The Visit of the
Holy Family in Egypt
Blessed
is Egypt my people (Isaiah 19:25)
Out
of Egypt I called my Son (Matthew 2:15)
The
Lord Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem in Palestine in the days of hero the
king, and after the coming of the wise men from the East to see Jesus and
their departure, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay
there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy
Him. "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night
and departed for Egypt." Matthew 2:13-14
Already,
Egypt had hosted lots of prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the tribes of
the Israelites, Moses the prophet and Jeremiah the prophet, but the greatest
blessing, which Egypt received, was when the Lord Jesus came to Egypt with
his mother the Holy Virgin Mary and stayed in it.
The
Holy Family traversed the desert of Sinai to Egypt:
Probably
the Holy Family departed from Bethlehem to Gaza, and from
The
Holy Family's entry to the town of Bastah
(near El Zagazig city'):
The
Holy Family entered the town of Babastis. It is now known as Tell Baste near
the city of El Zagazig at El Sharqiya govern orate 100 Kilometers to the north
east of the city of Cairo There Jesus gushed forth a spring of water to drink
The city was full of idols, while the idols worshipers were spread all over the
land of Egypt
On
the Holy Family's entry into the town of Basta the idols fell down the thing,
which vexed the inhabitants of this town, so they treated the Holy Family bally
Thus they left that town and went on their wav towards the south until they
reached the town of Musturud
The
Holy Family at the town of Musturud:
The
Holy Family left Tell-Basta towards the south until they reached the town of
Musturud, which was known as AI-Mahammah (about 10 Kilometers away from Cairo
City and it can be reached by the usual transportation, which goes in a regular
way from Cairo city').
The word (AI-Mahammah)
in the Arabic language means the place of taking bath, and the town got this
name because the Virgin Mary gave her son a bath there and washed His clothes.
The existing church there was established on that same place, and was called
the Church of St Mary at Musturad. The date of its consecration goes back
to the twelfth century A~~D
The
site of the church is one of the stops where the holy Family, passed by, and
where the Lord Jesus gushed forth a spring of water, which still exists until
now.
The
Holy Family at the city of Bilbais:
The
Holy Family traveled from Musturud towards the city of Bilbais, a district of El
Sharqiya govemorate, about 55 Kilometers from Cairo Tile Holy Family sheltered
under a tree known as, "The tree of the Virgin Mar, ~".
Bilbais became a bishopric later on.
Also, the Holy Family passed by Bilbais on their return nowadays there is
the church of St George in Bilbais.
Mentiet
Sammanud and Sammanud:
The
Holy Family left Beilbais northwards to the west towards a to~
Named
Meniet Sainmanud and was previously known as 'Meniet
Genah".
They
crossed the River Nile td the city of Sammanud inside the Delta and they were
received by its people in a pleasant way, and so the people were blessed by
Jesus Christ.
At
Sammanud an old Church was built after the name of St. Mary the Virgin, later it
was changed, and a new Church was built now on its ruins known as St. Abba Noub
the martyr at Sammanud.
There
is a reliquary at the church of St. Mary at Sammanud which contains the relics
of St. Abba Noub tie martyr, the relics of about eight thousands martyrs Thorn
the same region. At that same church there is a huge round granite trough for
making dough.
It
is said that the Virgin Mary while staying at Sanmanud and still that trough
does exist at the church up till now.
There
is also, a holy well, which the Holy Family might have drunk its
Water
and some of the miracles happen by that blessed water of the well.
Sakha:
From
the city of Sammanud, the Holy Family went north west to ElBurullus region
until they reached the city of Sakha and it is now at Kafr EI-Sheikh govern
orate. At Sakha an old church after the name of St. Mary was built and the foot
of the Lord Jesus Christ was imprinted on a stone, and from this the city took
its name in the Coptic language. That stone had been hidden for a long time
through the ages for fear that it might be stolen,
Wadi
Al - Natrun: 
From Kasha city the Holy Family crossed the western
branch of the river Nile (Rosetta branch) to the west of the Delta and they
moved after that to the south to Wadi AI-Natrun According to tradition the
Virgin Mary and her son the child Jesus Christ, hid in that valley during
their flight to Egypt, and Jesus Christ blessed the four directions of the
valley It is customary that the patriarchies of Alexandria are keen to visit
the monasteries of Wadi AI-Natrun "to cook" the holy Myron oil Wadi
AlNatrun is considered one of the most famous valleys in Egypt
It is considered the home of asceticism and worship.
Nowadays
there arc about four monasteries teeming with monks at Wadi Al Natrun. At
the northern side there is the monastery of El Baramous, it is forth west
the desert of Shehiet.
One
of its monks was His Holiness the late Pope Kyrillos VI, and near the monastery
lies the cavern where he used to worship He then went to Old Cairo
Southwest
of Wadi Al Natrun, there is the monastery of St. Macarius. It is the first
monastery, which the visitors corning from Cairo city meet on the desert highway
it is surrounded by a huge wall, with a large farm attached to it.
Halfway
of the highway of Cairo - Alexandria there is the Rest House; next to it there
is the monastery of Anba Bishoy and Saint Mary Syrian monastery these two
monasteries are near each other and each is surrounded by a large farm. They
were reclaimed by his Holiness Pope Shenouda III
The
monasteries of Wadi EI-Natrun can be reached through the highway of Cairo -
Alexandria, and the roads are now paved till the gates of the previously
mentioned four monasteries And from Wadi-AI Natrun the Holy Family traveled
southwards and they crossed the Nile till they reached AI-Matariya and Am Shams.
The
Holy Family at AI-Matariya and Am Shams:
The
Holy Family went towards Al Matariya which lies near Am Shams, far from Cairo
about 10 Kilometers It can be reached by buses and the subway
Ain
Shams is the same 11Heliopolis city'", which is mentioned
in the Old Testament was know' during the Pharaohs by the name
Am
Shams was well know~ in ancient Egypt for its famous university
(Genesis
41: 45,50, (46:20)
At
Ain Shams university on the priests of the ancient Egyptians, the sons of the
kings, princes and nobles used to study the religious, spiritual and
philosophical knowledge, and also the different mathematical, physical, natural,
chemical sciences and astronomy addition to different languages.
"Plato",
the philosopher stayed there during his youth and there he was inspired his
philosophy. Moses, the head of the prophets was brought up there.
During
the journey of the Holy Family to Ain Shams, "ON" was inhabited by a
large number of the Jews and they had a Synagogue, which was called,
"Onias" or the house of "Onias".
At AI-Matariya the Holy Family sheltered under a tree
known nowadays by the tree of the Virgin Mary. There the Lord Jesus gushed
forth a spring of water from which he drank, and blessed it.
Virgin Mary washed the clothes of the child Jesus and poured the water
on the ground On that spot a sweet - smelling plant grew and it is know~ with
the narne of the balsam tree, and it is added to all kinds of perfimes which
is used in cooking the sacred Myron Oil, used in thc church religious rites
A
church was consecrated at AI-Matariya after the name of Virgin Mary
It is an ancient church and was renovated and it has a great fame
The people visit that church and receive its blessing.
AlMatariya, became one of the most imponant centers of tourism.
The
remains of the old tree still remain near the church of St. Mary the Virgin at
AI-Matariya region. Another tree was planted of the same kind of the plant
nearby. There is also a monastery, which has a tree of the same kind like that
of the old one of the Virgin Mary.
At
that district, there is a street, which bears the name of the balsam street,
and another one, which bears the name of St. Mary, well street.
The
Holy Family at AI-Zaitun district in Cairo (where
Virgin Mary has recently appeared)
From
the districts of AI-Matariya and Am Shams, the Holy Family moved towards Old
Cairo On their way, where AI-Zaitun district is sited there Is a small church
with the name of St. Mary the Virgin, at the street of Tomanbay, AI-Zaitun
district in Cairo. It is most
probably this church was one of the important halts (through their journey)
where they rested
St.
Mary the Virgin appeared over The domes of this church, starting from the
second of April 1968 and that apparition continued for several (long) nights
Thousands of people had visited the site of the church, and stayed awake waiting
to see the apparition of the Virgin
Their
numbers exceeded hundreds of thousands, and her apparition was in different
shapes accompanied by splendid miracles
His
Holiness the (ate Pope Kyrillos VI had delegated a fact-finding committee of the
fathers of the church to see about that apparition This committee went to
AI-Zaitun church and they inspected and listened to several people. Then they
sent in their report to His Holiness, assuring the apparition
From
the districts of Am Shams, AI-Matariya and AI-Zaitun the Holy Family moved
towards Old Cairo. On their way they passed by the middle Old Cairo to the
district of Harat Zuwaila, which is near ElAtaba Square in Cairo
The
holy Family at Herat Zuwaila
On
their way from Am Shams to Old Cairo the Holy Family passed by the place where
the ancient church of St Mary the Virgin at Harat Zuwaila lies The place of this
church is a sacred place According to the church tradition that was one of the
halts where the Holy Family rested during their Journey This tradition assures
that this church was built during the fourth century (it was mentioned by
AI-Maqrizi).
The site of the ancient church of St. Mary the Virgin
at Harat Zuwaila contains churches. At that same site there is the church
of the great martyr St. George, together with the church built by El Moalem
Ibrahirn El Gohary, after the name of St Mercurius of the two swords. Again,
there are two nun convents, one bearing the name of St. Mary the Virgin and
the other the name of St. George. In front of the altar of the ancient church
of St Mary at Harat Zuwaila there is a sacred well.
It is believed that its water cures the illness and the church is considered
one of the most wonderful ancient churches. The site of the church is near
the district of AI-Muski in Cairo.
Chapter
II
The
Holy Family at the district of Old Cairo
The Holy Family
moved from the district of harat Zuwaila to the district of Old Cairo, which
is considered one of the important districts
And
halts where the Holy Family rested during their visit to the land of Egypt There
are several churches and convents. The Holy Family blessed the site and they
stayed there for a while we are going to mention the most important places where
the Holy Family stayed at the district of Old Cairo and the churches of that
district.
The
Church of the Fortress of Babylon
at Old Cairo:
1- The Church of the Virgin (the Suspending Church known as: Al
Muallaqah:
The
church of St Mary the Virgin (AI-Muallaqah) at Old Cairo is considered the
oldest of the churches of The Fortress of Babylon. It was known by the hanging
church (AI-Muallaqah) because it was built on the roof of two big towers of the
Roman fortress.
In
order to reach that church one has to come up the staircase near one of those
towers, the middle of three towers near the southern part of the fortress.
In front of the mentioned stair case There is a rectangular yard, where tall
palm trees grow inside, as if it were a huge stony flowerpot The building
of the hanging church goes back to the first centuries, and was mostly one
of the first churches in the world where the Christians he'd their religious
ceremonies
2-The
Church of St. Sergius (Abu Sergah):
This
church is at the middle of Qasr Al-Shame (Wax Museum) or the
To
reach that church by descending a low staircase, lower than the ground level,
then through a narrow passageway According to tradition, this church was
established on the cavern where the Holy Family sheltered, and it is now
considered one of its important parts of the building and it is just beneath the
altar and it is called the cavern This has given it its world fame, and which
made the visitors, visit the church from all parts of the world to receive its
blessings*.
3-The
Church of St. Barbara of Old Cairo.
This church is considered the twin church of St. Sergius
(Abu Sergah) for they are alike in their design and drawings this church is
sited on the eastern part of Babylon Fortress and near the Roman Wall. The
visitor can reach the place from the street of the Jewish Synagogue at Old
Cairo It is near St Sergius church (Abu Scrgah) and it is said that its construction
went back to the fifth century. This church and the church of St Sergius both
suffered damage and destruction in the tenth century and it was rebuilt by
one of the Coptic ministers, Yohanna ibn EI-Abah during the Fatimides era
4-The
Church of St. George at Old Cairo qasr
Al-Shame).'
The
Arab Muslim historian Taki El-Din EI-Maqrizi narrated that it was one of the
most beautiful Coptic churches inside Qasr Al-Shame. It was said that it was
built in the seventh century, nearly in the year 684 by a certain rich Copt, who
was called Athanasius The church was ruined and the existing church was built on
its ruins and the church was built according to the basilica style
5-
The Church of the Holy Virgin. The Pot of Basil (AI-Adra Oasrival Al
Rihan):
That
church was called the church of the Holy Virgin, the Pot of Basil
The
cause of this name was that the Holy Virgin is likened to the pot of
The
basil is a plant, which has a sweet smelling perfume. It may also be a
description for the purity of the pot which the Godly Child carne from. It is
near the church of St. George and inside the walls of the Fortress of Babylon.
The old church was burnt and a new church was built beside the old site.
6-The
Nuns-Convent of St. George (Dair Mari Girgis leE - Rahibat at Old Cairo):
It
is an ancient convent on the way to St. Sergius (Abu Sergah) church and inside
that convent there is a huge shrine dated back to the tenth century, and its
gate is about seven meters high.
7-
The Fortress of Babylon. The Coptic Museum and St. George Roman Orthodox Church
at Old Cairo:
The
remaining part of the Fortress of Babylon at Old Cairo, on the subway metro
railway (El Marg-Helwan) and the stop is named after the name of St George
(Mar Girgis Stop). The Coptic Museum was built inside the Fortress of Babylon
at Old Cairo It was said that this fortress was built by Trajan in the year
98 A~D near the river Nile. The entrance of the Coptic Museum is On the western
gate of the fortress, which was sited between two towers; one of which could
be seen nowadays; (to the right of the visitor) and the other where St George
Roman Orthodox church lies. The river Nile used to run under the walls of
that part of the fortress, and it was said that there was once a harbor where
the ships used to anchor.
8-The
Jewish Synagogue at Old Cairo:
It
is sited at Old Cairo in the middle of the Coptic churches (near the church of
St. Barbara, and at the back of St Sergius church Abu Scrgah)~ That Synagogues
was once before a Coptic church annexed to the hanging church bearing the name
of Archangel Michael
The
Churches of Al-Fustat (Old Cairo):
They
are near Amr lbn El-Ass Mosque at Old Cairo, looking over the subway
(Al-Marg Helwan)
Abu Saleh EI-Armani and al-Maqrisi in their books mentioned
that at AI-Fustat there were several churches and monasteries most of which
were ruined and vanished There are only four churches and a convent left,
and they are as follows:
1-The
Church of St. Mercurius (Abu Saifain of the two swords):
The
historians mentioned that this church was built about the sixth century. It
was consecrated on the name of the mentioned saint and it is considered one
of the important churches of AI-Fustat, historically and artfully
2-
The Church of St. Shenouda
This
church is sited near the church of St Mercurius, of the two swords. It was built
towards the end of the fifth century, and the beginning of the sixth century it
was consecrated after the flame of St Shenouda The church had a special fame
among the Coptic churches.
3-
The Church of the Holy Virgin
AI-Damshiriyah:
The
church was called AI-Damshiriyah in relation to one of the eminent Copts, the
native of a town named, "Damashir"; in AI-Minya province He renovated
the church in the eighteenth century. The church was built before the eighth
century it can be reached after passing through the door of St. Mercurius of the
two swords convent. It's building is very simple and well shaped.
4-The
Convent of St. Mercrius of the two swords
dear Abu Saifain):
It
is near the metro stop beside the church of the Holy Virgin AlDamshiriyah, the
church of St Shenouda, and the church of St Mercurius of the two swords. The
convent is occupied by a great number of nuns There is a church inside after the
name of St. Demyana, and another very small one after the name of St Mary.
It
was said that Virgin Mary appeared several times inside that convent, and that
the Holy Family rested in that place
Churches
to the north of the Fortress of
Babylon
1-
The Church of the Holy Virgin 'at Babylon of the Steps” Babylon AI-Darag):
It
is an old church, and it is probable that it was previously used as cell for
monks. His Holiness the late Pope Kyrillos used to stay there for a while.
Its altars are closed with three wooden iconostasis. The most important of
the three is iconostasis of the middle altar. It is engraved with ivory. This
church is considered one of the most beautifully churches and one of the largest
churches in that district It is visited by people from many different parts
of Cairo.
2-The
Church of Abba Keer and John (Yohanna)
This
church is beside the church of the Holy Virgin, "Babylon of the steps",
on the southern side It was built after the name of the two martyrs Abba Keer
and John who were martyred during the persecution era The Coptic church celebrates
their martyrdom on the twentieth of June every year
3-The
Church of St. Theodore the Oriental
(Tadros EI-Meshreky):
It is near the church of Abba Keer and John, on the
southern side and it was renovated. It is considered one of the famous ancient
churches visited by many.
The
Church of the Archangel Michael, which is known by
El
Malak El-Kebly):
The
Church of St. Menas the miraculous (Mari Mena)
It
is sited at AI-Zahraa stop of the subway metro at Old Cairo. It was built
by His Holiness the late Pope Kyrillos ~ He stayed at that place after be
had left the windmill of the Moqattam hill.
He
stayed at that church until he was elected as a patriarch of St. Mark See It is
the last of Old Cairo’s churches on the southern side.
The
Holy Family leaves Old Cairo to EI-Maadi district:
The
Holy Family left Old Cairo towards the south, where they reached
The
Church of St. Virgin Mary at EI-Maadi known as AI-Adra El Adawia~.
It
is sited on the river Nile shore, a distinguished beautifully site at El Maadi
district to the south of Old Cairo.
The
Holy Family moved to the south in a boat on the River Nile at a place where the
church of St Mary now lies at Maadi. That church is visited every year by a
great number of tourists and citizens to receive its blessings One of the
strange incidents which happened at that church was that on Friday the third of
Paramhat - the twelfth of March 1976 those who attended the Holy Mass, on their
going out of the church and while they were still at the outside yard on the
Nile shore, they saw a big open book on the surface of the water going up and
down Taken out of the water (from an ancient staircase), it was find to be a
copy of the Holy Bible, and it was opened on the book of Isaiah, chapter 19, on
the verse of "Blessed is Egypt My People" Isaiah 19:25 This Holy Bible
is exhibited in a glass closet opened on the same page it was found opened upon
on the Nile chapter 19 of Isaiah
the verse In which God blessed the people of Egypt.
Many visitors go to this church to see the book this may be a sign
that the Holy Family had passed by that place of the church The Holy Family
traveled in a boat on the Nile from this place towards the south (Upper Egypt).
CHAPTER
III
The important halts, which they passed by and rested
at, are as follows:
The village of Dir El Garnous is about 10 Kilometers
west of ishnin El Nasara. Nowadays there is a church there after the name of the
Holy Virgin Mary which goes back to the nineteenth century Beside the western~
wall inside the church there is a deep well.
According to tradition, the Mimar said that the Holy Family drank from it
on their wav to Deir El-Muharraq.
EI-Bahnasa:
One of the important places which the Holy Family
passed by was the village of EI-Bahnasa The village of EI-Bahnasa nowadays is
about 17 Kilometers west of Ban Mazar Father Palladius* mentioned that at ElBahnasa
there were about 30 thousands monks and nuns. AI~Maqrizi* (15th Century)
mentioned that the only church then in the town was the church of the Holy
Virgin, after it had 360 churches
The Monastery of the Holy
Virgin at the Hill of Birds (Gabal ElTar) - East of Samalut:
The Holy Family traveled from the town of AI-Bahnasa
towards the south till they reached Samalut, where they crossed the Nile to the
east side. There is the monastery of the Holy Virgin at Gabal El~Tair*. That
monastery is about 2 Kilometers south Ban Khaled, the East Harbor.
The
monastery could be now reached by land by the highway of (Cairo -Aswan) which
has been paved recently on the east bank of the Nile near the cement factory
of Samalut. The monastery lies on the top of EI-Tair hill, near the east bank
of the Nile and it is an important shrine after St.
Also
it was called the monastery of the hand (Deir El Kaf) because it was said that
when the boat carrying the Holy Family was going towards the place of the
monastery a huge rock fell from the top of the hill, which over looks the Nile.
The rock was about to fall on the boat then Jesus the young child lifted his
hand towards the rock and stopped it and it did not Hun the boat The Lord Jesus
left the imprint of his hand on that rock and hence the monastery was called the
monastery of the hand
The
Ancient Church of the Holy Virgin at the Hill of Birds (Gabal
The
ancient church of the Holy Virgin at Gabal FI-Tair (The hill of birds) carved
out in the rocks and the rocky roof was replaced by a ferroconcrete one, in
order to build a second floor the cave of the church is carved in the rocks.
It consists of a middle cave surrounded by 12 pilasters carved out in the
rocks around which there arc northern, southern and western corridors. The
altar is carved out in the rocks and is decorated the main entrance used to
be on the top of the cavern beside the principal altar visited by the Holy
Family.
There
is a circular '+lakaan" (holy water) basin on the western entrance
decorated with very valuable ancient carved stones on which there are pictures
of the lord Jesus, the epistles, the vineyard and the fish.
The
related Mimars (stories of saints) mentioned the visit of the Holy Family
to this church.
El
Abed (Worshiper~ tree at Gabal EI-Tair:
That old tree is about 2 kilometers south Gabal EI-Tair,
near the way along the Nile arid the hill from Gabal EI-Tair, leading to Nazlet
Ebied and Miniya new bridge
The
tree has a strange shape and it is one of the lebbek trees, which has no main
branch. Most of its branches are stooping towards the ground then going up again
with green leaves. The people there are calling it El Abed (Worshiper) tree,
because it was believed that this tree kneeled down to the lord Jesus when He
passed by it. This story was mentioned in the Mimar (the story) of the Holy
Family's visit to Egypt
The
Holy Family left the place of Gabal Al-Tair and crossed the Nile from the
eastern side to the western side towards the town of Al Ashmunin. The Copts
called it Ashmin, which meant number eight, and it is pronounced in the plural
Ashmunin. It is one of the ancient
Egyptian towns and is famous for its monuments from different historic ages and
also for its monasteries, churches, martyrs, saints the most famous of whom was
Bishop Sawiros EbN EI-Mokafaa
The
Holy Family traveled to Dairut EI-Sherif:
The
Holy Family traveled from Al-Ashmunin, southwards to the town of Dairaut
EI-Sherif and it was known at that time by the name of Pheles,
The
Village of Ousquam:
From
Dairut EI-Sherif, the Holy Family moved to the village of
This
place was known with the name of El Qusia, and it was different from El Qusia,
which is known nowadays.
Meir.'
From
the village of Qusqam the Holy Family traveled to the place where the monastery
of EI-Muharraq lies now, towards the town of Meira and it is now known as Meir
Meir is about 7 Kilometers west of El Qusia. The people
of Meir ' were very generous to the Holy Family during their stay there and
they were blessed by Jesus Christ and his mother the Holy Virgin Mary
The
Hill of Ousquam: (Where the monastery of
EI-Muharraq lies)
From
Meir the Holy Family went to the Hill of Qusquam where the monastery of
El-Moharraq lies now. The place of the monastery is considered one of the
important halts, where the Holy Family rested This place was even called the
second Bethlehem for they stayed in that place for more than six months At that
monastery an angel of The lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the young Child's life are dead". (Mathew 219 - 21)
The
Monastery of the Holy virgin
(EI-Muharraq)
at the Hill of quspuam)
The
site of the monastery of the Holy Virgin, known as (EI-Muharraq)
The
Monastery of the Holy Virgin, known as (FI-Muharraq) at the bottom of the
western hill known as the Qusquam hill in relation to a city destroyed
named Qusquam. It is about 12 Kilometer west El Qusia towns a part of Assuit
governorate, which are about 327 Kilometers south of Cairo and 4g Kilometers
north of Assuit
The
Ancient Church of the Holy Virgin (at
the Monastery known as
The
church is at the western side of the monastery and its altar is the same room
Cr cavern where the Holy Family had dwelt in, for six months and ten days.
The
Coptic Church celebrates the consecration of the ancient church of the Holy
Virgin at the monastery of EI-Muharraq on The sixth day of Hatour (a Coptic
month) the fifteenth of November.
The
most important document from which we know the incidents accompanied the Holy
Family visit of Egypt beside other church resources) is the vision of Pope
Theophilos the twenty third of the Alexandria Patriarchs (376-403), Re narrated a
vision which he saw on the sixth night of Hatour, after he had a long prayer
asking the mediation of the Holy Virgin Mary. The Holy Virgin appeared to him
and told him about the blessed journey which the Holy Family had made to Egypt
and she asked him to register what he had seen and what she had told him. So he
agreed and he wrote his vision.
The
Pope's book is considered the most Important document on which we rely. There
are only three manuscripts in Arabic of that book. One of them is kept at the
library of the Vatican, the other is at the National library in Paris and the
third is at the library of EI-Muharraq monastery.
The
Monastery of the Holy Virgin on Durunka hill at Assuit (Deir
Durunka):
According
to tradition the Holy Family on their return passed the hill of Assuit (the
place known as Cabal Durunka) and blessed it.
At
that place a monastery after the name of the Holy Virgin was established the
monastery of the Holy Virgin at Cabal Durunka about 8 kilometers south west
Assuit on the way of EI-Ghanaiem This
monastery is clearly seen from a far place
New
different buildings are established as hostels for visitors, and in
the middle of those huge new buildings there is an ancient cavern, which was
used during the pharaoh’s era as a stone quarry it may have been visited by
the Holy Virgin after EI-Muharraq monastery.
On the edge of Durunka's village beside the hill of
Durunka lies the church of the Angel (at the village of Deir Durunka) Inside
this church there are three altars, over which there are 12 domes. There are
a number of icons and manuscripts the pictures of the epistles were put over
the iconostasis, in a beautiful triangular shape. This church lies at the
bottom of the hill where the ancient cavern at Gabal Durunka is. Both El-Maqrisi
(fifteenth century) and Vantheleb (1672) mentioned it
CHAPTER
IV
The
Return
"But
when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt Saying, Arise and take the Young Child and his Mother and go into
the land of Israel. For they are dead which sought the Young Child's life
and he arose and took the Young Child and his Mother and came into the land
of Israel" (Matthew 2 - 19:21)
On
their return, the Holy Family took the eastern bank of the Nile passing by
certain villages like Deir EI-Barsha and Deir Abou Henas ( younnis - John).
So
Egypt, received the greatest blessing when the Lord Jesus came to Egypt with His
Mother, the Holy Virgin Mary. Thus, the prophecy has been fulfilled
"Blessed Be Egypt
My People~' (Isaiah 19:25)
