The Upper Egypt Tour  
Dayr Durunka
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Dayr Durunka is approximately 50 km. south of Dayr Al-Muharraq and 9 km. south of Assiut, the historical city of Lycopolis.In the convent we visit a large cave where according to tradition the Holy Family has stayed before taking a boat north, returning to Palestine. The cave which had been once used as a pharaonic quarry, attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims yearly. It is known that this monastery is better equipped than any other place on the route of the Holy family to receive large numbers of pilgrims, especially during the festival of the Holy Virgin in August. Many are coming because of repeated apparitions of the Holy Virgin in the past decades. Near the convent is the Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin.

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Italian style icon in the cave of the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka.

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 Beautiful view of the Nile valley from the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka. On the left are the Western mountains of Assiut. At the horizon the eastern mountains can be seen.

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Baptismal fonts in the cave of the Holy Virgin at Durunka. Pilgrims like to have their babies baptized at the convent during the pilgrimage festival in August

© copyright Claudia Wiens
Metropolitan Michael speaking to the pilgrims at the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka. (photo: Claudia Wiens)

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Deacons in procession during the pilgrimage festival.

© copyright Claudia Wiens
 Baptism during the pilgrimage festival.

© copyright Claudia Wiens
Tattoo during the pilgrimage festival.

 

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The Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka is beautifully situated on the slope of the Assiut mountains, 8 km southeast of the city of Assiut. According to tradition the Holy Family stayed in the cave before taking the boat north.

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 Large cave at the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka where according to tradition the Holy Family has been. The cave attracts yearly hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The cave has once been used as a pharaonic quarry.

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Guesthouses of the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka.

© copyright.Photo: Popko van Meekeren
A view of the Nile valley from the Monastery of the Holy Virgin near Durunka. The church below is the Coptic Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin.

© copyright Claudia Wiens
Pilgrims in the Convent of the Holy Virgin at Durunka.

© copyright Claudia Wiens
Tents of pilgrims near the convent during the pilgrimage festival in August.