Tall Bastā / Sharqia (No CAPMAS reference)

The following lines provide a resume of the history of the celebration of the Holy Family celebrated annually in the Upper Egyptian village of Jabal al-Tayr. Moreover, the media shed light on the influence of the financial crisis in Egypt on the celebration.

A great celebration took place on June 1st, in Saint Mary’s

Coptic Church in Ma’adi, to commemorate the

2000th anniversary of the coming of the Holy Family to Egypt.

The participation of Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and many other

ministers, as well as Pope Shenouda III, The

Sheikh of Azhar, Dr. Safwat al-Bayadi and Catholic Patriarch Estaphanos II

marked this historical event,

which was covered by the Egyptian and foreign media.

Salwa Refaat wrote the National Egyptian Heritage Foundation( NEHRA), the Ministries of Culture and

Environment and

the Antiquities Authority made great efforts to revive the sites on the Holy path.

On the same page was an

interview with Mr. Mounir Gabbour, Chairman of

NEHRA.


In: "The Holy Book" article, Bishop Daniel of Maadi

spoke of the historical

importance of the Virgin Mary Church in Maadi. Watani also spoke on the same page about "al-Mahama"

and the

cave of the Holy Family in Mustorod.

The weekly mentions AWR´s work in organizing Holy Family pilgrimages. the purpose of the Holy Family pilgrimages is to create an understanding between different cultures. AWR wants to encourage the visits of expatriates to any of the Holy Family locations because this will greatly enhance their understanding of Egypt´s most prominent Christian tradition. Not many traditions in the world are as old as this one, the first record of which comes from the fourth century. This tradition is the link between the Gospels and the church in Egypt and is still very much alive today

A group visit to Holy Family locations at Tel Basta, Bilbeis and Mustorod organized by AWR.

This article gives an overview of the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt, by shedding light upon a book written on the subject by three writers specialized in Christian archeology, Egyptian religious affairs and the New Testament and history of the church.

A professor of archeology was referred to the General Financial Prosecution because of possessing a great many antique pieces without having a license and announcing false discoveries. He announced that he discovered a well in Tel Basta from which Jesus Christ drank. It was discovered that the well contains poisoned drainage water.

An article on the Egyptian town of Tel Basta which is considered the second stopping place of the Holy Family in Egypt after Farma, covering some of its architectural importance, history and some of the incidents that happened when the Holy Family visited it.

An overview of all the sites of the Holy Family with an overview of where currently sites are being restored.

The repairing and renewing of the Church of the Virgin in Haret Zuweila, which was founded six centuries before the city of Cairo, will cost more than 28 million [Egyptian] pounds. The Holy Family is said to have passed the location of this church in their journey in Egypt.