Beautiful Egypt 302 – “Egypt a Refuge and Sanctuary” – 26/6/2019

In a previous article we followed the escaping of the Holy Family from Natron valley (Scetis) until reaching Bahnasa. An ancient tree that had a strong connection with the Holy Family was mentioned. Today we shall continue talking about the other escaping stops in the journey of the Holy Family.

Mount El-Tayr

The Holy Family traveled to Samalut in the south then to Mount El-Tayr that lies in the east of the city. It was named Mount El-Tayr because of Boukiris Swarms which migrates and gather there. The monastery of Virgin Mary exists there and it is called the mountain of the Palm or the mountain of the Rock. That name was due to a huge rock that almost fell on the Holy Family while setting sail in the Nile River when Jesus pointed His Palm at and stopped it from falling printing His honorable Palm on. Empress Helena mother of Constantine the Great established a church in that area known for the church of the Palm or the church of the Rock, then the name was widely spread to the entire mountain afterwards.
Some sources mentioned that while the Holy Family was on Their way, They found a tall Lebbeck Tree (Bay Leaf tree) in which Satan dwells and pagans worshipped. However after Jesus Christ passed by, the tree bowed before Him as if it was kneeling to Him!

And so all its branches were bent down to the ground and its green leaves were high!

After that incident the peel of the tree and its leaves and fruits had a strong healing ability from diseases. The famous historian Sozomenus who was in the Fifth Century mentioned: “It was said that in El-Ashmunein city in Upper Egypt, there was a Percy tree, its fruits or leaves or peel healed patients from their diseases. Egyptians narrated that during the escape of Joseph from Herod, he came with Jesus (while He was a Baby) and Virgin Mary (His mother) to El-Ashmunein; the moment that He approached the door that the tree bent down to the ground despite being high to kneel before the Savior. And what I narrate about that tree, I narrate it as I heard it from many people.”

El-Ashmunein

The moment the Holy Family entered El-Ashmunein city that all the Idols trembled and was destructed! As Pallidus the historian and the bishop of Helenopolis (in the 4th century) mentioned.

He quoted after he went to El-Ashmunein city: “We saw a house of worshipping Idols however when Jesus our savior entered the city, all fell on its faces and were destructed.”

Jesus stayed in the city for a few days where He did a lot of miracles as healing patients and performed exorcism.

El-Ashmunein also was connected to Saint Wadamoun El-Armanty. He was a young youth from the city of Armant and when he heard about the miracles of baby Jesus at El-Ashmunein he decided to go there.

Indeed he met Jesus Who blessed him and predicted that he was going to be a martyr. When Wadamoun returned back to the city of Armant, pagan’s priests knew about him and they were very furious that they killed him.

Deirout Umm Nakhla

The Holy Family reached Deirout Umm Nakhla in the south during Their journey. It is a village affiliated to the center of Mallawi, Minya Governorate. The origin of the name dates back to the palm of that area and its trees that bent down in tribute to Jesus Christ when He passed through there. Moreover He created a spring of freshwater as well.

Mount Qusakam

It is considered one of the most important stops of the Holy Family, where the monastery of St. Virgin Mary, famous for the monastery of Al-Muharraq, is located. There the Holy Family stayed for exactly six months and ten days in one of its caves, while the altar of the ancient church at the monastery is considered that cave.

St. Pachomius the Great; founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism, established that monastery. The Holy Family stayed there until the angel appeared in a vision to Joseph the carpenter once again telling him to return back to Palestine after all who wanted to kill Jesus were dead. And that’s how Egypt and its people got a special blessing that no other country got from that Fugitive Who chose it to be His refuge and sanctuary. Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center