Egypt was the pioneer of the world, with its strong pharaonic civilization that is referred to in the Old Testament and the slavery they used to help them to build their monuments , and the fertility of its land indicates a life of luxury and love of the world.
The master could take refuge in a city in Judea or Galilee, but he wanted save and bless the land of Egypt to reside in the midst of this land an altar for himself..
About this Isaiah the Prophet says, “Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it”. (Isaiah 19: 1) then he says “In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.” (Isaiah 19: 19-22)
Egypt was the largest bastion of pagan worship in the whole region. Egypt has a distinguished position in the Bible, many prophets came to this land; father Ibrahim, and Jacob the father of fathers, and Joseph the friend and prophet Moses. By that a group of prophets paved the way for the coming of Christ to crown this presence on Egypt’s land.
Egypt was talked about in the Bible a lot and many important personalities came from the Fathers and the Prophets and it occupied a large part of the history of the people of God …
1- Egypt, since it was founded by Mizraim, who is a descendant of Noah, it became a haven for all.
2- Our father Abraham visited her, as the Bible mentions in (Gen. 12: 10-19). “There was hunger on earth, so Abram descended to Egypt so that he was there because the hunger in the land was severe.”
3- In its goodness, Joseph lived on this land, after his brothers sold him, as was mentioned in (Gen. 37: 18-29).
4- Joseph was a symbol of Christ who came to save life of the whole world.
The Bible has talked a lot about Egypt, especially in the prophecy about the escape of baby Jesus to this land Egypt . In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD, so it will be a sign and a testimony to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt ..
This is what happened when the angel said to Saint Joseph the Carpenter in a dream: “Arise, take the boy and his mother, and flee to Egypt and be there until I tell you, because Herod intends to ask for the boy to destroy him ..” (Matt 2:13)
the Holy Family went on and escaped from Herod’s face to Egypt about 1033 km, which is the distance from Bethlehem to Muharraq Monastry… they took this distance twice – coming to Egypt then back to Palestine when it was safe once more.
The root was in the following order:
From Bethlehem to Al-Faramah in El-Arish City and from there to Tel Basta (near Zagazig) and from there to Belbeis and from there to Minya Jinnah (near Samanoud) then to Burullus and then to Sakha (near Kafr El-Sheikh) where the child Jesus put his foot on a stone and he was imprinted on it This place was called (Bikha Issus, meaning the heel of Jesus) …
Then the Holy Family moved to Wadi Al-Natroun, then to Ain Shams, then Al-Matariyah (where the blessed tree of Mary is) … then to old cairo where Jesus hid in a cave (which is a church known as Abu Serga church now)
Then they headed Maadi area where they took a boat and sailed to Upper Egypt and settled on a high rock now known as Jabal al-Tair (currently east of Samalut), then to the Ashmunin (next to Mallawi Center).
After that they resumed walking from the eastern mountain to the west, where they reached Mount Qasqam, now known as Al Muharraq Monastery, where They stayed there six months and finally to Drunka Monastry to begin there way back.
المصادر:
كتاب “رحلة العائلة المقدسة في أرض مصر” للدكتور اسحق عجبان
وموقع سانت تكلا
