The Upper Egypt Tour
Dayr el-Maymun
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Traveling south by boat, the Holy Family reached the village of Dayr el-Maymun or ‘monastery of el–Maymun’, 25 km north of Beni Suef, on the East Bank of the Nile. Ninety percent of the village is Christian. Villagers believe that the Holy Family passed by their village and Jesus blessed the place. In Dayr el-Maymun, we view the place where St. Antonius the Great (251-356), founder of monasticism, had lived for some 20 years. According to tradition he worshipped in the existing Church of Abu Sefein, adjacent to the church of St. Antonius. We can also see the tree of Antonius, an offspring of the tree that once provided shade to the great saint. © copyright Members of a Christian family living near the Church of St. Antonius the Great, Dayr al-Maymun. © copyright An elderly Christian man on the roof of his house. At his back we can see the churches of St. Antonius the Great and the Church of Abu Sefein at Dayr el-Maymun. © copyright Father Girgis beside an ancient pillar of the old Church of Antonius. The ancient pillar has been almost entirely covered in concrete to give it strength. © copyright Painting of the Monastery of Maymun from the late 18 th century before the church became a village church. © copyright Father Girgis beside an ancient pillar of the old Church of Antonius. The ancient pillar has been almost entirely covered in concrete to give it strength. © copyright Father Girgis opening the ancient door leading to the Church of Abu Sefein at Dayr el-Maymun. © copyright Dr. Peter Grossmann (Scan from The Coptic Encyclopedia, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991, with permission of Dr. Grossmann)	© copyright A view of the two historical Coptic Orthodox Churches at Dayr el-Maymun located amidst fields and farmers’ houses. To the left is the Church of St. Antonius the Great (251-356) and to the right is the Church of Abu Sefein. In the Church of St. Antonius is the cave where St. Antonius the founder of monasticism, had lived for some 20 years. According to tradition he worshipped in the Church of Abu Sefein. © copyright The sacred trough of Saint Anthony surrounded by a fence. © copyright Members of a Christian family living near the churches of St. Antonius the Great and the Church of Abu Sefein at Dayr el –Maymun. They welcomed American author, Paul Perry, to take photos from the roof of their house. © copyright Father Girgis and Drs. Cornelis Hulsman standing near the cave of St. Antonius. © copyright A beautiful sculpture of a cross on the ceiling of the dome of the Abu Sefein Church at Dayr el –Maymun. © copyright A picture 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. © copyright Left is the wall of St. Antonius, and we are facing the Church of Abu Sefein at night.