The Holy Family in Egypt: History, Sites and Travel Guide

The Holy Family Trail in Egypt is one of the most sacred and fascinating experiences in Bible history. According to the Gospel of St. Matthew, Mary, Joseph, and the young Jesus had to flee from Judea to Egypt to escape the bloody persecution of Herod. They spent three and a half years in Egypt, covered a distance of more than 3500 km, passing through the Sinai Peninsula, the Nile Delta, Cairo, the Nitrian Desert, and Upper Egypt.

Today, the government of Egypt has launched a campaign to revive this ancient trail for international visitors and pilgrims.

The following list includes all the essential information for making a trip around the “Holy Family Trail”.

The Story and Its History

An angel of God warned Joseph to escape to Egypt with the baby Jesus and Mary, and stay there until the death of Herod the Tetrarch. The family crossed over into Egypt through northern Sinai, and as poor refugees, they took shelter in caves, and drank from wells. This itinerary connects together Roman fortresses, desert monasteries, caves, and holy trees. A visit to these places will help you understand the history of Christianity and gain an insight into ancient Coptic culture.

Where to Go: The Most Interesting Places of the Trail

Even though there are 25 official sites on the trail, most tour operators offer to see only the most significant places connected with the flight of the Holy Family. Here is a list of the most popular ones:

A. Coptic Cairo (the historical core of the journey)

The Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius and St. Bacchus) was built over the underground crypt where the Holy Family was staying for some time.

The Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa) is perched on top of the ancient Roman fortress (the Babylon Citadel), and is one of the oldest churches in Egypt. In fact, it is the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The Virgin Mary’s Church in Maadi is located on the Nile’s edge. It is said that the family escaped from Egypt through the Maadi district on a boat.

Virgin Mary’s Tree in Matariya is an old sycamore tree in northern Cairo, under which Mary was resting and drinking water.

B. The Nile Delta (where the family spent the first few months after crossing the Sinai)

Tell Basta (Bubastis) – the northernmost city in the Delta, where the family arrived first after crossing the desert. Here, Jesus had created a spring of water.

In Sakha (Kafr El Sheikh), the most notable monument is the Bikha Isous rock inscription with the footprint of infant Jesus. Mustorod or Al-Mahamma means “the bathing place”. Mary bathed the child Jesus in the local well. This well is still considered holy by the local population.

C. The Nitrian Desert (where the family spent the first six months after arriving in Egypt)

Wadi El Natrun – the road winds through a desert landscape between Cairo and Alexandria. This is a region where ancient Christian monastic traditions were established in the 4th century. The local climate is quite severe – the temperature rarely rises above 30 C. Monks built magnificent stone fortresses throughout the area following the route of the Holy Family.

The most popular monasteries include:

Monastery of Saint Bishoy (Deir Anba Bishoy)

Monastery of El-Suryan (The Syrian Monastery)

Monastery of El-Baramus

Monastery of Saint Macarius (Abu Makar)

D. Middle and Upper Egypt (the area where the family spent the last five months)

Gabal Al-Teir (Minya) – a monastery complex built into the rock formation. There is also a cave beneath the monastery where the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are reported to have taken shelter from the rain. According to tradition, when a stone fell from the rock formation on the family, Jesus stopped it with His hand, and the imprint of His palm was preserved in the rock. The most notable monument in the Al-Teir monastery complex is the 19th-century church built directly over the cave.

Monastery of Al-Muharraq (Asyut): This is the most important station on the “Holy Family Trail”. The family spent more than six months in the caves on the slopes of Mount Qusqam. These caves are now part of the oldest church in the world. Experts believe that this is the birthplace of Christianity.

Drunka Monastery (Asyut) – the rock-hewn church complex located on the high plateau overlooking the Nile Valley marks the end of the journey before the family received the message from the angel that they could return to Judea.

The Itinerary – How Many Days Should Be Spent in Egypt to Follow the Holy Family Trail?

Day 1-2: Arrival in Cairo. You can spend 2 days in Coptic Cairo, visiting the Hanging Church, Abu Serga’s underground crypt, the Coptic Museum, and visiting the tree in Matariya and the river view in Maadi.

Day 3: You can go on an excursion to the desert monasteries of Wadi El Natrun, located 135 km west of Cairo.

Days 4-5: You will arrive in Minya, and you will have a couple of days to explore the local attractions. In particular, you can visit the interesting Gabal Al-Teir monastery complex.

Days 6-7: The next destination is Asyut, where you can visit the Al-Muharraq and Drunka monasteries.

The length of the trip – 3,500 km or so.

The duration of the journey – three and a half years, according to the Coptic tradition.

Number of official sites – 25, approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Conclusion

Visiting Egypt and following the steps of the Holy Family is a truly unique and thrilling experience. Whether you are exploring the ancient crypts and caves in Old Cairo, getting close to authentic Coptic hospitality in Wadi El Natrun, or visiting stunning rock-hewn monasteries in Asyut, this trip will help you witness the miracle of faith and devotion.