ACTS’s first study abroad trip to Egypt brought students and faculty from dioceses around the world together on a unique lecture tour of Egypt’s ancient historical sites. The course focused on the significance of the country’s rich monastic history providing students the opportunity to experience not only academic growth but also spiritual insight throughout the trip.

As the group moved through the monastic landmarks, including visits to Luxor and Aswan, they were met by spiritual fathers, monks and bishops who described the deep imprint each monastery had on Egypt’s religious history, even hearing from His Grace Bishop Serapion on the history of asceticism in Egypt. The uniqueness of the trip came not only from the immense breadth and depth of material achieved through the personal interactions and lectures by the monks and fathers, experts on monastic history, art and architecture, but also in distinct opportunities for spiritual growth in Egypt’s most ancient places of worship. Each daily liturgy took the group to a new ancient site for prayer, providing the irreplaceable opportunity to grow spiritually through their visits of these holy sites, including Wadi El Natroun, the Red Sea, and Souhag, and the ability to learn the history of the place where they prayed and the beginnings of monasticism.

In this, the study abroad course provided a comprehensive look at Egypt’s most precious monastic locations, turning lecture into tangible learning, connecting monastic art, history and architecture with spirituality and devotion to God in modern times.