I am to cease continuing writing on the issue of the last article as today coincides with one of the most important days at the history of Egypt; as this day witnessed what no other country had as on 1st June, 24th of Pachos of each Coptic year; the Church celebrates “The Advent of the Holy Family to Egypt”
The land of Egypt has been blessed by the visits of many sacred men of God for instance, Ibrahim, our forefather and God’s prophet and friend who resorted to Egypt when a great famine happened on earth. Joseph the Righteous had also dwelt in its land after he was sold as a slave d by his brethren and became the second man after Pharaoh saving Egypt and the whole world from a great famine happened on earth and lasted for 7 years. During this period, Jacob, God’s prophet and his children had traveled to Egypt with their flock and possessions that they earned in Canaan in order to take Egypt as a refuge and live with Joseph, hence Jacob and his offspring had dwelt in Egypt for 17 years. As for Joseph, he remained in Egypt till his burial in its dust. Moses too had been born in Egypt. He had become God’s prophet whom God spoke to in Egypt where he was born, raised and learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians for forty years till he led the people of Israel to Canaan by crossing the Red Sea.
As for the most crucial event that not only the Coptic church is celebrating, but all Egyptians as well is the visit of Jesus Christ and His mother, St. Mary accompanied by St. Joseph the Carpenter to Egypt in order to escape from Herod the King who sought to kill the Child, hence they have moved between its territories and stayed at many of its destinations for more than a little time. This visit had its known course that is called, “The Journey of the Holy Family to Egypt” that begins with Al-Farma in Sinai Then the Holy Family arrived at the city of Tel-Basta (Bastah), Upon leaving Tel-Basta, the holy Family arrived at the township of Musturud, Menyiet Samannoud, passing through the township of Daqadous, to the city of Samannoud, to Al-Burollos, the town of Sakha, to the Al-Natrun Valley, to Al-Matariyyah, Ain Shams, the area of Al-Zeitoun, downtown Cairo, Old Cairo, Maadi, passed by the village of Ashneen Al-Nasara, heading to the village of Deir Al-Garnous, Al-Bahnasa, to Samalout township, to Jebel Al-Tayr, east of Samalout, to Sheikh Ebada, the village of Beni Hassan, Al-Ashmonein, Dairout, to Mallawi , Tel Al-Amarna, Deir Abu Hens, towards Dairout Al-Sharif, then to a village called Qusqam, to the township of Meer to Jebel Qusqam, where now lies the Al-Muharraq Monastery, There they resided six months and ten days in a grotto then the Holy Family headed back to Palestine.
The Journey of the Holy Family, while an escape, presents us with one of the life lessons, that is, strength does not lie in one’s physical shape, status or power, but in his self-control. Herod had imagined that he was more powerful Thus sought to kill Jesus Christ while an Infant after the Magi from the east acknowledged him that a King was born. While, in fact, he was weak and self-defeated by his arrogance and selfishness loving the gratitude and power of being a king more than any other things thus he distorted the features of his humanity along with its power. The Bible comments on this saying,
“He who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city”. True strength lies in the ability of man to attain self-control before doing anything as it is the way to success in life.
General Bishop,
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
