Egypt drained groundwater beneath a centuries-old Christian site to remove it from UNESCO’s endangered list. The site, located near Alexandria, centers around Saint Menas, a Christian martyr. His burial site has become a significant religious landmark.
On May 20, 2025, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and Egyptian antiquities officials visited the site to inspect the restoration efforts. UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List in 1979 due to its historical significance. However, in 2001, UNESCO listed it as endangered after rising groundwater levels began threatening the ruins.
In 2022, Egypt successfully drained the groundwater to protect the site. While the water table has lowered, restoration work is ongoing. According to Mohamed Ismail, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, “The government managed to lower the water table and continues restoration work.”
Egypt hopes to remove this Christian site from the endangered list by next year, with support from various stakeholders. The Egyptian authorities are collaborating with conservationists to ensure long-term protection.
The Saint Menas site became a popular pilgrimage destination after the martyr’s burial. Priest Taddaeus Ava Mina explained, “People started visiting, and over time, the area transformed into a religious hub. A basilica, baptistery, and other structures were built.”
The site once housed churches, public buildings, workshops, and a bustling pilgrimage economy. Today, the ruins and marble columns stand beside a modern church, built on the original altar.
