Flight of the Family

Al Ahram Weekly

Egypt is considered the most suitable destination worldwide for a religious tourist visit of one of the most sacred relics of Christianity -- the sites visited by the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. These sites were included on a map in a pamphlet issued by the Ministry of Tourism in nine languages in 2000 in coordination and with the approval of Pope Shenouda III.

According to Matthews Gospel, reference to the visit of Jesus to Egypt seeking safety is undisputed. And according to the map of Egypt, the only point of entry from the north from Bethlehem is through Farama (Pelousium) which is stated in the ministry pamphlet and its relics which exist until today.

There is also a report issued by a Polish committee for antiquities about this particular site which said that after extensive research and excavation on the site it was proved that these relics are indeed 2,000 years old.

Farama is the eastern entrance for Egypt near Arish in North Sinai governorate. Although the area is lifeless, it is a distinguished tourism location and contains the remains of an entire Roman city. It has a church that was built on the cave which the Holy Family stayed in during its visit to Egypt 2,000 years ago.

Farama was also a crossroads for three important routes -- a port on the Mediterranean, a port of the Pelousium branch of the Nile, and a road from the eastern side. It was the second city in Egypt after Alexandria. about the passage of the Holy Family in this old city.

See the above page for the full story.