MonasteryWaldsolms

Kröffelbach Monastery

Kröffelbach Monastery

Monastery (active), Theology College

Kloster Kröffelbach in Hesse is a significant center of the Coptic Church in the German-speaking world. It is named after Saint Anthony the Great and is the first officially recognized Coptic Orthodox monastery on the European mainland.

History+

The monastery's origins date back to 1975, when Father Salib Sourial was sent to Germany to support the establishment of a Coptic center. In 1980, the Copts acquired land in Kröffelbach, and the first monks from Egypt moved in. The first liturgy was celebrated in the same year. The new church was consecrated by Pope Shenouda III in November 1990. In November 2002, the Pope Shenouda III Coptic Orthodox Theological College began its academic operations. Official recognition by the Holy Synod occurred at Pentecost 2010. A fire in December 2015 significantly damaged an adjacent residential building.

Location+

The St. Anthony Monastery is located in the municipality of Waldsolms, in the Kröffelbach district, in the federal state of Hesse. It is situated in the lower Taunus region, surrounded by a landscape of mountains, valleys, and forests.

On site+

The monastery serves as a place of prayer and meditation, offering lodging for monks and guests. It is a spiritual center also visited by Christians of other denominations and functions as a venue for seminars and meetings. The monastery houses the first church in Europe built in Coptic style, a domed structure with three altars and a separate bell tower, adorned with modern icons and frescoes by Egyptian artists. Additionally, it hosts the Pope Shenouda III Coptic Orthodox Theological College, which offers a four-year theological education.

Nearby+
  • Cleeberg Castle (Castle, approx. 6728 m away)
  • Philippstein Ruin (Ruin, approx. 7616 m away)
  • Braunfels Castle (Castle, approx. 9195 m away)
  • Magdalenenhausen Manor (Wetzlar) (Manor and Estate House, approx. 9765 m away)

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Location: 50.4477, 8.4655