Archangel Michael Monastery 

Location:  

It is situated in the Benhodb Mount region in the sacred wilderness of El-Assas, four km southwest of Naqada. It is the most northern monastery in the sacred wilderness of El-Assas.  All roads leading to the monastery either from the east (Naqada) or from the west side (the desert highway between Cairo and Aswan) are currently paved which facilitated visits to the monastery. 

History: 

It is likely that the history of the monastery dates to the fourth century AD.  The monastery had many monks since its establishment until the 12th century AD when it was destroyed in the year 1173. The old church in the monastery was built in the Medieval Ages, according to the documentary of the ordination of Rev. Isaiah Al-Naqadi.  Rev. Isaiah was ordained a priest for Archangel church in Zaher Naqada by His Holiness Pope Yoannis the 13th, the 94th Patriarch on Friday the 11th of Toba of the year 1224 of the martyrs (January 7, 1508, AD). 

As an evidence that this monastery had a blooming monastic life at earlier times is the fact that about 250 meters away, in the cemeteries adjacent to the monastery there is an antique monastic cell with one dome that is built of the same mud bricks used in building the monastery. Also, five hundred meters north of the monastery in the mountain, there is a small cave surrounded by a lot of pottery, as a footprint of monastic life in this monastery in the sacred wilderness of El-Assas. 

The diocese was joyful upon the recognition of the Monastic life in that monastery during the seminary of the Holy Synod in the month of November 2014 AD during the reign of His Holiness Pope Tawadros who visited the monastery on January 15, 2016. 

The monastery encompasses the following: 

1 – Old Churches:  

  1. Archangel Michael Church: 

It was established in the Medieval times and was recently restored.  H.G. Bishop Biemen and a group of bishops consecrated the church during the 2019 Lent.  It contains three altars: the middle is in the name of the Archangel Michael, the northern altar is in the name of Anba Mikhail Al-Naqadi and Father Mikhail Al-Behairi, and the southern altar is in the name of Anba Samuel Al Naqadi and Anba Samuel the Confessor 

The relics of Anba Mikhail al-Naqadi was discovered next to three unidentified metropolitans. The holy relics were transferred to a compartment inside the church nave. An archaeological basin dating back to the 14th century AD was also discovered. 

  1. Virgin Mary Church: 

It is located to the north of the Archangel Michael Church and dates to the end of the 18th century AD and the beginning of the 19th century AD.  It contains three altars: the middle altar is in the name of the Virgin Mary, the northern altar is in the name of St. Mark the Apostle and Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum and Giza, and the southern altar is in the name of St. Anthony. 

During church restoration, the relics of the Thrice-Blessed Anba Isaac, the general bishop who passed away in 1978 AD was discovered. His relics were exhumed and put in a new compartment in the northern altar.  In addition, a new icon holder was erected.   The church was consecrated after restoration by H.G. Bishop Biemen in 2019 AD.  

  1. The Holy Family Church: 

It dates to the 19th century and was originally a cemetery for the families of many priests in Naqada. The church was consecrated in 2009.  It was restored, and a new icon holder was erected and thereafter was consecrated by H.G. Bishop Biemen in 2020. 

  1. St. Anthony Church: 

It is located in the area of the monks’ cells (El-Qalali) and is used exclusively by the monks. 

2 – Pope Shenouda III Conference Hall: 

Construction of the hall started in 1997 on a vast area of 2500 square meters to accommodate 2300 attendees. It was inaugurated by the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III on the 29th of March 2004. 

3 – Manuscript library: 

Manuscripts were scattered among the diocese churches, monasteries as well as the congregation.  Therefore, H.G. Bishop Biemen, established a library at Archangel Michael Monastery to collect, restore and preserve all manuscripts. 

4 – Holy Fathers’ Paradise: 

A special cemetery was built about 1 km west of Archangel Michael church. The Thrice-Blessed, H.G. Bishop Karas, the general bishop of El-Mahalla El-Kubra Diocese, as well as some priests, monks, and nuns have been buried there.