Holy Virgin at Mountain of the Birds
2n -uly 0 , Minister of Tourism and Antiquities .haled al-Anani was joined by Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi and Minya overnor 8sama al-4adi in opening a newly developed spot on the trail of the Holy Family’s biblical flight into Egypt: the church of the Holy 9irgin at abal al-Teir, literally Mountain of the irds, in Minya. 2ut of some sites all over Egypt traversed by the Holy Family, the Ministry has already developed four sites to prepare them to receive tourists: the sites at Samannoud, Sakha, Tell asta, and adi alNatroun. Dr Anani said that the State gave priority to the Holy Family Trail as a religious tourism destination, and was successively developing its sites. At abal al-Teir, he said, 00m of road leading to the site were paved with basalt and lined with trees, while ensuring that the site may be visited through several paved roads; signposts were installed as well as shaded benches for visitors to rest. Faoades of the surrounding buildings were given a facelift to match the style of the church, a wall was built surrounding the nearby cemeteries and was adorned with reliefs depicting the Flight of the Holy family into Egypt. The entire site was upgraded, and a two-floor reception area was built for tourists, including facilities and a cafeteria.
Minya governorate for its part has built a rest house for 9,3s visiting the area.
The Diocese of Samalout, under the jurisdiction of which is abal al-Teir, has been a major partner in the restoration and development project. W talked to Anba 3aphnutius also written 3avnotius or evnotious , Metropolitan of Samalout, for details on abal al-Teir.
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“ e have turned our sight to religious tourism in Samalout, Anba 3aphnutius said. The diocese is home to a number of ancient sites, including the monastery of the Holy 9irgin at abal al-Teir, one of the most important spots on the trail of the Holy Family’s biblical flight into Egypt. There is also the th-century church of Mar-Mina in the village of Tahal-Aameda, and the church of St Absakhairoun al-4ellini which was miraculously moved lock stock and barrel, including its well and the worshippers inside, in the 1 th century during a time of persecution, from its original place in the village of 4ellin in .afr al-Sheikh, to its current location in the village of ehu in Samalout.
“These historic religious sites were renovated using state-of-theart technology, and were equipped with tourist facilities. The modern facilities include a high-end hotel at abal al-Teir, and retreat hostels equipped with 00 beds, restaurants and souvenir shops, Anba 3aphnutius explained.
The hotel is located 1 km north of Minya city and 10 km south of airo. ith its 0 modern furnished rooms furnished by the Diocese’s carpentry workshops the hotel proudly stands on the hill of abal al-Teir overlooking a spectacular view of the Nile and lush greenery, and is adjacent to the th-century church of abal al-Teir which houses the cave in which the Holy Family stayed for three days during their journey in Egypt.
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Anba 3aphnutius insisted that “we should make use of the natural beauty of abal al-Teir, to promote religious tourism. The highlight of the site is the th-century rock-hewn church of the Holy 9irgin, built on a high cliff east of the Nile and overlooking lush green fields on the banks of the Nile. The Nile at this spot is very wide, and includes a number of green islands. Altogether, the panorama inspires peace and fills the soul with beauty. ,t could attract tourists interested in heritage and religious tourism. He believes it is of extreme importance to encourage and train members of the local community in heritage handcrafts that would surely find a lucrative market with the expected tourist influx.
hen the Holy Family arrived at the area more than 000 years ago, they took refuge in a cave that lay within a deserted 5oman temple, and remained there for three days. ,n AD 4ueen Helena, mother of 5oman Emperor onstantine, was on a visit to Egypt to discover the sites trodden by the Holy Family. At abal al-Teir, she decided to use the remains of the temple, the rock-hewn pillars and walls, to turn it into a church by adding several architectural components. The ancient grotto where the Holy Family stayed is at the south of the church’s central altar. The church is sometimes referred to as the “ hurch of the 3alm , commemorating a miracle performed by the hrist hild who stretched His hand to prop a rock that was about to fall on the Holy Family as it passed that way; His palm was printed on the rock.
The nave is supported by 1 rock-hewn pillars, and the church is decorated with icons among which three depicting the Holy 9irgin, St eorge, and St Demiana are by the renowned 1 th-century iconographer Anastasi al-5umi.
The original entrance to the church is above the
Holy Family grotto, and was reached in ancient times by a large wooden box which visitors would get into while yet in the valley, and be pulled up by a pulley and rope. The place thus gained the name Monastery of the 3ulley.
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W asked Anba 3aphnutius about the project to develop the Trail of the Holy Family in Egypt, including abal al-Teir, as a tourist destination.
“Egypt is the only place in the world other than 3alestine to be visited by hrist, he said. “The path trodden by the Holy Family in Egypt is a perfect candidate for religious tourism.
“, have visited Lourdes, the Metropolitan said, “and was ama ed at the great numbers of tourists who visit the site every day where the Holy 9irgin appeared to a young woman. How much more, thought, would they visit places where the hild -esus, his mother Mary, and St -oseph stayed for over three years.
“The path of the Holy Family’s flight in Egypt extends over 00km in spots. The State is keen to develop the points on this trail on the urban and tourist levels. Local communities stand to benefit from such development.
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The church of the Holy 9irgin at abal al-Teir has been carefully restored following thorough years-long-studies and research of the ancient edifice as well as the surrounding environment and the factors of erosion. The work was completed under supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. “ ut , didn’t wish to burden the State with the refurbishment budget which has cost the diocese some E 3 0million, Anba 3aphnutius said.
Ayman Nabil the architect representing Scale ompany that oversaw the renovation project of the Holy 9irgin’s ancient church, told W that the works involved restoration of the ceilings, the grotto, the bell towers, the western corridor and altars, as well as the outer northern and eastern walls.
This was not the end of our talk with Anba 3aphnutius; so many other topics were broached relating to his service and parish. W promises its readers a full version of the gripping interview in a shortly upcoming issue.