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Saint Fana

Egyptian saint

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About Saint Fana

Saint Fana was a monk.

Saint Fana, also known as Abu Fana, Abu Fanah, or Apa Bane (; c. 354–395) was a Coptic hermit. The Monastery of Saint Fana in the diocese of Mallawi, Upper Egypt, is named after him.

Saint Fana was born to a Christian family in Memphis, Egypt. He became an anchorite due to the inspiration of the Western Desert hermits he visited as a young man.

Ancient sources such as Sozomen's Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) make reference to a hermit called Benus or Banus who can be identified as Saint Fana, and who lived in the area where the monastery of Saint Fana was later built.

Fana also became noted for his knowledge of the Psalms and would ultimately be linked to miracles.

He is noted for his asceticism and concern for the poor. He also reportedly predicted the date of Theodosius I's death. The Monastery of Saint Fana is one of the oldest in Egypt.

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Important facts

Occupation
Also known as
Abu Fanah

Frequently asked questions

Who was Saint Fana?

Egyptian saint

What was Saint Fana's occupation?

Saint Fana was a monk.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Saint Fana

· Wikidata: Q616397

· DBpedia: Saint Fana

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Saint Fana. https://biography.guide/saint-fana/

MLA: "Saint Fana." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/saint-fana/.

Chicago: "Saint Fana." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/saint-fana/.

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