06/02/2026
Commemoration of the Lord Jesus’ Journey to the Land of Egypt and the Global Coptic Day
On this day, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Entry of the Lord Jesus into the land of Egypt with His mother, the Virgin Mary, and the righteous Joseph. “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13).
It is believed that they first passed through El-Arish, then the town of Farama in Sinai, and from there to Tell Basta near Zagazig. There, the idols fell at Christ’s presence, angering the Egyptian priests, who mistreated the Holy Family. Nearby, they rested under a tree, where the Child caused a spring to flow, which healed every illness. This place was called Al-Mahamma because it is where the Lord Jesus was bathed in the spring.
From Al-Mahamma, they traveled to Belbeis, where they rested under a tree later known as the Virgin’s Tree.
From Belbeis, the Holy Family went to Meniet Genah, then to Samannoud, where they crossed to the western bank and came to Sakha. There, the Child left a footprint, and the place became known as “Jesus’ Footprint.”
From there, they journeyed to Wadi El-Natrun, which was blessed by their presence and later became a center of monasticism, filled with monasteries. They then traveled to Ain Shams, where they rested under the Tree of the Virgin Mary, and a spring gushed forth from which they drank and washed the Child’s clothes. This area is now called El-Matariya.
After that, they went to Babylon in Old Cairo and stayed in a cave, which is now the Church of Abu Serga. When the city’s ruler heard of them, he pursued them to eliminate the one who had caused the idols to fall. They fled and boarded a boat near El-Maadi, then traveled to El-Bahnasa, where they stayed for five days.
They continued to Gabal El-Teir (Mountain of the Birds) east of Samalout, where a large rock nearly fell onto their boat. But the Child Jesus stretched out His hand to the rock, leaving the imprint of His palm on it and preventing it from falling. The place became known as “Palm Mountain”.
From there, they traveled to Ashmunein near Mallawi. In the nearby area of Ansena and Kom Maria (at the Monastery of Abu Hennis), there is still the well known as “the Cloud’s Well.”
They then went to a village near Deirout, then to El-Qusiya, which was then known as Qusqam, where they were harshly treated and expelled after the local idols collapsed. They fled to Meir, and finally took refuge in Mount Qusqam, where they stayed for six months and ten days in the place now known as Al-Muharraq Monastery. There, the first altar was built on the stone where the Lord Jesus had sat.
When Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream saying: “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:20–21). Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Hosea: “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Hosea 11:1).
The Lord also blessed Egypt by establishing an altar in its midst—the altar of Al-Muharraq Monastery—fulfilling the prophecy:
“In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt.” (Isaiah 19:19–20)
As it is also written: “Blessed be Egypt My people.” (Isaiah 19:25)
(Compiled by Fr. Yehnes Elsouriani)
