St Anthony Coptic Orthodox Monastery

A marble tablet records: 'I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord'. Ps. 122 - This foundation stone of - St Antonious Monastery - was laid by - H H Pope Shenouda III - on Wednesday 6th December 1989 - 27th Hatour 1706, Coptic Calendar.

Text on the gates record:

• Blessed is Egypt My people - Isa 19:25 - The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the - oldest Apostolic Churches in the world. - The Copts are the native Christians of - Egypt and the direst descendants of the - ancient Egyptians the Pharaohs. - St Mark the Evangelist and Apostle - established the Coptic Church in - Alexandria in 42AD. He became her first - Patriarch prior to his martyrdom in 68AD. - St Mark established the first Catechetical - School in the world in Alexandria. This is - where the Coptic Orthodox Church  was - founded.
• Do not love the world or the - things in the world - 1 John 2:15 - Monasticism: - Is Egypt's gift to the world. - Is the witdrawal from all in order to be - united with the One who is God. - Attracted the heart of the church to the - depth of the inner spiritual life. - St Anthony: - Is considered to be the first monk the - world and the father of all monks. - This great Copt left all he had and went - into the wilderness to worship his - beloved God. - The three pillars of monasticism are: - Celibacy. - Obedience. - Voluntary poverty.