Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Major General Pilot Ashraf Al-Dawdy, Governor of Qena, inaugurated this morning, Saturday, Deir Margis, “the complex” and Al-Anba, in Santaus, in Hajar Naqada, Qena Governorate.
Issa stressed that the ministry, represented by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, will continue to carry out its role in preserving Egypt’s archaeological and cultural heritage through maintenance and restoration projects for archaeological sites and museums nationwide in all its historical eras, and work to raise its efficiency and make it available to receive visitors from Egyptians and tourists from different countries of the world and improve the experience. tourism, which comes within the framework of one of the main axes of the national strategy for the development of tourism in Egypt, in addition to accommodating the growth in the incoming tourist movement to Egypt during the upcoming winter tourism season.
In the same context, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, the Governor of Qena, and the audience watched and listened to a short documentary film, during which the stages of restoration work in the two monasteries, their importance, and a brief history about them were reviewed.
The Naqada Monasteries Choir presented an artistic performance that included religious hymns and patriotic songs, after which Anba Bayman presented the shield of the Naqada and Qus Archdiocese to the Coptic Orthodox to the minister and the governor.
Unusual awakening
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities praised the fruitful cooperation between the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Qena Governorate, the Coptic Church, and the Archbishopric of Naqada and Qus to complete the restoration of these two monasteries, pointing out that there has been an unusual awakening in the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish antiquities sector of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in recent times, which resulted in successive openings, the latest of which was the opening of a wall. Hungarian Eyes, Fortress of Babylon, and the Jewish Temple of Ben Ezra in the ancient region of Historic Cairo, which were witnessed by the Prime Minister, which confirms the keenness of the state represented by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Supreme Council of Antiquities to pay attention to all its archaeological sites, including Egyptian, Islamic, Coptic, or Jewish, as they represent Part of the history and civilization of Egypt.
He expressed his full appreciation for the efforts made by all employees of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and their prominent role in promoting archaeological and museum work in various archaeological sites and museums, which was evident in the ability of these sites and museums to receive visitors from Egyptians and tourists from different countries of the world without the presence of any major obstacles or problems despite The increasing growth witnessed by the incoming tourist movement to Egypt, wishing them more success.
The minister also praised the efforts of the work team in the projects sector in the Council and the preparation for the winter tourist season by implementing a package of projects, allowing the Council to grow significantly in spending in the current fiscal year on restoration projects and raising the efficiency of various archaeological sites and museums in order to preserve Egyptian antiquities and at the same time improve Tourist experience.
Major General Pilot Ashraf Al-Dawdy, Governor of Qena, confirmed that the inauguration of the restoration works of the monasteries of St. Anba in Centaus, and the Roman Martyr George, is a great addition to the group of archaeological sites that characterize Qena Governorate, which contributes to strengthening its position on the tourist map of Egypt, and attracts more Egyptian and foreign visitors to it. , especially those interested in religious tourism, explaining that the restoration of the two monasteries will preserve its continuity so that they remain witnesses of that time period in the great history of Egypt.
The governor of Qena added that the Egyptian state, during the era of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, paid great attention to archaeological sites in the various eras of their establishment, as well as museums of antiquities, as the whole world witnessed over the past years how Egypt dazzled the world through the opening of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the accompanying procession of transporting mummies. property, and the inauguration of the project to restore the Rams Road in Luxor, as well as the inauguration of several restoration projects in archaeological sites, stressing that the homeland that glorifies its history and past will inevitably have a promising future.