Monastery of St. Paul the Anchorite
دير القديس الأنبا بولا أول السواح
An ancient Coptic monastery in the Eastern Desert formed around the place of St. Paul the Anchorite.
- Location
- Eastern Desert, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
- Jurisdiction
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Founded
- 4th century
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-27
History
The official Church profile says monks came to follow St. Paul's example after St. Anthony related his story, forming communities and cells in the fourth century.
The story of this place
A community follows the anchorite
The monastery's account connects its beginnings to monks who sought St. Paul's place and built cells after his departure.
Cave, spring, and manuscript library
The profile lists St. Paul's cave church, the ancient spring, fort, mills, refectory, garden, and manuscript library among the surviving features.
Map-pin precision
Reviewed site pointCoordinate source: Wikidata Q488773 (monastery property coordinate, CC0) · checked 2026-08-27
Claims and sources
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An ancient Coptic monastery in the Eastern Desert formed around the place of St. Paul the Anchorite.
Official Coptic Orthodox Church monastery profile ↗