It is the Egyptian Ministry of Ancient Monuments that informs about the discoveries on Saturday. At the same time, the MF University College (formerly the Congregational Faculty) in Norway also issued an announcement about the discovery of their websites.
Rector Vidar L. Haanes at the college is delighted with what has been discovered.
“The fact that we have now received a definite date that it is the world’s oldest Christian monastery our researchers have excavated in Egypt is nothing short of a world event, a sensation,” says Haanes.
– Crystal clear
Professor Victor Ghica at the college led the archaeologists behind the excavation of the ancient ruins.
– The results are crystal clear. Not only do we have a wealth of evidence that all six parts of the monastery date from the 4th century. According to carbon dating, we may even be in the Constantine dynasty, says Ghica.
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– Already around the year 350 AD. there were well-established monastic societies at the very edge of the Roman Empire, which is extremely early. This is something we have not been aware of before, he continues.
The team has uncovered several buildings, some made of basalt, others carved into the bedrock and some made of brick. New discoveries have been made during the third excavation at Tal Ganoub Qasr al-Agouz in the Bahariya oasis, Egyptian authorities say.
Great importance
The complex that has been discovered consists of six sectors where the ruins of three churches and monks’ cells have been found. The walls have graffiti and symbols that are associated with Coptic culture, says Osama Talaat in the ministry.
Victor Ghica says that 19 buildings and a church carved into the bedrock were discovered last year.
– It is not possible to exaggerate the importance of the monastic movement for the church. And it all started here in the desert of Egypt in the 300s, says rector of the college and professor of church history, Vidar L. Haanes.
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