Monastery of the venerable Archangel Michael

The location of the monastery

The monastery of the venerable Archangel Michael is located in the Mount Benhadib area in the sacred wilderness of the foundation in the southwest of the city of Naqada, at a distance of 4 km. The desert (Cairo – Aswan), which crosses the monastery from the western side, which made it very easy for visitors to reach the monastery without suffering.

A wall was also built around the archaeological sanctuary of the Archangel Michael Church under the supervision of the Antiquities Authority around an area of ​​11 acres in 2011. His Eminence Bishop Beymen built a 3 km wall surrounding the Naqada Coptic cemetery, in view of the urban encroachment on the borders of the cemetery in 2011.

History of the monastery

It is likely that the history of the monastery dates to the 4th century AD, and the monastery was in the past full of monks since its establishment until the 12th century AD, and it was destroyed in 1173 AD. The current church in the monastery was built in the Middle Ages, and this is evident to us from the news of the ordination of Rev. Isaiah Al-Naqadi over the Church of the Archangel Michael, apparently by Naqada, in the hands of Pope Yoannis the 13th, the 94th Patriarch in the order of the patriarchs on Friday, 11 Touba 1224, corresponding to 7 January 1508, AD.

The church was renovated in the 18th century AD, and the monastery was of great size, and there are remnants of its ruins outside the wall of the current monastery, and there is also in the tribal side of the monastery, about 50 meters, a richer well for water from the Coptic era outside the monastery. It is said that this well was in the middle of the monastery and the evidence on this is the presence of remains of old, dilapidated buildings next to the well, made of mud bricks from the same bricks used in the church building and remains of the sacrificial kiln, as well as some of the many pottery pieces that were used at the same time.

There is also in the tombs adjacent to the monastery an antique quarry, about 250 meters away, and it is of the same domes and mud bricks, and its building dates to the same buildings as the monastery, and it consists of one dome. A monastic life in that area, and this is sufficient evidence that monasticism was full and spread in this holy monastery on the holy mountain of the foundation.

The monastery in the writings of historians

The monastery was left for a large period and was prayed by priests from the city of Naqada and they are responsible for the monastery at different intervals and on the feasts of Archangel Michael and they are 12 Hatour / 12 Baonah of each year in commemoration of the Archangel Michael and on Sundays of Great Lent and Christmas Lent.

Some modern references mention the state of the monastery before the modern reconstruction, including the book (The Guide to the Ancient Churches and Monasteries from Giza to Aswan, prepared by the Department of Architecture at the Institute of Coptic Studies), that “it was difficult to reach it by big buses and there was no suitable place to live in it.”

The joy of the people of the diocese increased by the official recognition of the monastery as the monastery of Amer, and the monastic life of the monastery returned to the monastery in the seminary of the Holy Synod in the month of November 2014 AD during the reign of His Holiness the Great Pope Anba Tawadros, God established him on his throne, which increased our joy many times over by his pastoral visit to the monastery among his people with his presence on 15/1 /2016 AD

Monastery contents

Part One: Buildings of Old and New Churches

• Church of the Archangel Michael:

Its origin dates to the Middle Ages, when it was renewed, and His Eminence Bishop Beymen and a group of evangelical bishops inaugurated it during the Holy Forty fast of 2019 AD, and it contains 3 altars:

• The middle one among them is the name of the angel Michael
• The sea altar in the name of Anba Mikhail Al-Naqadi and our father Mikhail Al-Behairi. The body of Anba Mikhail Al-Naqadi was discovered next to three unidentified metropolitans. The holy remains were transferred to a compartment inside the nave of the church itself.
• The tribal altar in the name of Anba Samuel Al-Naqadi, which is from the fifth century AD and Anba Samuel the Confessor, and an archaeological bath dating back to the 14th century AD was found.

• The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

It is located to the north of the Archangel Michael Church. It dates to the end of the 18th century AD and the beginning of the 19th century AD. In the marine structure there is the body of the late Anba Isaak, the general bishop. He passed away in 1978 AD. His body was extracted during the restoration process, where it was reconstructed, and a new icon holder was made. Its inauguration by His Eminence Bishop Beyman in 2019

• Holy Family Church:

It dates to the 19th century AD and was a cemetery for the families of many priests in Naqada. It was inaugurated in 2009 and was reconstructed and a new icon holder worked in it. It was inaugurated by His Eminence Bishop Beyman in 2020 AD

• Anthony’s Church:

It is located within the boundaries of the Qalali area of ​​the fathers of the monks and is their own

Part Two: Pope Shenouda III Conference Hall

It was started in 1997 AD on a vast area of ​​2500 m, with a capacity of 2300 people. It was opened by the Triangle of Mercy, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on 3/29/2004 AD.

It contains a restaurant, kitchen and independent accommodation, and many conferences are held from all over the republic annually, in which the monastery has many spiritual and social services that serve the residents of the diocese as well as the surrounding provinces, where it received the large crowds that came from various places to obtain blessings in the presence of His Holiness Pope Anba Tawadros II, in which the great celebrations of the diocese are held, as well as the liturgies of great occasions such as the fasting of Nineveh and the Holy Week, where the monastery is very popular among the people of the diocese and other places.

The Monastery of the Venerable Archangel Michael at Naqada is the main outlet for the people of Naqada and the neighboring villages on Sundays and occasions such as Sham El-Nessim and holidays.

In the monastery there is also a home for seclusion, very distinguished in all aspects of comfort and tranquility, serving visitors to the monastery who seek seclusion and blessing.

The monastery also contains a center for preserving the Coptic heritage of the region, represented by Coptic books, manuscripts, and icons. The monastery also has a library full of precious spiritual and religious books.

Part Three: The Paradise of the Fathers

A special cemetery was established for the fathers and is located about 1 km in the western direction of the ancient church. It contains the body of the Triangle of Mercy, His Grace Bishop Karas, the general bishop of the Great Diocese of Mahalla, some of the priests, monks and nuns mothers.