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Red Sea Monasteries, Egypt

Photographs depicting the Byzantine Institute's inaugural fieldwork project at Coptic monasteries along the Red Sea

After Thomas Whittemore founded the Byzantine Institute in 1930, he led an expedition to Egypt to conduct studies of wall paintings at the Coptic Monasteries of Saint Anthony and Saint Paul near the Red Sea. The team included the architect Oliver Barker, the painter Vladimir Netchetailov, the photographer Kazazian, and the epigrapher Alexandre Piankoff. This inaugural project lasted through early 1931.  For more information about the early activities of the Byzantine Institute, see Who Was Thomas Whittemore?

 

Exhibit Items

The Abbot in the library

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

View toward the sea from the Monastery of Saint Paul

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Interior of the Church of Saint Mark

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Baking the Holy Bread (Kurban)

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Saint Paul’s Tomb

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Thomas Whittemore and the Abbot

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Coptic manuscript from the library

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Southwest view taken from the Keep

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Church of Saint Anthony, Khurus, North wall, Saint George

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Interior of Church of Saint Anthony

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Coptic manuscript from the library

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Oil press

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Abu Mine

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Refectory

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Exterior view of the Church of Saint Mark

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

General view of New Church and Monastery of Saint Anthony

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Abbot of Monastery of Saint Anthony

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Abu Kosmao

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Bread production at the Monastery of Saint Anthony

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

General view of Monastery of Saint Anthony

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

View of Monastery of Saint Anthony from the east

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Church of Saint Anthony, Sanctuary, Entrance door

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Monks of Monastery of Saint Paul

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Stamping the Holy Bread

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Monks sorting dried grapes

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Old entrance; monk hoisted by rope lift into upper level entrance

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Monks baking the Holy Bread

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Monk roasting coffee

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Door of unspecified church

Monastery of Saint Anthony, Egypt, 1930–31

Gate of Monastery of Saint Paul

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Dome over Narthex stairwell, Cave Church of Saint Paul

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31

Divine Service, Cave Church of Saint Paul

Monastery of Saint Paul, Egypt, 1930–31