The Holy Family in Egypt

Holy Family in Egypt was on a sacred journey by an order from God to spread his message until the time of salvation. This article's main purpose is to offer every traveler all the information and facts about the holy family in Egypt. This article was written by a group of a very skilled and experienced team of tour guides, experts, and scholars who know all the facts and history about the holy family in Egypt. This article offers the answers to a number of important questions like Did Jesus ever live in Egypt, Where did Jesus go in Egypt, and many others important. Learn about one of the most important stories ever told in the history of mankind.

What did the Holy Family do in Egypt?

The legendary divine story of the holy family took place more than 2000 years ago when a group of wise men declared that Jesus is a prophet from God and the next king of the jews that's why the ruler of Judea King Herod decided to end his life. The holy family escaped from Bethlehem to Egypt where Herod had no political power after Joseph was warned by an angel to leave the land with Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

They began their journey from northern Sinia until they reached Farama. The places in which the holy family stayed, have been chosen to build churches and monasteries. The holy family then headed to Tel Basta when Jesus blessed the land which caused a water spring to exploded from the ground. The next stop was Mostorod, also known as el Mahamaah which means the bathing place. The town was given a name where Virgin Mary bathed in child Jesus and washed his clothes. They then headed to Belbeis where they sat under the shadow of a sycamore tree which was known as the Virgin Mary's Tree. When the holy family crossed the Nile to the city of Samanoud, Jesus while in Sakha touched stone then water started to thrust out from it. The holy family then made their way all the way to the Valley of Natroun in the westward of Egypt. Natroun valley is very known as monasticism’s first home on earth to practice chastity and meditating God.

The holy family then finally made their way to Cairo's districts of Matariyah and Ain Shams where Jesus made blessed water well. When the virgin mary washed Jesus's cloth then poured the water on the ground, a balsam tree blossomed which was used for the preparation of the holy Myron. The Holy Family entered old Cairo, then took refuge in a cave which became the church of Abu Serja that is located within the walls of the fortress of Babylon. This whole entire area became a center of pilgrimage for people from all over the world. They then moved to al Maadi where the church of the Virgin Mary was constructed across the Nile, the family then board a boat and sailed across the Nile southwards. 

The Holy family made their way Minya where they cross the east bank of the Nile and landed on a spot where the monastery of the Virgin was constructed on top of Gabal Al-Kaf "Mountain of the Palm" where Jesus left an immortal blessed imprint on a stone found in the mountain. From this place, the family crossed the Nile from the west to the city of Qussqam in Assiut where they stayed for six months which is longer than any other place that stayed in during their time in Egypt plus in the same spot a monastery of Al Moharraq was built when an angel appeared in Joseph's dream telling him that Herod was dead and that they should return to Palestine. The Holy family then took the same journey back to Palestine after spending three years in Egypt.

Where did the Holy Family stay in Egypt?

The holy family took Egypt as their shelter and continued their way across the country southwards. The Holy family passed the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo and saw the pyramids of Giza. According to tradition, there used to be a palm tree at Giza under which the Blessed Virgin Mary nursed Baby Jesus.

Why the Holy Family came to Egypt?

The Holy Family needed to flee to Egypt, where King Herod could exert no political powers and consequently, would not be able to harm baby Jesus. Upon arriving in Egypt, the Holy Family moved locations very frequently so as to avoid the reach of Herod's spies.

When did the Holy Family return from Egypt?

They reached Egypt after a 65 kilometers journey from Palestine. They lived for three years until after the death of Herod in 4 B.C. when Joseph had a dream that it is safe to return to Israel. The family traveled all the way to Nazareth which took them a journey of at least 170 kilometers.

How many years was the Holy Family in Egypt?

The holy family crossed 26 locations throughout the county as they sought out a refuge during their three and a half years of hiding. The holy family started their quest through northern Sinai, where they entered Egypt. The holy family kept consistently changing their location in order to avoid the reach of Herod's spies.

Where Did the Holy Family Live in Egypt?

The first main city they crossed was Farama a.k.a ancient Pelusium which hold a first-century church that was built after the introduction of Christianity by st. Mark. This place also holds many churches and monasteries from the old and modern era, they ventured to Mostorod a.k.a el Mahamaah (The Bathing Place) where the Virgin Mary bathed Jesus in and washed his clothes, in the north of Cairo the next destination was a small town near Mostorod, "Tel Basta" where Jesus blessed the land causing a water spring to well up from the ground.

The third stop was "Belbeis" where they sat under the shades of a sycamore tree which later became known as the "Virgin Mary's Tree", the holy family crossed the Nile to the city of Samanoud, and then the city Sakha is also known as 'Peka-Issous' "The Foot of Jesus" which is inspired by a rock with a relief of baby Jesus foot on it. Wadi El Natroun was also on their route which later became the home to many monasteries reflecting the well-preserved Coptic art.

Next, they entered the city of Cairo through the districts of Matariyah and Ain Shams, then they headed to Old Cairo formerly known as Babylon which was a massive fortress that was turned into the infamous Abu Sirga Church and the legendary Hanging Church. The holy family then headed to Maadi which they boarded a sailboat that took them to southern Egypt, on the docking point in Maadi the Virgin Mary Church was built. The family then headed to Minya where they crossed the east bank of the Nile to the summit of Gabal Al-Kaf (Mountain of the Palm) where a laurel tree bowed to Jesus as he passed, it is referred to as El Abed or the Worshipper. The family then crossed the west bank of the Nile to Gebel Qussqam in Assiut where they stayed for six months longer than any other place in Egypt, in the same area the monastery of Al-Moharraq was constructed, also in the same spot, an angel appeared to Joseph's dream telling him to return to Palestine as King Herod is dead.

Many churches and monasteries were built along their trail and many spiritualists, explorers, and travel are taken by the holy family's journey as a highly popular draw, check our Egypt vacation packages to book your dream vacation in Egypt and visit the most famous churches in Egypt.