The Red Abbey

"The red monastery" 

«The Red Abbey»

• The Red Monastery is one of the three remaining archaeological landmarks of Byzantine architecture worldwide.

• Established by Amba Peshay in the early 4th century, it is considered one of the most important monasteries in the history of the Orthodox Church and is also considered one of the important monasteries built in the early Christian times.

• The Red Monastery is located in the west of Sohag city at a distance of about 21 km.

• I use red brick as a basic material in my construction so I call it Red Monastery as well as white limestone and some pink and black granite columns.

• The monastery has 6 churches

1-The Main Church

It is the Church of Anba Bejol and Anba Bishay, which is a rectangular space divided into a plate with 3 wings

2- Church of the St. Virgin Mary

3- Church of St. Anbaccaras the Tourist

4- Church of the Monks

5- Church of the Martyr Abskheron Al-Kalini

6- Church of Saints Maximus and Dumaeus

• The Abbey Church at its eastern end is finished with a triangular structure decorated with murals depicting Torahic scenes including Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the four Gospels. The Abbey also has a three-fold structure of the church which is one of its landmarks.

• The monastery is characterized by doors that are very magnificent and sophisticated, and they have patterns resembling leaves of trees, some others, stars, and some geometric shapes that are penetrated by the drawing of a cross in their parts.

• The key of the monastery is made of iron, bronze and silver, 35 cm long, its design is very beautiful and is now in the Egyptian Museum.

• The monastery was burned twice

The First during Roman Reigns

And the second one is because of the Barbarian act, and the fortress, which is located on the southern side of the church, probably dates back to the era of Empress Helena and there are remains of architectural parts to the north of the church, and it is believed to be parts of an industrial city.