Under the patronage of the venerable pontiff, Anba Hydra, Bishop of Aswan and the head of the monastery of Anba Pachomius in Edfu Hajar, and because His Eminence loves the monastic life, he gave this monastery special care. He loved the place with incredible love, to the extent that before constructing the sanctuary, His Eminence prayed the rosary alone.
Location of Monastery of Anba Pachomius
The monastery of Anba Pachomius stands at the foot of the mountain in Hajar Edfu. It is also close to the Christian burials. The road to the monastery was unpaved, there was no electricity, and the condition of the buildings was collapsing. Before 1975 AD, the monastery used to pray in it some priests delegated from neighbouring villages until the matter settled on the deceased Father Ayoub Hanna, who departed in 1975 AD.
Description
The monastery of Anba Pachomius exists in Edfu at a distance of 7 km to the west of Edfu city. It consists of four structures and a nave of three choirs separated by aisles. The western nave corner was used for the entrance and a baptism. There is an asphalt road to the monastery and the ancient church.
The building dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a twelve-domed church-style building. However, more domes were built when Christians reconstructed the monastery. These domes were incomplete in recreation with the old buildings. Next to the Edfu temple, there are archaeological piles with mud-brick buildings and some Coptic churches and monuments.
Reconstruction of the Monastery of Anba Pachomius
- Many cells to accommodate the monks whose number increased in the sanctuary.
- The construction of two lighthouses, 35 meters high, above the mountain, make the monastery a destination for seekers everywhere.
- Construction of two buildings dedicated to guests, visitors, priests and seekers of blessing.
- Building to host the Bishops, a library for the monks and a hall for selling exhibits.
- Also, a large church named the Virgin Mary is similar to the Church of the Virgin of Olives.
History
Monastic life began in the monastery, and some bishops graduated in 1975. Later, the Holy Synod recognised the monastery in 1980 AD. His Holiness Anba Shenouda III assigned the 117th HG Bishop of Aswan. His Eminence began to build the Anba Monastery Pachomius in Hajar Edfu, Diocese of Aswan, after his ordination on May 18, 1976. According to the historical record, Saint Pachomius is buried in the structure of the ancient church.
His Holiness the Pope visited the monastery of St. Pachomius in Hajar Edfu in the Diocese of Aswan. Saint Pachomius established this monastery and nine monasteries that spread from the north and south of Esna. Historians mention that Anba Pachomius is one of the founders of monasticism in the world.
The reconstruction of the monastery of St. Pachomius began with the construction of ten cells for the monks. Then, monks built a rest house for His Eminence the Bishop to supervise the reconstruction in 1976 AD. Further, in 1978 AD, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III ordained two new monks to this monastery, Maximus and the monk Antonius.
Reverend Tadros El-Bakhumi
Thus, there were three monks in the monastery, the first of whom was Reverend Tadros El-Bakhumi, who became the curator of the monastery. His Holiness Pope Shenouda appointed him a priest in Cairo on November 4, 1976 AD. Then, on May 22, 1980, His Holiness the Pope changed the monastic form of five monks to Pachomien. Also, he promoted the priest Tadros Al-Bakhumi, the Secretary of the Monastery, to the rank of Qumsiyeh. He is currently serving in Sydney, Australia.
On January 4, 1981, His Holiness Anba Hadra delegated the monk Shenouda al-Bakhumi. Also, the adoption of two monastic students and the Lord fulfilled his love by entering the monastery with electricity, increasing his love, and paving the road leading Edfu to the monastery. Accordingly, it became easily accessible to the sanctuary, and visits to the monastery increased.
In 1980, the Coptic Church built 26 new cells for the monks and prepared a seclusion house on the eastern nave side. Then, in 1981 the monastery agreed with the Antiquities Department to restore and whitewash the ancient church in the monastery.
The monastery began to organise with its monks who resided there, taking the components of monasteries and holding regular prayers and masses in them. A 4-meter-high wall was built, a cellar for the monks, and a library containing many spiritual books.
