Egypt Daily News – The Egyptian Museum Sector was keen to celebrate the anniversary of the Holy Family’s entry into Egypt by presenting a collection of historical information about the sacred journey, highlighting its significance and its role in promoting tourism and cultural awareness among Egyptians throughout the ages.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the sector explained that the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt is a spiritual epic deeply etched into the memory of history. Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Joseph the Carpenter fled from the persecution of King Herod to the land of Egypt.
The Holy Family traveled across various regions of the country, from Sinai to Cairo, leaving behind sacred landmarks that embody meanings of patience, hope, and faith, inspiring believers around the world.
The sector added that the project to revive the Holy Family’s route in Egypt is considered a national project, as it serves as a developmental urban axis led by the tourism sector. The development of this route contributes to the growth of surrounding communities along its path, which includes 25 locations from Sinai to Assiut. Each of these sites visited by the Holy Family contains a group of relics in the form of churches, monasteries, water wells, and a collection of Coptic icons that indicate their presence, according to the documentation of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.
It also noted that festivals commemorating the Holy Family’s journey from Bethlehem to Egypt in escape from King Herod’s persecution are celebrated annually. Two main festivals attract large crowds of Egyptians, both Muslims and Christians of all ages and backgrounds.
The first is the “Festival of the Coming of the Holy Family to Egypt,” usually held for one day at the beginning of June. The second, known as the “Feast of the Virgin’s Nativity,” takes place in various cities and towns such as Durunka and Cairo, between May and August.
The statement mentioned that Egyptians, both Muslims and Christians, have a unique heartfelt connection to the Virgin Mary. Many popular celebrations are held in her honor, most notably the annual festival at the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Durunka, Assiut. Celebrations also take place at the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun and at a tree known as the “Mary Tree,” estimated to be over two thousand years old. Tradition holds that the Holy Family rested in its shade, and it has become a site visited by Egyptians seeking blessings.
The Holy Family’s journey was inscribed in 2022 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition covers the associated practices and oral stories, songs related to the baptism of children, veneration of holy wells, tales of the Mary Tree, and numerous unique paintings and icons.
The celebrations also include singing, traditional games, body painting, re-enactments of the journey, religious processions, artistic performances, and the sharing of traditional foods. These festivities are rich in social functions and cultural meanings, reflecting the unified social and cultural fabric of Coptic Christians and Muslims alike.
This unity is evident during preparations and celebrations, which also involve volunteering by locals to serve visitors and the exchange of gifts. Knowledge and skills related to these traditions are passed down through churches, monasteries, families, and active participation in the rituals.
