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.

Photo: Paul Perry, an elderly Christian man on the roof of his house. behind him we can see the churches of St. Anthony the Great and the Church of Abu Sefein at Dayr Al-Maymun.

Photo: Paul Perry, members of a Christian family living near the Church of St. Anthony the Great, Dayr al-Maymun.

Photo: Paul Perry, the sacred trough of St. Anthony surrounded by a fence.

Photo: Paul Perry, father Girgis beside an ancient pillar of the old Church of Anthony. The ancient pillar has been almost entirely covered in concrete to support it.

Photo: Paul Perry, father Girgis opening the ancient door leading to the Church of Abu Sefein at Dayr al-Maymun.

Photo: Paul Perry, a handkerchief of the Last Supper inside the Church of Abu Sefein. Notice the stars of David at the top of the picture. This is probably the only church in Egypt with these stars.

Photo: Norbert Schiller, the Churches of Abu Sefein and St. Anthony.

Photo: Norbert Schiller, a villager passes by the Church of Abu Sefein in Dayr al-Maymun.

Photo: Norbert Schiller, a villager rests at the door of the Church of Abu Sefein in Dayr al-Maymun.