Visiting Coptic monasteries

[garth.fowden]

Dear Colleagues, 

I have followed this group for some time, to my great scholarly profit. My apologies for making my first post a rather mundane request for travel information. I plan to visit during March 2027 - so partly during Lent - the White and Red Monasteries near Sohag, and SS. Antony and Paul near the Red Sea. I wonder whether there are Lenten visiting restrictions that ought to be borne in mind while planning dates. Also whether any of these monasteries offer overnight accommodation to travellers (including my wife and our son) whose Arabic is rudimentary but interest in liturgy high. I assume we will otherwise be obliged to observe the tourist visiting hours. Personal contacts in these houses would be very welcome.

With thanks in advance for any helpful hints.

Garth Fowden

-------

GARTH FOWDEN FBA

Sultan Qaboos Professor Emeritus of Abrahamic Faiths,
University of Cambridge.
https://cambridge.academia.edu/GarthFowden
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/landscapes/1

[A N]

Hi, Garth!

I wrote about this even to the Coptic patriarch, asking his blessing for visiting the monasteries during the Lent. :)

Some of them are indeed closed for the visitors during this period, but they open for the foreign visitors from far away, ar least this was the case for me and my family. We were not "ordinary" western tourists checking off the sites, but at each visit we explained we wanted to pray there, to venerate the saints and sacred objects. Actually, in my experience, there are always porters and guest-masters who will greet you and take you in or even give you a tour.

We were present at the liturgies, but, as Eastern Orthodox, did not participate actively in them.

The large monasteries offer accommodation too, but keep in mind that on main holidays they are totally crowded.

In general, Coptic monks are extremely friendly and hospitable.

Have a wonderful trip!

Alen

пт, 24 июл. 2026 г., 17:07 garth.fowden <garth...@gmail.com>:

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[Myriam Wissa]

Dear Garth,

I had the great chance to meet you in Cambridge years ago . I purchased and read your very insightful book «  The Egyptian Hermes » that provides highly  insights into the Greco-Egyptian cult of the Hermes Trismegistus, a genuinly  Egyptian concept on the importance of WISDOM in Ancient Egypt with Djehuti ( Thot ) and its grecisized form Hermes that continued to shape the early Christian thought, in particular Coptic spiritual and ascetical tradition  of the desert fathers and mothers. 

It is worth to note that the very meaning of Trismegistus  Three Times Great,  recalls the  tradition during which the  pharaonic priests performed the ritual of incensing in the ancient Egyptian temples while reciting  3 times Djehuty WR WR WR our our our = Great Great Great

Having said this, Alen  is absolutely right : Coptic monasteries apply  restrictions during the Lenten period . 

However as you  are very  special  visitors respectful to spiritual traditions , liturgy, and

the daily monastic prayers and readings that anchor on the Hours, you will be certainly very welcomed by Coptic monks. 

I also believe you can enrich Coptic monks  with your previous scholarship on Egyptian WISDOM in Antiquity and Late Antiquity that shaped the ascetic thought of the desert fathers and mothers. 

It would be good to perhaps ask « Bishop Suriel», monk and scholar  of the Coptic Orthodox Seminary in New Jersey to help introducing you to the Abbotts of  the monasteries .

Bishop Suriel is also member of this Network.

With my very best wishes,

Dr Myriam Wissa 

Docteur d’Etat and ICOR Fellow 

The Catholic University of America 

Washington DC, USA 

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[Ibrahim Saweros]

Hi

For the White Monastery, it is always open including during the lent and facilities to host families are available 365 day per year. The Red monastery is also open but with very limited facilities of accommodation.

Best,

Ibrahim Saweros

------------------

Ibrahim Saweros

Associate Professor of Coptic Language and Literature, Sohag University, Egypt.
Research Associate, The University of Manchester, UK.

002-01211202759 - 0044-07355743186

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[garth.fowden]

Dear Colleagues,

My sincerest thanks to all those who replied to my questions. If anyone (else) wishes to communicate privately, my e-mail is garth....@gmail.com.

With very best wishes,

Garth Fowden