Minister of antiquities visits White Monastery in Sohag

CAIRO - 7 April 2019: Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani and his delegation were welcomed by Bishop Abbot and Monk Aologius during their visit to the White Monastery in Sohag.

Director of the mission of the US Research Center excavations at the White Monastery spoke about the monastery and its history.

The director of the US Research Center said that the White Monastery (Monastery of Shenouda) is located about 8 km west of Sohag city and was founded by Anba Shenouda, head of the Almohads in 441 AD.

The monastery is considered one of the oldest Coptic monuments in Egypt built on the ruins of a Pharaonic city.

Only a limestone church built in the shape of a basilica is left of the monastery, which is a structure, a bowl and two wings, measuring 91 x 01 m with limestone facades rising to approximately 29 meters.

On the southern, western and northern sides, an industrial zone of handicrafts is located. Al-Maqrizi mentioned that the area is about five acres, only a quarter remains for the church.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities carried out a project of architectural restoration of the church, which included the whole church and the walls of the northeast corner. The church plate, halls and the well chamber were re-tiled using limestone of the Maasranic type.

The northeast corner of the church was dismantled and the stone staircase was re-installed. An iron corridor was rehabilitated and the walls were reinstalled again after numbering the bricks.

The American Research Center has also carried out meticulous architectural restoration to the monastery where the mission strengthened the separation wall between the courtyard and the Western Hall with limestone, in addition to the restoration of the southwestern corner.