The Upper Egypt Tour
Dayrut Al-Sharif
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After Tell El-Amarna, the Holy Family went to Dayrut Al-Sharif. Today one finds at this place the Monastery of Abu Sarabam, and an old Christian cemetery with a tree, that according to tradition, gave shelter to the Holy Family. The monastery is named after Anba Sarabam, Bishop of Nikiou, Delta, who lived at the end of the third century, and escaped the persecution in his city and came to Dayrut. Inside the Church of Anba Sarabam, we see pillars that are identical to those of Dayr al-Muharraq and those of the Church at Sarakna, which means that they were built at the same period.


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A tree which is believed to have given shelter to the Holy Family during their visit to Dayrut Al–Sharif.

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The tree which is believed to have given shelter to the Holy Family during their visit to Dayrut Al–Sharif.

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A painting of Anba Sarabam, bishop of Nikiou, Delta, who lived at the end of the third century. He escaped the persecution at his town and came to Dayrut.

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A small rectangle window on the iconostasis of a Church at Dayrut Al–Sharif, with a beautiful Coptic cross.

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Monastery of Abu Sarabam, outside the town of Dayrut Al–Sharif. The tree hanging over the wall is believed to have given shelter to the Holy Family. (Scan from the book “Be Thou There; the Holy Family’s Journey in Egypt,” AUC Press, Cairo, 2001)

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A monk standing beside a painting of the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt at the monastery outside the town of Dayrut Al–Sharif. It is named after Abu Sarabam bishop of Nikiou, Delta, who lived at the end of the third century. He escaped the persecution in his city and came to Dayrut.

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Pillars inside the Church of Anba Sarabam at Dayrut Al–Sharif. They discovered that these pillars are identical to those of Dayr al-Muharraq and those of the Church at Sarakna, which means that they were built at the same time.

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An old iconostasis of the Church of Anba Sarabam at Dayrut Al–Sharif with several types of crosses.