Egypt Sightseeing : Minya, Coptic, Apa Bane Monastery

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Apa Bane Monastery

In a certain sense, an examination of the Christian Monastery of Apa Bane (Dair Abu Fana) provides us with some interesting insights to Egypt's desert fathers. Much is reported about their piety, and to such an extent that one questions the accuracy of ancient texts.

The Sanctuary Church

Only the sanctuary church that was dedicated to Apa Bane, which is surrounded by high brick walls erected not so much for defense in this case, but simply to stop the sand, was saved from the desert encroachment. The original sanctuary church was probably built in the 6th century, but modified in the middle Ages when the newer monastic community settled there. The church is entered from the north. Inside, the church has a nave; two side aisles and a sanctuary with similarities to a triconch design.To either side of the sanctuary are rooms that have been partitioned to form two small rooms (four totals). Two rows of five columns each separate the nave from the aisles. An eleventh column placed in the center of the west side marks the return aisle between the other two. This eleventh column is original, while the others probably replaced earlier columns.

The Funerary Church
Only recently has an Austrian team of archaeologist's unearthed further components of the original monastic complex, which lies north of the sanctuary church. Here, we find the funerary church under which the body of Apa Bane, along with other abbots of the monastery, was located. This building dates to about the 6th century, but appears to be an enlargement of a previous chapel erected at the end of the 4th or the beginning of the 5th century. It was probably built specifically to house the relics of Apa Bane. The church was entered from the south side through a narthex placed on the west side, from which a staircase gave access to the upper galleries. Inside, it includes a very large room for a ritual of water, as well as a refectory. The church itself takes the form of a basilica, with a nave, two side aisles and a return aisle on the west side. The sanctuary has an apse, niches and adjacent rooms on three of hits sides.
Originally, this church probably had only one nave and one apse. When it was constructed, the foundation of the chapel walls were used as stylobates (the foundation of a row of columns).

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