ALEXANDRIA, May 26 (AGCNewsNet) – Egypt has undertaken major restoration efforts, including draining groundwater threatening centuries-old Christian ruins, in a bid to remove the historic site of Saint Menas near Alexandria from UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in danger.

The ancient site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 and placed on the endangered list in 2001 due to rising groundwater levels damaging ruins of an early Christian church, public buildings, and homes, is now showing signs of recovery.

Senior Egyptian antiquities officials and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II toured the archaeological area on Tuesday, highlighting progress after the 2022 groundwater drainage.

“The Egyptian government managed to lower the level of the water table and maintain the restoration and archaeological work,” said Mohamed Ismail, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. He expressed hope that the site could return to the normal World Heritage list by next year.

The site marks the burial place of Saint Menas, an early Christian martyr who died in 296 AD, around which a thriving pilgrimage community once flourished. Pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem stopped there, leading to the development of churches, baptisteries, basilicas, and a city infrastructure.

Priest Taddaeus Ava Mina described the site’s historical significance: “People started to come to this place... Then a big basilica was made in the shape of a cross, then a baptistery, then a city was formed.”

Today, the ruins include marble columns and remnants of these ancient buildings, with a modern church now standing atop the historic altar location.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy and Nuria Sanz, director of UNESCO’s regional office for Egypt and Sudan, also joined the inspection tour, affirming ongoing cooperation to restore and preserve this treasured cultural landmark.

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Source: AfricaNews