints Abba Macarii: Saint Macarius the Great, Saint Macarius of Alexandria and Saint Macarius the bishop and martyr.
27 of the monastery’s monks were promoted to the Papal throne.
دير القديس العظيم أنبا مقار ببرية شيهيت (وادي النطرون – مصر) (stmacariusmonastery.org)
