In the quiet desert of Egypt, hidden beneath the shadow of rugged mountains near the Red Sea, stands the oldest Christian monastery still standing today—the Monastery of Saint Anthony. For over 1,600 years, it has survived the harsh suns of the desert, violent invasions, and the passing of powerful empires. But how? What kept this sacred place safe while so many others disappeared? The answer lies not only in strong bricks but in unshakable faith, powerful relics, and a few miracles that even the desert winds still whisper about.
A long time ago, after the death of Saint Anthony—the very first Christian monk—faithful followers built the monastery in this remote place. They did so to honor him and protect the treasures he left behind. Hidden deep inside the monastery is the most sacred object of all: the bones of Saint Anthony himself. His remains are kept in a small stone crypt beneath the chapel, in a place where sunlight never touches. The monks believe his body still holds holy power—a gift from God. Pilgrims who visit say they feel peace when they kneel nearby, and some claim to have been healed of illness just by touching the stone above his tomb.
But it was not always peaceful here.
In the 11th century, a group of ruthless desert raiders set their sights on the monastery. They knew treasures lay inside. They were ready to burn the place and steal everything—until something strange happened. Just as they approached the main gate, a loud boom echoed through the mountains, and a sandstorm rose from nowhere, thick as smoke and fast as a wave. The raiders, blinded and frightened, dropped their weapons and ran. The monks believed Saint Anthony himself had called the storm from heaven to protect his resting place. From that day, the monastery was known to be protected by unseen hands.
Years later, during the time of the Crusades, when battles raged between different religions and Christian lands were often destroyed, the Monastery of Saint Anthony remained untouched. Why? One story tells of the Muslim leader Saladin, whose armies passed near the desert monastery. Though known for his strength as a warrior, Saladin heard tales of the holy man buried there and respected the monks' peace. He ordered his soldiers not just to spare the monastery—but to guard it. Some say he even brought food and supplies to the monks during hard times. And so, the faith of Christians, the respect of Muslims, and the blessings of God all helped protect the sacred grounds.
Inside the monastery’s chapel, an old wooden cross hangs on the wall. Carved by Saint Anthony himself, it is worn but still glows faintly in the candlelight. The monks believe the cross holds divine power—a symbol of holy strength. During times of fear, they gather beneath it to pray. One monk once wrote in a hidden scroll that during a plague, when the people of the nearby village were dying, those who came to the monastery and touched the cross were spared. The scroll still sits in the monastery’s ancient library, where hundreds of old manuscripts are protected from the sun and sand.
In the modern age, even as wars and revolutions shook the land of Egypt, the Monastery of Saint Anthony remained standing. During one uprising, armed soldiers passed through the desert, searching for places to set up camp. But when they tried to enter the monastery, their truck engines stopped working without reason. No tools could fix them. Startled, they turned away and left the place alone. It was as if the very stones of the monastery had spoken and said, “Not here.”
So why did this monastery survive when so many others were lost?
Because the people believed.
They believed that Saint Anthony still watched over the holy place. They protected his relics, shared his story, and placed their trust in the divine power that once guided him into the desert. Their faith became stronger than fire, stronger than sand, stronger than even time itself.
Today, if you walk through the ancient compound, you’ll hear the faint chant of monks in prayer, see the holy bones resting beneath the altar, and feel the hush of something unseen. You might not see the sandstorm that saved the monastery, or the raiders who were turned away, but you’ll feel their story in the air around you.
And as the desert sun sets behind the distant hills, the great mountain and the old monastery glow softly in golden light—still standing, still holy, still protected by the faith of those who believed the divine would never leave them.
In the quiet desert of Egypt, hidden beneath the shadow of rugged mountains near the Red Sea, stands the oldest Christian monastery still standing today—the Monastery of Saint Anthony. For over 1,600 years, it has survived the harsh suns of the desert, violent invasions, and the passing of powerful empires. But how? What kept this sacred place safe while so many others disappeared? The answer lies not only in strong bricks but in unshakable faith, powerful relics, and a few miracles that even the desert winds still whisper about.
A long time ago, after the death of Saint Anthony—the very first Christian monk—faithful followers built the monastery in this remote place. They did so to honor him and protect the treasures he left behind. Hidden deep inside the monastery is the most sacred object of all: the bones of Saint Anthony himself. His remains are kept in a small stone crypt beneath the chapel, in a place where sunlight never touches. The monks believe his body still holds holy power—a gift from God. Pilgrims who visit say they feel peace when they kneel nearby, and some claim to have been healed of illness just by touching the stone above his tomb.
But it was not always peaceful here.
In the 11th century, a group of ruthless desert raiders set their sights on the monastery. They knew treasures lay inside. They were ready to burn the place and steal everything—until something strange happened. Just as they approached the main gate, a loud boom echoed through the mountains, and a sandstorm rose from nowhere, thick as smoke and fast as a wave. The raiders, blinded and frightened, dropped their weapons and ran. The monks believed Saint Anthony himself had called the storm from heaven to protect his resting place. From that day, the monastery was known to be protected by unseen hands.
Years later, during the time of the Crusades, when battles raged between different religions and Christian lands were often destroyed, the Monastery of Saint Anthony remained untouched. Why? One story tells of the Muslim leader Saladin, whose armies passed near the desert monastery. Though known for his strength as a warrior, Saladin heard tales of the holy man buried there and respected the monks' peace. He ordered his soldiers not just to spare the monastery—but to guard it. Some say he even brought food and supplies to the monks during hard times. And so, the faith of Christians, the respect of Muslims, and the blessings of God all helped protect the sacred grounds.
Inside the monastery’s chapel, an old wooden cross hangs on the wall. Carved by Saint Anthony himself, it is worn but still glows faintly in the candlelight. The monks believe the cross holds divine power—a symbol of holy strength. During times of fear, they gather beneath it to pray. One monk once wrote in a hidden scroll that during a plague, when the people of the nearby village were dying, those who came to the monastery and touched the cross were spared. The scroll still sits in the monastery’s ancient library, where hundreds of old manuscripts are protected from the sun and sand.
In the modern age, even as wars and revolutions shook the land of Egypt, the Monastery of Saint Anthony remained standing. During one uprising, armed soldiers passed through the desert, searching for places to set up camp. But when they tried to enter the monastery, their truck engines stopped working without reason. No tools could fix them. Startled, they turned away and left the place alone. It was as if the very stones of the monastery had spoken and said, “Not here.”
So why did this monastery survive when so many others were lost?
Because the people believed.
They believed that Saint Anthony still watched over the holy place. They protected his relics, shared his story, and placed their trust in the divine power that once guided him into the desert. Their faith became stronger than fire, stronger than sand, stronger than even time itself.
Today, if you walk through the ancient compound, you’ll hear the faint chant of monks in prayer, see the holy bones resting beneath the altar, and feel the hush of something unseen. You might not see the sandstorm that saved the monastery, or the raiders who were turned away, but you’ll feel their story in the air around you.
And as the desert sun sets behind the distant hills, the great mountain and the old monastery glow softly in golden light—still standing, still holy, still protected by the faith of those who believed the divine would never leave them.
