Anba Beshoy Monastery

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The monastery was founded by Saint Beshoy in the 4th century . Like the other buildings in the area , it suffered the attacks of the desert nomads and was restored several times .
The monastery has a well-built tower and a wall of about 10 meters high and two meters thick , with two doors in the north and south sides .
Within its compound , the monastery comprises a big garden , a mill , a well , a residence for the Patriarch Shenouda III , a number of cells for the monks , 5 churches , and 3 refectories (one of which was converted to a museum) .
The churches of the monastery are: Church of St . Michaels , Church of Saint Beshoy , Church of Abu Iskhirun , Church of the Holy Virgin , and the Church of Saint George .
Today , the Church of Saint George , built in the 11th century , is not in use . It has two sanctuaries and six cupolas .
The Church of the Holy Virgin , actually dedicated to Benjamin I , has a vaulted ceiling , a squared sanctuary , separated by a finely worked wooden iconostasis , and a dome .
Built in the 11th century , the Church of Abu Iskhirun has a squared plan and a semi-circular apse where the sanctuary– separated by wooden iconostasis– lies . Under the church's altar are preserved the relics of Saint Iskhirun . The Church also contains a baptistery , beside the sanctuary .
The Church of Saint Michaels has some icons that represent the twelve apostles .
The main church of the monastery is the church of Saint Beshoy .
Almost completely restored in the 14th century by Patriarch Benjamin II , the church consists of a three-aisled nave , a choir , and three sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin (in the north side) , Saint Beshoy (in the middle) and Saint John the Little (in the southern side) . The wooden works of the doors , the pulpit and iconostasis are finely elaborated .
The relics of many saints –like Saint Beshoy , Saint Paul of Tamya , and Patriarch Benjamin II– are preserved in the church .