The Monastery of St. Paul (Deir Amba Bula), smaller and more out of the way than that of Saint Anthony, can be reached via a steep and winding road. Currently surrounded by high walls, it was built starting from the inside, around the cave in which Paul the Hermit lived for almost 90 years during the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Originally from Alexandria, Saint Paul - not to be confused with the Apostle Saint Paul - was a member of a wealthy family. At the age of only 16, he retired to the desert, tired of the persecutions by the Romans, becoming the first hermit known.
According to the legend, when Paul died, it was Saint Anthony who made the long journey through the mountains to give him burial. The two monasteries are still connected today by a steep road and, even if the two caves are less than 40 km away in line with the area, the route on the ground exceeds 80 km.
It is possible to follow the feat of Saint Anthony and walk the rocky heights between the two monasteries but it takes two days to complete the journey, so it is important to equip yourself with tracking equipment.
The monastery of Saint Paul is built around the cave where he lived for decades. The cave of ST. Paul is located inside the church, full of altars, candelabra, icons, and frescoes. Ostrich eggs hang from the attic of the chapels, symbolizing the resurrection. In the cave, there is a sarcophagus that is believed to contain the relics of the saint.
Beyond the church, the imposing five-story tower is certainly of interest, supplied with water through a hidden canal, which served to protect the monks from the incursions of the Bedouins.
The best way to reach the Monastery of Saint Paul is to rely on organized trips or to rent an off-road vehicle. There are connections from Cairo, Beni Suef, or Hurghada, with destination Zafarana. From Zafarana take the road to the monastery, located about 13 km inland.
There are many places that you can visit and enjoy during Egypt travel packages, so we will focus on the top things to do in Egypt that are unusual and new in Egypt's most interesting tourist attractions. The great pyramids took nearly twenty years to be built, and the Egyptian Museum, the mysterious history of Egypt. It helps you to know more about the dynastic history of Pharaonic Egypt. You can enjoy an amazing Egyptian Museum tour or you can combine a tour to Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum in one of the best tours in Cairo. Karnak temple, You are visiting the core of the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom in Luxor, as can view the beauty of this temple at night as they make a very interesting Sound and Light Show in Karnak Temple.
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