The Coptic Orthodox Church is preparing to receive the second Italian tourist delegation at the start of the pilot program for the Holy Family path after Intalsi Italian organization organized a trip last February of an Italian media delegation. Egypt will receive a new delegation from 17 to 21 June to be announced by Vatican Radio.
Nader Girgis, member of the Ministerial Committee of the Holy Family Path Program, said that the delegation includes 50 tourists, headed by the Bishop of the Italian city of Viterbo, pointing out that the Ministry of Tourism is keen to make this program a unique spiritual and tourist experience that combines historical and religious aspects.
Girgis pointed out that the members of the delegation will visit the pyramid and then the path of the Holy Family from Cairo to Wadi Al-Natroun.
On the church level, Anba Daniel, secretary of the Holy Synod and Bishop of Maadi is expected to receive the Italian delegation at St. Virgin Mary Church in Maadi, which is one of the churches of the first phase of the Holy Family’s path. while Anba Julius, Bishop of Old Cairo churches and social services will receive the delegation in Abu Siraja church, in religions complex also under his supervision. The delegation then goes to visit three monasteries in Wadi Al Natroun, Anba Bishoy monastery, St. Virgin Mary al-Surian monastery and St. Virgin Mary Baramos monastery.
For his part, Fr. Timon al-Syriani, who is responsible for receiving foreign visitors at St. Virgin Mary al-Surian monastery, said that the monastery is ready to receive visitors after paving the road leading to the monastery. All the monasteries of Wadi Al-Natroun which had been affected by the fall of heavy rains the year before were restored, And the Ministry of Antiquities and the Church has made great efforts in its restoration, pointing out that the monasteries from inside are fully ready and all that remains is coordination with the governor and the executive bodies in Beheira to receive the delegation.
