Sawāda - Sawāda

Sawada (Arabic:سوادة‎, Sawada) is a village with around 10,500 inhabitants^[1] in Middle Egypt in the governorate Minyā 4 km south of the city el-Minyā east of the Nile.

background

The local monastery goes back to the monk and martyr Apa Hor, who lived here at the end of the 3rd century. Aba Hōr was born in Bahgoura, at the age of 20 he became a monk, a year later he settled here in the Roman temple. At the time of the Diocletian persecution of Christians because of his belief in Antinoe beheaded.

getting there

The village of Sawāda can be reached by car or taxi via the new asphalt road from el-Minyā to Benī Ḥasan.

Tourist Attractions

The monastery) Deir Aba Hōr (Deir Aba Hor, Arabic:دير أبا هور‎, Dair Abā Hūr) is immediately east of the road. There will be a new one in the entrance area cathedral erected (2007 under construction), which once served the Church of St. Dimiana should take over. To the northeast of the cathedral there are two churches, one is the underground rock church from the 4th century, which was set up in a former Roman temple, and the church of St. Dimiana from the 18th century with a valuable collection of old icons. The Rock church can be reached via a narrow corridor. The interior of the church is divided into three naves by two rows with four pillars each. On the left (north) side there are two baptisteries (baptismal fonts) and a 9 m deep well. On the right side there are tombs with the bones of some priests who served in el-Minyā. At the rear of the central nave there is the iconostasis with two holy holies (shark) behind it for Aba Hōr (in the north) and the Holy Virgin Mary. Above the rock church is the Church of St. Dimiana with three scales. The monastery is open daily, there is no entrance fee.

Admission is free.

There is a large one east of the monastery christian cemetery.

shop

kitchen

There are restaurants in the nearby el-Minyā.

accommodation

Accommodation options exist in el-Minyā.

trips

A visit to the monastery can be combined with a visit to the archaeological sites in Zāwiyat el-Maiyitīn, Benī Ḥasan and Isṭabl ʿAntar (Speos Artemidos) connect.

Individual evidence