Monastery of Saint Macarius located in the Nitrian desert 92 km north west of
Cairo is a Coptic Orthodox monastery. Founded in 360 AD by St. Macarius this monastery
lies on the highway between Cairo and Alexandria. From the time of its foundation
to the present day monks of different countries have inhabited the monastery.
Monastery of Saint Macarius of Egypt underwent an era of restoration both in
terms of architecturally and spiritually in 1969. The new building of the monastery
includes more than 150 cells, a single large dining room, a new spacious library
and a large guesthouse that comprises of several rooms. The new monastery building
cover an area six times more than the old monastery.
However in addition, the historical old building of the Monastery of Saint
Macarius has been restored carefully. Egypt Monastery of Saint Macarius at present
is under the guidance of Pope Shenouda III. Monastery of Saint Macarius also
maintains links with other several monasteries of the world including the Monastery
of Chevtogne in Belgium and France's Monastery of Transfiguration.
St Macarius, the founder of the monastery was an Egyptian Christian monk also
known by the name of Macarius the Great or the Lamp of the Desert. It was only
because of his divine impact that the region of Nitrian desert is also called
as Desert of Macarius. Also known as Deir Abu Magar, this monastery is the oldest
monastery in the Wadi al Natrun.
The monastery was an informal structure very much similar to a village. Monastery
of Saint Macarius includes a church known as St. Macarius Church and tower.
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