The coming of the Holy Family to Egypt is considered one of the most important events that took place on the land of Egypt in its long history.” In the spirit of prophecy, the Prophet Hosea looked at the Lord Jesus Christ, starting from Bethlehem, where he had nowhere to lay his head in all of Jerusalem, to seek refuge in the land of Egypt, and find him a place in the hearts of the illiterate, and that is why the prophecy was said – From Egypt I called my son
The entry of the Lord Christ into the land of Egypt was a great blessing for its land and its people. Because of it, the Lord said, “Blessed be my people Egypt” (Isaiah 19:25), and because of it, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled, which said: “..there will be an altar to the Lord in the middle of the land of Egypt. Al Muharraq, where the Holy Family stayed in this place for more than six full months, and the surface of the altar is the stone on which the Savior Child slept.
The Muharraq monastery is located in the middle of the land of Egypt exactly from all directions, and churches abounded throughout the land of Egypt, especially in the places visited and blessed by the Holy Family.
The Holy Family enters Egypt
Joseph, the righteous, left the land of Palestine as the angel commanded him, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, riding on a donkey, carried the Lord Jesus in her arms, and all Eastern and Western traditions agreed that the Virgin Mary rode a donkey, and Joseph walked by the side of the donkey holding its leash, according to what is usually followed in the East.
The Holy Family’s journey to the land of Egypt was not an easy matter. Rather, it came a arduous journey full of pains and hardships, during which the Virgin Mary carrying the Child Jesus and with her the righteous Joseph walked through a harsh wilderness, crossing deserts, hills and valleys, moving from one place to another, and there were many dangers that confronted her. The ferocious beasts that threatened their lives in the wilderness and during the march in the desert, where it was the habit of travelers to travel in groups because without providing protection for an organized caravan, the hope of survival is poor.
As for the pillar at its border, it is the throne of St. Mark the Apostle, the curator of the Egyptian lands. It is the pillar that stands firm in Alexandria on the northern border of Egypt and the foundation of its apostolic Church. All people, so the people of Egypt became religious and spiritual, who knew God with the right knowledge and worshiped Him with the right to worship until the prophecy was fulfilled. “And the Lord will be known in Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord…
According to Coptic historical sources, the most important of which is Pope Theophilus (23) of the Popes of Alexandria (384-412 AD), there were three roads that a traveler could take from Palestine to Egypt at that time, but the Holy Family when it came from Palestine to Egypt did not take any of the roads The three are known, but they took a different path of their own. This is self-evident because she is fleeing from the evil of King Herod, so she resorted to a path other than the well-known ways, which the Lord and his angel led in it.
The Holy Family in Al-Zaraniq and Al-Farma area
The Holy Family walked from Bethlehem to Gaza to the Zaraniq Protectorate (Flusiyat) 37 km west of Al-Arish, and entered Egypt via the northern side of the Farama (Bloseum) side located between the cities of Al-Arish and Port Said.
The Holy Family’s entry into Basta City – Sharkia Governorate
The Holy Family entered the city of Tel Basta (Basta) near the city of Zagazig in the Sharkia Governorate, and about 100 km from the city of Cairo from the north-east. And in it the Lord Christ springs a spring of water, and it was a city full of idols, and when the Holy Family entered the city, the idols fell to the ground, so its people mistreated the Holy Family, so they left the city and the Holy Family headed south.
The Holy Family in the town of Mostorod
The Holy Family left the city of Tel Basta (Basta) heading south until it reached the town of Mostorod (Al-Mahma), about 10 km away from the city of Cairo. Also on Mostorod, and the Lord Christ spawned a spring of water that still exists today.
The Holy Family in Bilbeis
From Mostorod, the Holy Family moved northward to the east to the city of Belbeis in the Sharkia Governorate, about 55 km away from the city of Cairo.
The Holy Family in the city of Samannoud
From Bilbeis, the Holy Family traveled north to the town of Minya Saman and Wad – Minya Jinnah from Minya Samanoud. The Holy Family crossed the Nile River to the city of Samanoud (Jamanuti – Zabt Tasheer) inside the delta, and its people welcomed them well, so the Lord Christ blessed them, glory be to Him. It is said that the Virgin Mary kneaded it while she was there, and there is also a well of water that Christ himself blessed.
The Holy Family in the city of Sakha
The foot of the Lord Christ appeared on a stone, and from it the city took its name in Coptic. This stone was hidden for a long time for fear of being stolen in some eras – and this stone was discovered again about 13 years ago only.
If the Holy Family had taken the natural route while traveling from the direction of Samanoud to the city of Sakha, then it must have passed through many countries belonging to the Gharbia Governorate and Kafr El-Sheikh, and some say that it crossed on its way in the wilds of Belqas.
The Holy Family in Wadi El-Natrun
From the city of Sakha, the Holy Family crossed the Nile River (the Rosetta branch) to the west of the delta, and moved south to Wadi al-Natrun (Skeet). Christ and his virgin mother blessed this place.
The Holy Family in Al-Matareya, Ain Shams and Al-Zaytoun area
From Wadi al-Natrun, the Holy Family traveled south towards the city of Cairo, and crossed the Nile River to the eastern side heading towards Al-Matareya, Ain Shams, and Al-Matareya area, which is near Ain Shams (Heliopolis – On) and about 10 km away from Cairo.
At this time, Ain Shams was inhabited by a large number of Jews, and they had a temple called the Unias Temple. In Matariya, the Holy Family was shaded under a tree known to this day – the Tree of Mary. And the Lord Jesus poured out a spring of water, drank from it, and blessed it.
Then the Virgin Mary washed the baby’s clothes and poured water on the ground, and on that spot an aromatic plant with a beautiful smell, known as the balsam or balsam plant, grew in it. They add it to the types of perfumes and spices from which the holy myron is made.
From Al-Matareya and Ain Shams, the Holy Family walked towards ancient Egypt, and the Holy Family rested for a while in the olive trees on their way to ancient Egypt.
The Holy Family in downtown Cairo and Old Cairo
As for the downtown Cairo area, it has:
The Archaeological Church of the Virgin Mary in Harat Zuweila
Martyr Ma Gerges Church
Church of St. Mercurius Abi Sefein
Convent of the Virgin for Nuns
Saint George Monastery for Nuns
And your Clot Bey area:
The Great St. Mark Church in Azbakia, in Clot Bey
– Headquarters for monks’ monasteries and has multiple churches
The Holy Family arrived in ancient Egypt, and the ancient Egypt region is considered one of the most important areas and stations that the Holy Family visited on its journey to the land of Egypt, and there are many churches and monasteries. This region was blessed with the presence of the Holy Family, and the Holy Family could not stay there except for a few days. Due to the destruction of idols, this provoked the governor of Fustat, who wanted to kill the boy Jesus. The Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga) has the cave (the cave) in which the Holy Family sought refuge and is considered one of the most important landmarks of the Holy Family in ancient Egypt.
The churches of the Babylon Fortress area – Ancient Egypt:
Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga)
The famous Hanging Church of the Virgin
St. Barbara’s Church
St. George Church (in the Wax Palace)
The Church of the Virgin, famous as Qasr al-Rayhan
Saint George Monastery for Nuns
Babylon Fortress and the Coptic Museum
St. George’s Church for the Romans
Ben Ezra Synagogue
As for the churches in Fustat – Ancient Egypt:
Church of St. Mercurius, known as Abu Sefein
Anba Shenouda Church
Church of the Virgin Mary, known as Damshiriya
Abi Sefein Monastery for Nuns
Church of Our Lady – Babylon Stairs
Church of Prince Tadros of the East
Archangel Michael Church, which is known as the Monastery of the Qibli Angel
Marina Church in Zahraa, Old Cairo
Church of Abakir and John
The Holy Family in Maadi
The Holy Family departed from the ancient Egyptian region heading south, where it reached the Maadi region – one of the suburbs of Memphis – the capital of ancient Egypt.
The Holy Family set off in a sailboat in the Nile heading towards the south (the country of Upper Egypt), from the spot where the Church of the Virgin Mary is now located, known as Al-Adawiya, because from it the Holy Family crossed (returned) to the Nile on its journey to Upper Egypt, and from it came the name Maadi. The stone staircase on which the Holy Family descended to the bank of the Nile still exists, and it has a shrine that opens from the churchyard.
Among the strange events that occurred in this church, is that on Friday 3 Baramhat corresponding to March 12, 1976, the Bible was found open to the book of Isaiah the Prophet, chapter 19: 25 -: “Blessed be my people, Egypt.” Floating on the surface of the water in the area facing the church from the waters of the Nile
The Holy Family in the village of Deir Al-Jarnus – Maghagha
The Holy Family reached the village of Deir Al-Jarnus (Deir Al-Jarnus) at a distance of 10 km west of Ashneen Al-Nasari – Maghagha Markaz. Next to the western wall of the Church of the Virgin Mary there is a deep well. Tradition says that the Holy Family drank from it.
The Holy Family in Bahnasa
The Holy Family passed through a spot called Abi Issos (House of Jesus) east of Bahsana, and its location is now the village of Sandfa – Bani Mazar, and the present village of Al-Bahnasa is located 17 km west of Bani Mazar.
The Holy Family in Jabal Al-Tair – East Samalut
The Holy Family traveled from the town of Bahnasa in the south to the town of Samalut, from which it crossed the Nile to the east, where the monastery of the Virgin Mary is now located in Jabal al-Tair (Akours) east of Samalut, and this monastery is located about 2 km south of the Bani Khalid Ferry. Where the family settled in the cave in the ancient church
It is known as Jabal al-Tair because thousands of buggers gather in it. It is also called Jabal al-Kaf, where the Coptic tradition mentions that the Holy Family is next to the mountain – a large rock from the mountain almost fell on them, so the Lord Jesus stretched out his hand and prevented the rock from falling, but it refused, and his palm was imprinted on the rock.
The worshiper tree on the mountain of the bird
On the way, the Holy Family passed a high ficus tree (laurel tree), at a distance of 2 km south of Jabal al-Tair, next to the road adjacent to the Nile, and the mountain leading from Jabal al-Tair to Nazlat Ubayd to the new Minya Bridge. It is said that this tree prostrated to the Lord Christ, and you find that all its branches descend to the ground and then rise again with green leaves, and it is called the worshiper tree.
The Holy Family continues its journey south
The Holy Family left the Jabal al-Tayr region and crossed the Nile from the eastern side to the western side, and headed towards the second Ashmounin, and many miracles occurred in this town, and its idols fell, and the Holy Family blessed the Ashmunin.
The Holy Family in the town of Dayrout Al-Sharif – Assiut
The Holy Family departed from Ashmounin and headed south about 20 km towards Dayrut Al-Sharif – and the Holy Family disembarked in the town of Qusqam
The Holy Family traveled from Dayrut Al-Sharif to Qosqam (Qoust-Qusiya), where the idol of their idol fell and was destroyed, so its people expelled them from the city and this city became a ruin.
The Holy Family in the town of Mir
The Holy Family fled from the village of Qusqam and headed towards the town of Mir (Mira) – located 7 km west of Qusiyah. The people of Mir honored the Holy Family while they were in the town, and were blessed by Christ and the Virgin.
This monastery is located at the foot of the western mountain known as Jabal Qusqam. It is related to the city that was destroyed, and it is about 12 km west of the town of Al-Qusiya in the Assiut Governorate, 327 km south of Cairo.
The Holy Family stayed for about six months and ten days, in the cave, which later became the structure of the ancient Church of the Virgin Mary on the western side of the monastery. The altar of this church is a large stone on which Jesus Christ was sitting.
In this monastery, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph the old man in a dream, saying: “Get up and take the boy and his nation, and go to the land of Israel, because those who were seeking the same boy have died.”
Return journey
On the way back, they took another path that deviated with them a little south until Mount Assiut (known as Mount Drunka) and was blessed by the Holy Family, where a monastery was built in the name of the Virgin Mary, located 8 km southwest of Assiut.
Then they reached ancient Egypt, then Matariya, then Mahama, and from there to Sinai and Palestine, where Saint Joseph and the Holy Family live in the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
Thus ended the journey of suffering, which lasted for more than three years back and forth, during which they traveled a distance of more than two thousand kilometers, and their only means of transportation was the boat ride sometimes in the Nile. It was an arduous journey in every sense of the word, which Jesus carried as a child with his virgin mother and Saint Joseph with joy for us.
