| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Tadros, M. ¹ , Abdallah, A. ² & Missak, M. <sup>2

1</sup> MACandidate Guidance dept., Faculty of Tourism and Hotels Management, Helwan Univ., Egypt.
² Guidance dept., Faculty of Tourism and Hotels Management, Helwan Univ., Egypt.

Abstract:
This paper aims to explore and show the great importance of the monastery, which is con-sidered one of the important Coptic pilgrimage medieval monasteries in Egypt. This monastery of Saint Hedra is located on the west bank of the Nile in the Aswan governorate. It was dedicated to his founder, Saint Hedra, who was the Bishop of Aswan at that time. The monastery was built in the seventh century. It is among the monasteries that belonged to Saint Pachomius, the founder of Communal monasticism in Upper Egypt at the beginning of the fourth century A.D. The monastery has a unique design; it is large and was built on 2 terraces, the lower one and the upper terrace. Also has many of the building’s elements. The main part of the monastery is the church, which takes the basilica design; however, it is partly ruined and mostly of the parts of the monastery. Also, it was one of the Communal monasticism monasteries in Upper Egypt that had many monks who lived in the twelfth century; however, it became one abandoned monastery in the thirteenth century. This monastery has great historical, architectural, social, and religious values nowadays, and there are some excavations being carried out at this site, which shows the great importance of this monastery as a pilgrimage destination for many pilgrims all over the world. Moreover, it has one of the intangible heritages, which is the great celebration, named in Arabic as Mulid, which is consecrated to the Saint Hedra and is trying to revive this celebration wider. This study aims to put this site on the map of Christian pilgrimage in Egypt due to the great importance of the Monastery, which are historical, architectural, religious, and social values. Also, it should be added to the religious touristic programs as a pilgrimage destination for many Christians.

Keywords:
Saint Hedra monastery Saint Simeon monastery Hedra of Aswan Coptic mulid Christian pilgrimage Coptic pilgrimage

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