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Egypt plays a tremendously important
role in the Bible and there are literally hundreds of Biblical references
to Egypt. Isaiah prophesized “blessed be Egypt my people,” [Isaiah
19: 25] and the country served as a place of refuge for Abraham, Jacob
and his children, the prophet Jeremiah, the Holy Family and many others
- even today Egypt serves as a place of refuge for thousands of refugees
from all over the Middle East and North Africa.
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By visiting locations most westerners rarely visit
you will develop an understanding for traditional and ancient Christian
life in Egypt, the inclusive nature of folk traditions, and the place
of Christians in Egyptian society. You will also experience a genuine
hospitality that is rarelyfound elsewhere.
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The Holy Family tours will introduce you to Christian
Egypt, an ancient Christian tradition, ancient churches and monasteries,
and different way of thinking which includes reference for dreams
and visions of pious people, traditional Christian communities in
different parts of Egypt rarely visited by non-Egyptians and the place
of these Christian communities in an Islamic society.Our aim is to
encourage all those who take part to have a greater understanding
- not only of Christian traditions in Egypt - but also the relationship
of Egyptian Christians in their society.
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The traditions of Oriental Christianity are very
different from that of Christianity in the West and without any doubt
the Holy Family tradition is the most important Christian tradition
in Egypt. The inclusive nature of Coptic and Muslim folk traditions
means that Egypt's Christians and Muslims share much of the same cultural
heritage and this creates a way of living together that is unique.
There are many similarities in Coptic and Muslim folk traditions;
both show a great reverence for saints who are revered in moulids
or pilgrimage festivals. We also see Coptic and Muslim folk traditions
influencing each other. The village of al-Bahnassa in Upper Egypt
is an example. Stories told about the Holy Family visiting al-Bahnassa
are related to a medieval Shia Muslim tradition that in turn, of course,
must have been influenced by older Christian traditions. The icons
in the church of nearby Sandafa have been painted by a Muslim artist.
Muslims frequent Christian pilgrimage sites and ask for prayers. Moulids
are first of all social occasions in which Christians join Muslims
in their celebrations and Muslims join Christians in their celebrations.
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| We invite you to join us in visiting the Holy Family
locations - this will greatly enhance your understanding of Egypt's
most prominent Christian tradition. Not many traditions in the world
are as old as this - first recorded in the fourth century. This tradition
is the link between the Gospels and the church in Egypt and is still
very much alive today. |
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