Journey of the Holy Family in Egypt COPTIC CULTURE & TRADITION

Introduction “What are you?” “Oh! I’m Coptic Orthodox, which is kind of like Greek Orthodox, but Egyptian!” We are missing something vital. One of the most unique characteristics of our tradition and heritage is that the only country visited by the Holy Family (outside of the Holy Land) was Egypt. This visit not only fulfilled prophecies, but also paved the road for St. Mark to come to Egypt and preach.

Memory Verse

Flight into Egypt Christ visited Egypt as a child with His mother and St. Joseph the Carpenter. Matthew 2:13-21 The Holy Family’s visit fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 19:1, 9 And the prophecy of Hosea 11:1 Cyril said that the swift cloud represents St. Mary who is above all saints and more pure than even the clouds. It was found that St. Mary el Moharak Monastery in Egypt fulfills this verse. Since it was meant for an altar for the Lord, it cannot be a pagan altar or a Jewish altar – especially since the Jews only had one altar in the temple. The last part of the verse mentions a pillar to the Lord at its border. This pillar represents St. Mark who came to Alexandria during the first leg of his journey and Alexandria was – at that time – the capital of Egypt on the border of the country.

Holy Family in Egypt Egypt was the only country our Lord Christ visited: Matthew 2:13-21 Egypt became a representative of the Gentiles by accepting Jesus and His family, just as repeated later on when the Gentiles accepted Jesus through St. Mark – He did not come only for the Jews. “Blessed is Egypt, My people.” (Isaiah 19:25) This verse indicates once more that it is not only the Jews that were the people of God, but also the Egyptians as we were blessed by the Holy Family’s visit.

The Tortuous Trails Hippolytus of Rome claimed in the early 3rd Century that the Holy Family stayed in Egypt for three and a half years. He may have received the early local traditions within the Christian Church in Egypt merely 200 years after the death of Christ. The details of the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt was chronicled by Pope Theophilus the 23rd Patriarch of Alexandria (384- 412 AD). He testifies, in his celebrated records, that on the eve of Hathor 6th (November 15th), after long prayer, the Holy Virgin relayed the details of the journey and bade him to record what he had seen and heard.

The Path of the Holy Family

Bubastis (Tel-Basta) The Holy Family took shelter at Bubastis (Tel-Basta) where they rested under a tree (which survived till 1850 AD), a spring of water erupted from which the Holy Family drank (it has gained healing powers since) and the pagan statues collapsed.

Al Mahamma (Mostorod) “the Bathing Place” Where Virgin Mary bathed the Child Christ and washed His clothes

Samannoud Where a large granite trough was used by the Virgin for kneading dough, and a well where Christ blessed

Pekha-Issous (Sakha): “the foot of Jesus” Where the Child Jesus’ footprint was marked on a rock