Traveling south by boat, the Holy Family reached the village of Dayr Al-Maymun or The Monastery of Al–Maymun, on the East Bank of the Nile, 25 km north of Beni Suef. Ninety percent of the village’s population is Christian. Locals believe that the Holy Family passed by their village and Jesus blessed the place. In Dayr Al-Maymun, we behold the place where St. Anthony the Great (251-356) lived for some 20 years. According to the tradition, the founder of the eremitic monasticism used to worship in the Church of Abu Sefein, adjacent to the church of St. Anthony. We will also come across the tree of Anthony, an offspring of the tree that once offered shade to the great saint.

Photo: Paul Perry, a view of the two historical Coptic Orthodox Churches at Dayr al-Maymun located amidst fields and farmers’ houses. To the left is the Church of St. Anthony the Great (251-356) and to the right is the Church of Abu Sefein. In the Church of St. Anthony is the cave where St. Anthony the founder of monasticism, had lived for some 20 years. According to tradition he worshipped in the Church of Abu Sefein.