Three Qena Monasteries Have Just Been Fully Restored

After three years of restoration work, three different monasteries in Qena’s city of Naqada have been able to open their doors to visitors last Wednesday, August 19th. The monasteries in question are the Monastery of the Archangel Michael, the Monastery of Saint George, and the complex of Saint George.

Restoration included completely changing the electrical network, treatment of the floors, treating mud bricks on the walls, and strengthening the foundations of the buildings. The Monastery of Archangel Michael housed a circular bath which dates back to the Fatimid era , and was carefully protected within a glass enclosure.

The monasteries represent an architectural style unique to Upper Egypt, using mud bricks to create exquisite architectural formations. Naqada is home to six ancient monasteries, and is considered a crucial site for Egypt’s Coptic heritage. Named after the Coptic word ‘nai kadai,’ meaning knowledge, the history of the city dates back to pre-dynastic eras.