An historic account of cities and places the Virgin Mary, Joseph and newly born Jesus found safety and shelter in Egypt.
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of
Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the
east, and are come to worship him.''
(Matthew 2:1-2)
FLIGHT OF THE HOLY FAMILY |
MEALAKAA CHURCH (old Cairo) |
Historians and authors around the
world have, long recorded the story of the holy family’s journey from Palestine
to Egypt, with dedication. Many look upon the journey as a mark in the history
of Egypt, not merely a religious event. Egyptians look with fondness and pride
on the passage of the holy mother and her child through the land of Egypt, and
the fact that they found solace here.
“Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Hosea 11:1)
“Blessed be Egypt. My People” (Isaiah 19:25)
The flight to Egypt
The Virgin Mary gave birth to
Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea in Palestine. Upon his birth, wise men preached to
the people of the city, declaring that Jesus was the chosen one, and that,
"according to prophecies" they had seen in the stars, he would become
the next king of the Jews.
Upon hearing the news, King Herod
was overcome by terror at the possibility of losing his throne. He decided that
killing Jesus was the only way to protect his royal status.
MONASTERY IN UPPER EGYPT |
The distance from
Jerusalem to Cairo by land is around 500km, with villages and stops requiring some 50 Km
between rests, the route itself was well known since the Pharaohs, and
frequented by the Syrian traders.
Werner Keller writes in his book,
The Bible as History (1955): “A day's journey from Gaza brought the holy family
to the ancient township of Jenysos, which is mentioned by Herodotus, the Greek
historian.” Today, this village, which is part of the Gaza Strip, is known as
Khan Younis (Caravansary of Jonah).
“The next town on the holy family's route would have been Raphia (Rafah). Rafah
has a history stretching back thousands of years. It was first recorded in an
inscription of Egyptian Pharaoh Seti I, from 1303 BCE as Rph, and as the first
stop on Pharaoh Shoshenq I's campaign to the Levant in 925 BC. In 720 BCE it
was the site of the Assyrian king Sargon II's victory over the Egyptians, and
in 217 BC the Battle of Raphia was fought between the victorious Ptolemy IV and
Antiochus III. (It is said to be one of the largest battles ever fought in the
Levant, with over a hundred thousand soldiers and hundreds of elephants, the
frontier town between the Gaza Strip and the province of Egypt."
Continuing for another 44 kilometers,
beyond Raphia, and after almost two days of traveling, Joseph, the mother and
child reach Wadi Al-Arish, a point at which they are safe enough to obtain food
and shelter. The holy family passes by other towns in Sinai such as Al-Muhammadia
and Al-Farma, located 35 kilometres east of El-Qantara City in Arabic al
qantara means "the bridge". Churches from the 5th and 6th century
have recently been discovered in Al-Farma.
Route to the Nile Delta
The holy family continued on its
trip to the Nile Delta, stopping at the city of Musturod, only 10 kilometres
from Cairo. "The Virgin Lady", a 12th century church, was found in
the city of Bilbeis (Egyptian Arabic: بلبيس , Coptic: Phelbs) an ancient
fortress city on the eastern edge of the southern Nile delta in Egypt, the site
of the Ancient city and former bishopric of Phelbes and a Latin Catholic
titular see...
The Holy Family travel west through what is now known as the valley of Natroun (Wady Natroun - a valley containing Natron salt - famous by Natroun Macarius).
The Holy Family travel west through what is now known as the valley of Natroun (Wady Natroun - a valley containing Natron salt - famous by Natroun Macarius).
BISHOY MONASTRY IN NATROUN DESERT |
Later the Holy family crossed the western branch of the Nile (the Rasheed branch) to “Miniet Samanoud” According to local belief the large granite trough in the city was used by the Virgin Mary for kneading dough.
A temple dedicated to the local
god Onuris, or Onuris-Shu, and his lioness goddess mate Mehit, once existed at
this location but are now reduced to ruins. A fragment to where kings would
have made offerings to Onuris and his wife is on display at the Walters Art
Museum (Baltimore MD). The site is part of the route of the Holy Family during
their time in Egypt.
TREE OF THE VIRGIN MARY |
In ancient Roman times, Heliopolis belonged to the Augustamnica province. Legend tells of the Christian Holy Family sheltering under a tree in Heliopolis, presently known as 'the tree of the Virgin Mary' or Mariam’s Tree," now with the Chapel which has evolved into an engrossing attraction for religious tourists. The holy "Mayron oil," or the "Chrism," is nowadays prepared from the oil of the tree.
A church named "The Virgin
Mary" was built in the area and is visited frequently by worshipers to
this day. A statue of Jesus and his blessed mother guarded by Joseph the
Carpenter and Paintings can be found inside the church, a maps of the holy
family’s journey (as above), is also on display.
In his book The Geography of
Coptic Egypt (1989), French historian Amelenio narrates some of the stories
passed down by generations about the miracles of "Mariam’s Tree."
COPTIC ICON OF VIRGIN MARY |
The second district visited by the
holy family in Cairo was Al-Zeitun, where a church by the name "The Virgin
Mary" was constructed in Toman Bey Street. It is said that appearances of
the blessed lady were witnessed around the domes of the church up until recent
years.
Another spot visited by the holy
family was Bab Zowela, Been El-Soreen Street in El-Gamaleya district. An
ancient church is found there with the same name, "The Virgin Mary".
It is considered one of the largest churches in Egypt and is distinguished by
its basaltic style.
SAINT SARGUS CHURCH |
“Al-Ma'adi” literally means
"the ferries". There was a story that the name comes from a ferry
crossing in the area where ferries carried people from the east side of the
Nile to the west district today's Maadi stands on the site of a town that has
turned out to be a significant predynastic, Ancient Egyptian archaeological
site, founded in 3500 B.C. Modern building activity in the area has destroyed some
archaeologically sensitive places.
Amelenio explains that during
Ottoman rule in Egypt, the church had a marina for boats allocated for the
transport of people and soldiers traveling to and from Egypt. The holy family sailed
to some villages in Upper Egypt such as Maghagha located on the west bank of
the Nile. It is the most northern city in the Minya Governorate. (deir Garnous), then to “Bahnassa” west of bani Mazar near Minya.
Crossing the Nile to the Western bank to Malawy and “Meira” and the mount
Qussqm that has the famous Monastry of Al-Muharrak built in tribute to the
passage of the Holy Family.
The Deir Al-Muharrak complex is
located on the Nile just south of Cusae, in Asyut Governorate in Upper Egypt.
It is 375 km south of Greater Cairo. The monastery is unusual because it is one
of the very few Coptic ones in Egypt not located into the desert.
The Church of Al-Adhra (Church of
the Virgin) at the monastery was built over an ancient cave. It is claimed that
Mary and Jesus spent six months and ten days here on their flight into Egypt
from King Herod. The altar stone in the church is dated 747 CE.
AL-MOHARRAK MONASTERY ASYOUT |
PROCESSION FOR THE VIRGIN MARY IN DRONKA MONASTRY (ASSIUT) |
They first go to Maadi, passing
through Old Egypt, then follow the road to Ein Shams "Eye of the Sun"
in Arabic, referring to the fact that Ain Shams is built on top of the ancient
city of Heliopolis, once the spiritual centre of ancient Egyptian sun-worship.
The trip takes the holy family back to the city of Mustorod, and finally to El-Arish,
then to Gaza. The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled,
destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples.
Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient
Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the
Philistines' principal cities.
ABU SERGA CHURCH (OLD CAIRO) |
At present, many Egyptian
historians and archeologists are calling for a project to track each town or
city visited by the holy family, so as to make it easier for tourists to visit
the blessed spots, thus reviving the symbolism of the holy journey and its
message of peace and goodwill to all men.