Holy Family
The journey began from Palestine, to Egypt through the plateaus and deserts, and not via one of the known routes - three roads at the time - because they were fleeing from the face of Herod the King, until they reached the borders of Egypt at their first stop, which is:
1- Al-Farma: The Holy Family traveled from Bethlehem to Gaza to the Zaraneeq reserve (Al-Felusiyat), 37 km west of Al-Arish, and entered Egypt through the northern side of the Al-Farma side (Bloziom) located between the cities of Al-Arish and Port Said.
2-Tal Basta: The Holy Family entered the city of Tal Basta near the city of Zagazig in the Sharqia governorate. The people of the city mistreated them, so they left and went.
3- The Mahmah (Mostorod now): Its name was the Mahmah because it was a place of bathing, and in it the Virgin bathed Christ and washed his clothes, with a spring of water -still present-
4- Belbeis: belonging to the Sharkia Governorate, and the Holy Family took refuge at a tree, known as the “Virgin Mary Tree”. The Holy Family also passed by Belbeis on their way back.
5- Monia Saman Wad (Samanoud now): her people received them well, Christ blessed them and there was a large granite stone in her, it is said that the Virgin kneaded with it while she was there, and there is also a well of water blessed by the Lord himself.
6- Sakha: The most important archaeological in it now is Deir Al-Maghtas.
7- Wadi El-Natrun: The family set out on their journey to Wadi El-Natrun, and crossed the Nile, via the Rosetta branch, and Christ and the Virgin blessed this place.
8- Matariya: The family crossed the Nile once again to go to Matareya and Ain Shams, and there was in this place a tree, which they used to protect themselves from the heat of the sun, and it is known to this day as the “Mary Tree “, and Christ raised a spring of water and drank from it, and the Virgin washed his clothes in it.
9- Coptic Cairo: There are many places visited by the Holy Family and later turned into churches, and the family did not stay there for long.
10- Maadi (Memphis): I arrived in the Maadi area to travel to Upper Egypt across the Nile, and it was called Maadi, because the Holy Family “came back” – that is, it crossed – from it, and the ladder on which the Holy Family went down to the Nile is still present.
11- Dir Al-Jarnous (Maghagha): There is a well where the Holy Family drank from it, and it is still until now.
12- Bahnasa: the Holy Family passed through a spot called Abai Issus (House of Jesus) to the east of Bahsana, and its place is now the village of Sandafa – Bani Mazar, and the current village of Bahnasa is located 17 km west of Bani Mazar in the Minya Governorate.
13- Samalout (Jabal al-Tair): is in Minya Governorate, currently, and the Holy Family settled in the ancient cave in the church in Jabal al-Tair.
14- Ashmonin: The Holy Family reached it after crossing to the western side. The Holy Family blessed the people.
15- Dayrout: is in Assiut governorate.
16- Qusqam (Al-Qusiya) is in Assiut governorate: it includes the Muharraq Monastery, and its people expelled them.
17- Mir: (West of Al-Qusiya): where the family fled from the people of the village of “Qusqam”, and their people honored them, and Christ blessed them.
18- Muharraq Monastery: After the Holy Family left the village of Mir, they headed to Qusqam Mount, which is 12 km west of Al-Qusiya. The Muharraq Monastery is considered one of the most important stations in which the Holy Family settled, and this monastery is known as the “Monastery of the Virgin Mary.” The period spent by the family in this place is considered one of the longest periods of “6 months and 10 days” and the cave inhabited by the family is the first church in Egypt. But in the whole world.
19- Drunkah Mount: After the Holy Family moved from Qusqam Mount, it headed south until it reached Mount Assiut, where there is Drunkah monastery, where there is an old cave carved in the mountain. and the order came to St. Joseph in a dream that they should return to Palestine again.
20- Return: The family set off on their journey back from Upper Egypt until they reached ancient Egypt, then Matareya, then Mahmah, and from there to Sinai, Palestine, where St. Joseph and the Holy Family live in the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
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