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Tomorrow we celebrate the advent of the Holy Family. This is one of the most important incidents which Egypt has witnessed so far, for she is the only country blessed by the Holy Family’s presence. The Holy Family’s journey started when king Herod intended to put Christ to death after he had met the Magi. He asked them to tell him about his place. But, the angel of the Lord appeared to St. Joseph in a dream, after which the Family fled from Bethlehem, Palestine, to Egypt. The Family reached Gaza, then Zaranik protectorate (west Arish). Hence, Sinai was their gate, having entered from Pelusium and headed northward. When news of the Holy Family’s escape reached Herod, he sent spies, said to have been ten sentries, to look for the child and bring him over that he might kill him by himself. Yet, they could not reach Christ, which is why the Holy Family did not take a familiar road. Rather, they used to move north, south, east, and west in order to escape the king’s spies.
The Holy Family entered Egypt via Pelusium. In his book, the monk Bernard wrote that, in 870 A.D., he saw a church bearing St. Mary’s name in Pelusium. It was consecrated to commemorate the passing of the Holy Family by the city. When the Family reached Bubastis (Tel Basta), Zagazig, they sought the shade of a tree. At that time, Christ got thirsty. St. Mary asked some inhabitants for water, but they refused!
So, Christ made a water spring gush forth. He also blessed it. Worthy mentioning is that idols were crushed when He entered the city. While the Holy Family was in Bubastis, a person called Qulum invited them to his house. He hosted them generously. Baby Jesus blessed his house. Then a wonderful thing happened. When the Holy Family reached Qulum’s house, the man apologized as his wife had been bedridden for three years. She could not welcome them. Christ told him, “Your wife, Sara, is not sick anymore.” Sara leapt from her bed immediately and went to welcome the Family. She asked them to stay for more time, as the Child’s presence blessed her house. Yet, the Holy Family’s presence made the idols’ marble statues fall and break to pieces.
News of the incident spread throughout the city. It reached the governor who started investigating the matter. So, he got to know that the reason was a lady carrying a Child who, probably, was the Holy Child whom Herod was looking for. So, he ordered that the child be arrested. When Qulum heard of this, he advised the Holy Family to flee at night. Thus, the Holy Family headed southward toward Mostorod where Christ also made a water spring gush forth. It is still there.
The Holy Family headed from thence toward Belbeis, Sharqiya where they sought the shelter of tree which has been called ever since, “St. Mary’s Tree”. Records tell us that when Napoleon’s sentries passed by that place, they wanted to cook. So, they held an ax to cut wood from that tree. Yet, to their great horror, the tree started bleeding. Thus, they left it sound.
On their way to Samanud, the Holy Family passed by Daqadous, crossing the Nile, after which they reached Samanud (Jemnoty) in the Delta where they were warmly welcomed. It is said that St. Mary kneaded some dough in a large marble bowl which is still there. Then, they moved to al-Burullus, passing by Xois, Kafr al-Sheikh. Christ’s footprints appear on a stone there. This took place when the Family was looking for water, but could not find. There was a pillar base on which St. Mary made Christ stand. His feet left their print on the stone.
From that stone a water spring gushed out, and the Holy Family drank, which is why the place was given the name of “Pikha Isus”, that is, Christ’s ankle. Then, the Holy Family crossed the other Nile branch (Rosetta Branch) to the west, Wadi al-Natrun, passing by Nab’ al-Hamra where Christ made a water spring gush out. This spring is called “St. Mary’s Well”. It is located amidst the lakes full of natrun salt. After that, the Holy Family headed toward Cairo, then al-Mattariya where they sought the shade of tree. It is called “St. Mary’s Tree”. Christ made a water spring gush out where St. Mary washed his clothes, after which they headed to Ain Shams until they reached Old Cairo.
From thence, the Family headed to Ma’adi where they took a boat to Upper Egypt. They passed by Eshnin al-Nassara on their way to Dayr al-Garnous, Maghagha. Then they passed by Bayt Yasou’, eastern Bahnasa (currently Sandafa) at Beni Mazar. From Bahnasa, they headed to Samalut where they crossed the Nile. There, St. Mary’s Monastery, Jabal al-Tayr, is located. After that they traveled to Sheikh Ebadah (Ansena) where Christ made a water spring gush out. Then they passed by Beni Hassan southwards, crossing the Nile to al-Rhoda westward to reach Ashmunin. Some references tell us that on their way, the Family passed by a lebbeck tree which was haunted by a devil. Heathens worshipped it. Yet, when Christ passed by it, it stooped as if in obeisance! All its branches are bent toward the ground and its leaves are upward. After that, its bark, leaves, and fruit acquired the power of healing. Sozomenos, a fifth-century historian asserts that, “In Ashmunin, a city in Upper Egypt, there is a tree called Pereccia which fruit, leaves and bark heal the sick. Egyptians recount that when Joseph fled from Herod, he came with Baby Jesus and his saintly mother, Mary, to Ashmunin. When they approached the gate of the city, the tree bowed down to worship the Savior. What I say about the tree is what I had heard from many people.” Likewise, the idols on the tree fell down. Palladius, bishop of Helenopolis, a fourth-century figure, also asserts that when he went to Ashmunin, “We also saw a place where all idols fell upon the advent of our Savior.”
The Holy Family reached Dayrut Um Nakhla where Christ made a water spring gush out in Mallawy (Dayr al-Malak). They crossed the Nile eastward to reach Tel al-Amarna. On their way, they rested in Dayr Abu Hennes (aka. Kom Maria), after which they sailed from Tel al-Amarna to Dayrut al-Sharif, then to Qusqam, and from thence, to Meer, western al-Qussiyah where they were honored by its people. Christ and St. Mary blessed those people.
Egypt was blessed by the presence of the Holy Family. This visit is a dream that never came true except to Egypt and her people, which is why stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
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