Saint Antony Monastery is located on over 360 Acres of land in Newberry Springs, California.

In 1972, a small piece of land was purchase in the Mojave desert. In November 1973, the first Divine Liturgy was prayed on this newly acquired property. Two fathers serving in the Los Angeles area, namely Fr. Arsanious Aziz and Fr. Kerelos Farah, celebrated the Liturgy. Also serving in the Liturgy were Magdi Saad who later became Bishop Tadrous of Port Said, as well as Atef Isak who later became Bishop Dioscorus. The latter was the first monk consecrated for Saint Antony Monastery.

After Bishop Dioscorus' ordination to the episcopate, the Monastery was left without a monk until 1989 when His Holiness Pope Shenouda III sent 4 monks to establish the Monastic Life in America. These monks were: Fr. Karas El Anba Bishoy, Fr. Pavlos El Anba Bishoy, Fr. Benyameen El Baramosy, and Fr. Shenouda El Antony.

In 1992, Fr Shenouda was ordained Bishop Yostos, Bishop and Abbot of Saint Anthony Monastery in the Red Sea, Egypt. The Monastery has enjoyed continued growth under his leadership.

The following year, on Saturday 28th of Bashans 1709 A.M., the 6th of June 1993, the Holy Synod recognized the Monastery at its meeting at the Papal Residence. Saint Antony Monastery was the first recognized Coptic Monastery outside of Egypt. Moreover, the Monastery was blessed by the ordination of Hegumen Karas El Anba Bishoy as Bishop and Abbot for the Monastery of Saint Antony in California and was given the name His Grace Bishop Karas. Under His Grace’s leadership, the Monastery prospered and was blessed by the consecration of 10 new monks. Bishop Karas departed this world in January 2002, after a battle with cancer.

After His Grace’s departure, Fr. Benyameen El-Baramosy became the general executive of the monastery, reporting to H.H. and H.G. Bishop Sarabamoun. Fr. Benyameen’s stewardship started in April 2002 and ended in April 2006, at which point Fr. Anastasi Saint Antony, a spiritual son and disciple of H.G. Bishop Karas, became the general executive of the Monastery, also reporting to H.G. Bishop Sarabamoun and H.H. Pope Shenouda III.

The facilities include a U-shaped main building with four cells for monks, Saint Antony's Church, and a dining room for the monks. This building was built in 1986 under the guidance of HG Bishop Dioscorus.

A new church, St. Moses' Church, is currently under construction according to the Coptic architecture and, God willing, will be completed by the Fall 2009. The Monastery also has a church in the name of Saint Mina and Saint Abanoub.

Saint Antony Monastery recently purchased a former Catholic Byzantine Monastery located 15 minutes away. This 30 acre property is currently being prepared to serve as a retreat center for groups, families and females.