Information about St. Simeon Monastery

Name: Cairo Top Tours
Address: Egypt - Giza - Al-Ahram St.5th Hassan Said St. from Ahram St Giza P.O. Box 6, Egypt, EG
Telephone: +201022772955
Price range: 40$

Latest Articles

Aswan Governerate in Egypt

One of Egypt's southern governorates is Aswan Governorate. The city of Aswan serves as its capital. At a latitude of 22 north of the equator (also known as the Tropic of Cancer), it is bounded to the north by the Qena Governorate, to the east by the Red Sea Governorate, to the west by the New Valley Governorate, and to the south by the Republic of Sudan.
Luxor Governorate Egypt

The capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt is Luxor City, which was once known as "Thebes City" because it served as Egypt's capital during the Pharaonic era. It is situated in the South Upper Egypt region, approximately 670 kilometers from the capital Cairo from the south. It is bordered on the north by Qena Governorate, on the south by Aswan Governorate, on the east by Red Sea Governorate, and on the west by New Valley Governorate.
History of kafr El Sheikh Governorate

Kafr El Sheikh Governorate is an Egyptian governorate, located in the northernmost part of Egypt in the Nile Delta, with Kafr El Sheikh as its capital. It had a population of 3,172,753 in 2015 and an area of 3,748 km². Its entire area is located north of the delta and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The main economic activity of the residents of the governorate is agriculture and fishing, especially the southern lands of the governorate and the lands overlooking the Nile River - Rosetta Branch.
Egypt's New Administrative Capital

The New Administrative Capital is located between the Cairo-Suez and Cairo-Ain Sokhna roads, 60 km from Cairo and the same distance from Ain Sokhna and Suez. The New Administrative Capital is located on the border of Badr City, in the area between the Cairo-Suez and Cairo-Ain Sokhna roads, just after New Cairo, Mostakbal City and Madinaty.
Al Gharbia Governorate

Gharbia Governorate is one of the governorates full of archaeological sites, whether they are places or facilities (mosques, churches), as the governorate is a destination for visitors to these places throughout the year, whether they are Egyptians from the different governorates.
Hamata Islands (Qulaan Archipelago) in Marsa Alam

The Hamata area, south of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea, is one of the most important parts of the Wadi El Gemal Reserve, whether in the desert or the sea. It was named after the sorrel plant, which was distorted to Hamata.

Information about St. Simeon Monastery

05 16, 2023

St. Simeon Monastery in Aswan is a key destination for Egypt Day Tours, providing visitors with a rich journey through history. Here on the western shore of Aswan is the Aswan Monastery of St. Simeon, famous for the monastery of Bishop “Hadra the Tourist” ... According to Egyptian narratives, this name is due to the sighting of the Bishop carrying a “Qudra” of water, filling it and then returning with it, so he was nicknamed “Qudra,” which then became “Hadra.”

For those interested in Egypt Shore Excursions, this monastery offers a remarkable insight into Coptic monastic life and history. The church considers St. Simeon to be the first bishop of the Aswan diocese, which at that time included Luxor, Esna, and Armant. The monastery was built around the sixth century AD on an area of about two and a quarter acres on an expansive plateau about one kilometer from the beach. It was restored in the tenth century AD.

Egypt Travel Packages often highlight the monastery’s unique architecture, built in harmony with the surrounding environment: the valley, on which the church and guest rooms were built, and the plateau, on which the villas and the monastery's facilities were built. The monastery is also distinguished by its high walls, which are almost six meters high.

It was the Italian archaeologist Monnet who discovered the monastery in 1925 and described it as one of the largest and most important monasteries in Upper Egypt. And why not, as it has defied time and survived through the eons.

The monastery became famous and hosted about 300 monks and 100 disciples for worship. According to canonical books, the monastery began to decay in the 14th century due to repeated southern foreign invasions that deliberately sabotaged the monastery, and its loved ones abandoned it, but by divine providence, the monastery halls (private rooms for monks) survived, while the features of the Bakhoumian school (i.e., collective monasticism) were lost, as every five monks were housed in one hall.

Fortunately, most of the monastery's buildings, decorated with exquisite icons, have survived, except for the roofs of the churches and some of the rooms.

To this day, church fathers celebrate the anniversary of Bishop Hadra's death in December every year by holding prayers at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in the city center and concluding with a Mass in the ancient monastery after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Antiquities to which the monastery belongs.

The monastery's gifts have not stopped until today, as an archaeological icon of Anba Hadra was found in a closed room in the Church of the Virgin, which was studied and highlighted.

Due to the special status of St. Simeon's Monastery, it has recently witnessed a huge spiritual and urban renaissance, and many new buildings have been built next to it to receive visitors and guests.

Share On Social Media:

Egypt Tours FAQ

Read top Egypt tours FAQs

While Aswan is home to many magnificent temples and other religious structures, you can definitely take a break from them by visiting the amazing St. Simeon monastery. In this historic location, you can take a camel ride or engage in other activities.See also the following five of Aswan's most well-known temples: the Kom Ombo, Philae, Abou Simbel, Kalabsha, and Amada temples.

Seven days a week, the St. Simeon Monastery is open from dawn until afternoon. Aim to arrive as soon as the site opens to avoid the heat, even if there are rarely many visitors and it is occasionally possible to have the remains to yourself. If you're walking from the river, that's very crucial.

The following are the top ways to visit St. Simeon Monastery:

St. Simeon's Monastery Private Tour
Private Camel Ride and Half-Day Tour to St. Simeon Monastery in Aswan
Private excursion to St. Simeon Monastery with boat and camel rides
Journey to the St. Simeon Monastery

Aswan offers a variety of popular tourist attractions. Some of the must-visit places include the Temple of Philae, located on Agilkia Island; the Unfinished Obelisk, an ancient granite quarry; the Nubian Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the Nubian people; and the Aswan Botanical Garden, a beautiful island garden on the Nile River.

Many classic Nubian desserts are available, such as Tamria, Aseedat El-Burbara, Ghorayeba, Aseeda, and Basbousa. Rosewater or orange blossom water is used to flavor basbousa, a moist dessert made with yogurt, sugar, and semolina. A sweet porridge called aseedat El-burbara is made with sugar, butter, and wheat flour. Nuts or raisins are frequently added on top. Delicate butter cookies with powdered sugar or vanilla are called ghorayeba. Made with flour, butter, honey, or sugar and frequently spiced, aseeda is a comforting and sweet dessert. Made from dates, tamarria is a wholesome, high-energy Nubian treat.

The Temple of Elephantine Island in Aswan is an important archaeological site located on the island of Ajmal, in the Nile River. It dates back to Egypt's Pharaonic era and was dedicated to the cult of Isis, the goddess of love and fertility.

Things to do at the Elephantine Island Temple include the following:

Explore the temple: Visitors can tour the Elephantine Island Temple and explore its magnificent architecture and unique stone carvings depicting the gods and goddesses of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Photography: The Elephantine Island Temple is a beautiful place for photography, where visitors can take great pictures of the stone structures, statues and inscriptions.

Guided tours: Guided tours of the Elephantine Island Temple are often organized to orient visitors and provide them with historical and cultural information about the site and its history.

Enjoy the scenery: The Temple of Elephantine Island is situated in a picturesque location on the banks of the Nile River, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the scenery and fresh air.

Enjoy the pools of the Nile: Around the Elephantine Island Temple many restaurants and cafes are offering magnificent views of the Nile River, and visitors can enjoy strolling along the banks of the river or wandering through the beautiful gardens surrounding the temple.

The monastery is located in the southwest of Koh Chang Island in Aswan, it starts from the old market in Aswan, the road is about 12 kilometers long, the journey takes about one hour, and the road is a paved road that leads to the Aswan Gate. In the desert area.

;