flight

  map out the specific stops they are traditionally believed to have made once they arrived in Egypt?

 The journey of the Holy Family in Egypt, often called the **Holy Family Trail**, is a sacred route covering over 3,500 kilometers and comprising 25 traditional stations. According to Coptic Orthodox tradition, their path led them through the Nile Delta, the desert valleys, and deep into Upper Egypt.

### The Sinai Entry and the Nile Delta

The family entered Egypt through the northeastern frontier, traveling along the Mediterranean coast before heading south into the fertile Delta region.


Theatre at Pelusium (Farama) is traditionally cited as the first stop after crossing the Sinai desert.

* Located near the modern Suez Canal, it was an ancient port city.
* Archaeologists have uncovered remnants of early churches at the site.


Tell Basta (Bubastis) near Zagazig is where a miraculous spring is said to have burst forth to quench the Child Jesus' thirst.

* Tradition says Pharaonic idols collapsed upon the family's arrival here.
* The site features an ancient well and archaeological ruins.


Church of St. George the Great Martyr Belbeis commemorates the family's rest in the shade of a tree in the town of Belbeis.

* Historical accounts mention they rested here under what became known as the "Virgin Mary's Tree."
* It served as a key stop before they moved closer to modern Cairo.


Historical Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mostorod is built over a cave and a well where the Virgin Mary is believed to have bathed the Infant Jesus.

* The site is famously known as "Al-Mahamma" (the place of bathing).
* Visitors can still see the revered well inside the church's crypt.

### The Cairo Cluster and Desert Refuges

As they reached the heart of Egypt, the family sheltered in what are now major districts of Cairo and the nearby desert.


Monastery of Saint Bishoy is one of four ancient monasteries in **Wadi El Natrun**, a desert valley blessed by the Holy Family.

* The valley became a cradle of Coptic monasticism in the 4th century.
* Jesus is believed to have blessed the area, which now houses significant frescoes and relics.


The Tree of Virgin Mary in Matareya is an ancient sycamore tree in Cairo that is said to have provided shade for the family.

* Jesus brought forth a spring here, and the balsamic plants that grew from it were used to prepare holy oil.
* It remains one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Egypt.


Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) in Old Cairo contains the crypt where the family lived for several months.

* This is considered one of the most sacred points of the journey.
* The church is built within the walls of the ancient Roman Fortress of Babylon.


Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary in Maadi marks the spot where the family boarded a sailboat to travel south along the Nile.

* A stone stairway leads directly to the river where they embarked.
* In 1976, a Bible was found floating in the river here, open to Isaiah 19:25: "Blessed be Egypt my people."

### Upper Egypt: The Southern Journey

Leaving Cairo, the family sailed upstream toward Middle and Upper Egypt, eventually staying for a long period in the Assiut region.


Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount bird (Gabal al-Tayr) is a cliffside sanctuary where a rock was miraculously stopped from falling on the family.

* The church is carved into the mountain and contains a sacred cave.
* It offers a panoramic view of the Nile, where the family sailed south.


Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Muharraq) is where the Holy Family is believed to have stayed for six months and ten days.

* Known as the "Second Bethlehem," its altar is said to be the rock upon which Jesus slept.
* It is the geographic center of Egypt and the spiritual heart of the trail.


Monastery of the Virgin Coptic Orthodox (Mount Durunka) represents the southernmost point of their flight.

* The monastery is built into the limestone caves of the mountain overlooking Assiut.
* It was from this region that the Angel appeared to Joseph, telling him it was safe to return to Palestine.

Would you like more details on the specific miracles associated with any of these sites?
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