St. Paul’s Monastery, The Eastern Wilderness, Red Sea

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After the departure of Saint Paul, Saint Anthony told his disciples the monks about the story of Saint Paul. Many of them came to his place to follow in his footsteps until they formed monastic groups and built cells. Through this, the monastery was founded in the fourth century.

The monastery’s ancient features:

-The Water Spring: it is the same one which was found by the righteous Saint Paul. He drank from it when he dwelt in that place and it dates back to the third century.
-The Ancient Fort.
-The Mills.
-The Ancient Table.
-The Garden.
-The Library of Manuscripts.

The monastery’s churches:
1) The Church of Saint Paul (the Church of the Cave).
2) The Church of the Virgin Mary.
3) The Church of Archangel Michael and Saint John the Baptist.
4) The Church of Saint Philopateer Mercurius (Abu-Sefein).

The monastery’s abbot: Bishop Daniel.

Three of the monastery’s monks were promoted to the Papal Throne:
1) H.H. Pope Peter VI (the 104th patriarch)
2) H.H. Pope John XVII (the 105th patriarch)
3) H.H. Pope Mark VII (the 106th patriarch)