Holy Family in Egypt - Tour the sites and meet the people at Holy Family sites in Egypt

The Cairo Tour

Harit Zuwayla

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We proceed further to the Church of the Holy Virgin at Harit Zuwayla, near the area of al-Muski, a popular trading district in Cairo. This was the Orthodox patriarchal church from the 14th century to 1660. The church is surrounded by ancient narrow streets where also many Christians have their shops. Some sell pictures and frames for framing pictures of saints. The church has some wonderful icons, one of them is a beautiful icon of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. The church is seven meters below ground level. Pumps run day and night in order to remove water seepage in an effort to save its foundation. The building is in desperate need of restoration. Near the church’s altar we find a sacred well which is believed to have been blessed by the Holy Family and whose waters are said to cure illnesses but is now mixed with polluted ground water.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
Part of the Church of the Holy Virgin at Harit Zuwayla, where we can see the ground water that is destructive for the structure of the church. The church is seven meters below ground level. Pumps run day and night in order to remove this water.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
A boy and a girl praying before an icon.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
An icon of the Holy Virgin carrying Jesus

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
The roof is supported by beams to prevent collapse. This shows the urgent need for restoration.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
The entrance of the Convent of the Holy Virgin

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
Outside the Church of the Holy Virgin at Harit Zuwayla in Muski, a photo taken from another angle.

© copyright Dr. Peter Grossmann
Plan of the church of the Holy Virgin at Harit Zuwayla.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
Outside the Church of the Holy Virgin

© copyright
A crowded street near Al-Azhar, near al-Muski.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
A corner of the Church of the Holy Virgin at Harit Zuwayla, supported by beams to prevent collapse. This shows the urgent need for restoration.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
A man from Shubra al-Kheima came with his daughter to have his crippled legs blessed from the ground water near the altar of the church. Near this altar is a sacred well which is believed to have been blessed by the Holy Family and whose waters were said to cure illnesses but is now mixed with polluted ground water. Common and simple minded people still believe in the healing powers of this water because it is located in an important church close to the altar.

© copyright Alexander Onderwaater
There are many Christian shops in this area, selling pictures and making frames for photos of the saints.