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

The Upper Egypt Tour

Al-Muharraq

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The monastery of the Holy Virgin of Al–Muharraq lies in the foot of mountains of Qusqam, 327 km. south of Cairo. This monastery is unquestionably the most prominent location on the Holy Family’s itinerary. Dayr Al-Muharraq means ‘the monastery scorched by fire’, in reference to the repeated burning of invasive vegetation, which indicates that this place was deserted when the Holy Family visited. This is the place that according to tradition, the Holy Family stayed six months and five days, and where Jesus, after the Resurrection, came back to consecrate the altar referred to in Isaiah 19:19 as “an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt.”

The holiest place in the monastery is the Church of the Holy Virgin which is believed to be founded in the first century A.D., and thus is the first church in the world. The church has a beautiful collection of 18th and 19th century icons. The monastery has another church named after the Archangel Michael.

The Monastery is surrounded by a wall modeled after the wall of Jerusalem. For Copts a pilgrimage to this monastery is equal to that of Jerusalem. We see also the house of the Bishop of the monastery, which is approximately 100 years old.

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An 18th or 19th artists’ conception of the Holy Virgin Mary carrying Jesus

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Altar of the Church of the Archangel Michael

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Two monks praying and reciting Holy Scriptures

© copyright Dr. Peter Grossmann
Plan of the monastery of the Holy Virgin at Al-Muharraq

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Wall modeled after the wall of Jerusalem. A pilgrimage to this monastery is believed to be of equal importance as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

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Woodwork on the altar screen of the Church of the Holy Virgin, with a verse written both in Coptic and Arabic saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”[Luke 2:14 KJB].