Egypt has an consistent succession of historical eras from the Ancient Egyptian to the Modern era, however certain of these eras, such as the Ancient Egyptian and Arab-Islamic civilizations, have received more attention in study and research. According to this scenario, several other historical periods, such as the Coptic era, which lasted from the 3rd to the 7th century, are overlooked. This is an era that requires collaborative efforts to re-document this crucial period as an important component of Egypt's history with its cultural and architectural diversity on a scientific basis.
Within Egypt's long history, the monastery represents a historical architectural witness to Coptic civilization. The architectural, urban, and theological characteristics of this phenomenon had been mentioned by several mediaeval historians. Other than the lost and unknown monasteries, there are about 200 recognized monasteries or ruins of monasteries from the writings of voyagers, historians, and archaeologists. Some of these historical monasteries have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while approximately 42 have been designated as Egyptian National Monuments.
In 2019, the Tarek Waly Center for Architecture and Heritage launched the Coptic Monasteries Register, which aims to record historical Coptic monasteries across Egypt and provide an accurate, comprehensive register of this significant architectural heritage. By giving the necessary knowledge to aid in the study of the history and architecture of these monasteries as one of Egypt's most important aspects. During the course of this study, the Tarek Waly Center obtained basic information about more than 180 historical Coptic monasteries around Egypt, including their founding dates, locations, and historical significance.
This ambitious documentation project aims to the following …
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Creation of a comprehensive heritage record for historical Coptic monasteries in Egypt from the 14th to the 19th centuries, as well as the provision of essential information to appropriately present these monasteries.
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Providing and publishing an open-access, constantly updated source of knowledge that aids in the study of an important aspect of Egypt's architectural legacy.
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Raising public awareness of an important aspect of Egypt's history.
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Improving the capacity of these heritage sites to be designated as national monuments or possibly UNESCO World Heritage Sites, depending on their significance, so enhancing their protection under national and international legislation.
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Providing the knowledge needed to study architecture and history of Coptic monasteries, as well as the materials and techniques used in their construction, over time.
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Implementing a variety of appropriate protection and preservation strategies for these historic monasteries, as well as strengthening their management as heritage sites.
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Improving the sites' efficiency and their ability to host a range of seasonal and permanent religious and cultural events while preserving the sites' cultural values.
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Providing a mechanism for achieving integration between various cultural, professional, educational, and religious entities associated with historical monasteries in order to avoid duplication of research and conservation efforts.
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Assisting in the promotion of these historical monasteries' cultural values, as well as their economic revenue and impact on local societies, in order to put them on the cultural tourism map.
