Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter

Saint Matthew the Potter

Location within Egypt
Monastery information
Other names	Saint Matthew the Poor
Established	704-29
Dedicated to	Saint Matthew the Potter
Diocese	Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
People
Founder(s)	Saint Matthew the Potter
Site
Location	Naq 'al-Zinaiqa, Luxor
Country	Egypt
Coordinates	25.37°N 32.480556°E / 25.37; 32.480556
Public access	Yes

The Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter, also known as the Monastery of Saint Matthew the Poor, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery in Upper Egypt. It was founded by a Coptic monk of the same name. It is located in Luxor Governorate near the town of Naq 'al-Zinaiqa, about seven kilometers northwest of the village of Asfun al-Matana near Esna. The monastery is built at the edge of the desert. It was uninhabited for a period of time, but in 1975, Coptic Orthodox monks reestablished a presence there. Excavations done by French archeologists between the Monastery of Saint Matthew the Poor and the Monastery of the Martyrs have revealed much about the history of Coptic monasticism in this region.

See also

• Saint Matthew the Potter
• Coptic Orthodox Church
• Coptic monasticism

References

• 2000 Years of Coptic Christianity. By Meinardus, Otto F. A. 1999. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 977-424-511-3.
• Christian Egypt: Coptic Art and Monuments Through Two Millennia. By Capuani, Massimo. 1999. Liturgical Press. ISBN 0-8146-2406-5.
• Churches and Monasteries of Egypt and Some Neighboring Countries. By Abu Salih the Armenian. Edited and Translated by Evetts, B.T.A. 2001. Gorgias Press. ISBN 0-9715986-7-3.