Egyptian Muslims restored ancient monastery in the world | Mosaic | News |
February 6, 2010 – 12:34 am
Egyptian experts have announced the completion of the restoration of the world’s oldest Christian monastery, reports the Associated Press. Restoration of the Monastery of St. Anthony’s lasted eight years and cost 14.5 million dollars.
The head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, who announced the end of work, highlighted the fact that the Muslims were engaged in restoration. “We intend to restore any historical monuments, no matter what – the Coptic, Jewish or Muslim,” – said Hawass.
As the AP, the announcement of the completion of reconstruction came a month after the most serious deterioration of relations between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt during the past 10 years. Once in the Orthodox Christmas Eve in a suburb of the Nag Hammadi were killed six Copts, the Egyptian authorities were criticized for inattention to the issue of coexistence between Christians and Muslims in one country.
At the same time, Hawass said that it is not necessary to link the restoration of the monastery with the tragic incident in the Nag Hammadi and encouraged to leave all negative in the past.
Restoration of the monastery was funded from the Egyptian budget. Monastery of St. Anthony is located near Dahab in the Eastern Desert, Red Sea. Anthony, declared after the death of a saint, a hermit lived in these places at the end of III century.
After his death, followers built around the grave of the monastery, surrounded by walls. On his grave was erected the church of Saint Anthony. The complex dates back to about 350-m year.
Currently, the monastery, which is popular among the pilgrims, live dozens of monks.
79 millionth Egypt, a predominantly Muslim country, has about 8 million Christians, reports Lenta.ru.
