Egypt: The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Archaeology, Egypt, Middle East, Mustafa Waziri, signs the contract for the implementation of the project for restoration and construction of a wall around the archaeological monastery of Saint Marmina Al-Ajayibi in Assiut province.
The reports stated that the agreement signed for the restoration and construction of a wall around the monastery of Saint Marmina Al-Ajayibi In Assiut Governorate was also attended by Pope Tawadros II, Pope Alexandria, and Patriarch Karaza of Marksia.
In addition, Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archeques, representing the Supreme Council of Monuments and Anba Besinti, the bishops of Abnab, Fath and New Assiut, representing the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, during the ceremony.
On his part, Mustafa Waziri also said that the project would include the implementation of some restoration work in the monastery and the creation of a fence around the monastery, which comes within the scope of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ concern in the Supreme Council of Artefacts in their different historical eras throughout the Republic.
Furthermore, he added that the implementation of this project came after the approval of the Standing Committee for Islamic and Coptic Monuments Judaism; Lafta said that works had been established for a production unit of a special nature to implement the artefacts restoration projects at the Supreme Council of Archeques, and work is set to begin in the next few days.
“The production unit has finished the works of the necessary studies and technical measurements of the project, signifying that the works will be done under the full supervision of the archaeological area and the project sector of the Supreme Council of Archeques,” Mustafa Waziri noted in his remarks.
It is worth noting that the monastery of Martyr Marmina Al-Ajayibi in Mount Abnoub is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River north of the city of Abnoub, about 30 km, at the height of 30 meters above the ground and is known as the hanging monastery because it is suspended in the lap of the mountain. The monastery dates back to the 4th century AD, and Makrezi mentioned it in the book of plans.
In the end, the monastery was founded by Pope Athanasius the Apostle, who established the archaeological church named after Marmina the monastery has a three-story archaeological fort and includes several churches, including archaeological and modern.
