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Egypt restores monastery touting religious harmony
Feb 4, 1:55 PM (ET)
By PAUL SCHEMM
ZAAFARANA, Egypt (AP) - Egypt’s chief archaeologist unveiled on Thursday an extensive renovation of the oldest monastery in the world, touting the work at the 1,600 year-old-site as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between the country’s Muslims and Christians.
It’s the message Egypt’s government has been emphasizing ever since a lethal drive-by shooting at a church a month ago in a southern town: No troubles here - dismissing new worries over sectarian divisions between Egypt’s mainly Muslim population and the large Christian minority.
“The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslims,” he said, referring to the dominant Christian sect in Egypt.
“The incident in Upper Egypt can happen between two brothers,” said Hawass when asked if there was any connection between the Jan. 6 shooting and the timing of his announcement at the monastery. “I want everyone to forgot this incident.”
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities spent eight years and $14.5 million dollars to carry out a comprehensive restoration and conservation of the ancient monastery, situated in the rugged desert mountains near Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
It was in this remote spot, at the end of the 3rd century that renowned Christian ascetic St. Anthony took up a residence in a cave, with little more than a spring and some palm trees to sustain him.
Upon his death in A.D. 356, his followers built cells and created the world’s first Christian monastery, which now houses 120 monks, the burial place of four saints, and ancient church paintings dating to the Middle Ages.
Full Article]
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Feb 4, 1:55 PM (ET)
By PAUL SCHEMM
ZAAFARANA, Egypt (AP) - Egypt’s chief archaeologist unveiled on Thursday an extensive renovation of the oldest monastery in the world, touting the work at the 1,600 year-old-site as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between the country’s Muslims and Christians.
It’s the message Egypt’s government has been emphasizing ever since a lethal drive-by shooting at a church a month ago in a southern town: No troubles here - dismissing new worries over sectarian divisions between Egypt’s mainly Muslim population and the large Christian minority.
“The announcement we are making today shows to the world how we are keen to restore the monuments of our past, whether Coptic, Jewish or Muslims,” he said, referring to the dominant Christian sect in Egypt.
“The incident in Upper Egypt can happen between two brothers,” said Hawass when asked if there was any connection between the Jan. 6 shooting and the timing of his announcement at the monastery. “I want everyone to forgot this incident.”
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities spent eight years and $14.5 million dollars to carry out a comprehensive restoration and conservation of the ancient monastery, situated in the rugged desert mountains near Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
It was in this remote spot, at the end of the 3rd century that renowned Christian ascetic St. Anthony took up a residence in a cave, with little more than a spring and some palm trees to sustain him.
Upon his death in A.D. 356, his followers built cells and created the world’s first Christian monastery, which now houses 120 monks, the burial place of four saints, and ancient church paintings dating to the Middle Ages.
Full Article]
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