Egypt Holy Land Pilgrimages

The Gospel of St Matthew (Mt 2:13-15) tells us that the Holy Family fled to Egypt to seek refuge from persecution in the Holy Land. The scriptures however provide no information about the length of the sojourn or the places visited by the Holy Family. The Copts cherish the memory of the Flight of the Holy Family from it's persecutor Herod in Palestine to their land in Egypt. A wealth of wondrous tales and legends have been transmitted to us about this great event.Churches and monasteries have been built over this sacred ground where people believe the Holy Family sojourned. Egypt has a very rich Christian heritage that is woven through the country's history along with the threads of it's most Pharaonic past. Our Pilgrimages will take you to some of Egypt's early churches and you will be moved by the humble simplicity of these churches, in fact there is no evidence of Christian churches before the 4th century, but according to some evidence early Christians adapted caves, quarries, tombs, pharaonic cemetries, and parts of temples for their practise in faith.Furthermore many were destroyed during the waves of persecution but Egypt's heritage of Church architecture, wall paintings,and icons is one of the richest in the Middle East and represents a very important part of the world's Christian heritage.

Cairo - Giza - Sakkara - Egyptian Museum - Old Cairo - Coptic Cairo - St. Catherines Monastery - Mt. Sinai - Zaafarana - St. Antony's Monastery - Monastery of St. Paul - Wadi El Natroun

In the Footsteps of the Holy Family and the Desert Fathers

Traditionally Egypt is famous for historical sites and for the Pharaonic periods. But it also has biblical sites from both the old and new testaments which include Holy Land areas. It is hoped that this Egypt Holy Land pilgrimage will be a blend of everything that is historical and biblical particularly around Cairo.

Sign up now for one of our Pilgrimages departing on

May 19th or 1st September 2008

Package Rate as follows:

Supplement to Upgrade your Hotel in Cairo to the 5* Concorde El Salam Hotel

Package includes the following:

• 6nts at a Superior Hotel in Cairo
• 5nts including Halfboard and 1nt with breakfast only.
• 1nt at St Catherine's Village on Halfboard Basis
• 2nts at the Palmyra Hotel in Ain Sokna on Halfboard Basis
• Full day Tour to the Pyramids & Sakkara including lunch at a local restaurant
• Full day Old Cairo including the Coptic Museum including lunch
• Tour at St Catherine's
• Visits to St Paul and St Antony,Wadi Natrun
• Fully escorted with Multi-Lingual guide
• Transportation by Air-Conditioned Bus
• Lunch at the Anafora Retreat during the visit to Wadi Natrun

EXCLUDES:

All items of a personal nature:telephone/laundry Tips

* Please note this tour will not operate if we have less than 5 passengers.

Itinerary

Day 1

Travel by air to Cairo International Airport. Transfer to Hotel Concorde 'El Salam' Heliopolis for overnight stay.

Day 2

A Pharaonic day! A visit to the pyramids of Sakkara. Here we visit the necropolis with the original step pyramid of King Zoser. The architect was Imhotep, a better known figure than the King! There will be an opportunity to enter the burial chamber of a pyramid.

Then on to the famous pyramids of Giza, the Great Pyramid of Cheops and those of Cephren and Mycerinus and, of course the Sphinx.

Lunch is provided during the day. Return to the hotel. It may be possible as an optional extra to arrange a visit to the Sound and Light show at Giza in the evening.

Day 3

After breakfast we will visit the Egyptian Museum and the treasures of Tutankhamun, and other exhibits.

Here there is the option to visit the Mummy Room to see the intact remains of Seti I and Rameses II among others.

Then onto the Citadel of Salah El Din (Saladin) of Crusader fame, and the mosque of Mohammed Ali.

Finally there maybe time to visit the Khan El Khalili (the famed 'old bazaar in Cairo'). A maze of narrow medieval streets with fascinating shops to tempt your wallet. Visit an old friend, Mohsen, in his brass and copper shop.

Lunch is provided during the day.
Back to the hotel to relax and unwind before dinner and overnight.

Day 4

A visit to old Cairo down near the River Nile. Here we will visit the district of Harat Zuwaila, and the 4th century churches including one dedicated to St George. In this area of 'Coptic Cairo' there are a number of churches, convents, narrow cobbled streets and the Coptic museum. One of the places we will visit will be El Muallaquah, the hanging church, built on the roof of twin towers of the Fortress of Babylon.

This is believed to be the oldest Christian church in the world, and has been in constant use since the 4th Century.

Lunch is provided during the day. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5

After breakfast depart for the monastery of St Catherine and Mt Sinai. (250 kms) via Suez admiring the spectacular scenery. The monastery is on the site where it is believed that Moses observed the burning bush, and Mt Sinai where he received the 10 commandments from God. The monastery was built in 527CE. The main attractions include the Basilica of Justinian, the Chapel of the Burning Bush, the old refectory covered with graffiti from the 14th to the 16th century. The library with the richest monastic collection of Byzantine icons.

Lunch and dinner and overnight at the Hotel St Catherine Plaza Hotel.

Day 6

Today sees the opportunity to take an early morning climb up Mt Sinai to witness the sunrise.Return to breakfast and visit the monastery.

Lunch at a local restaurent.This afternoon we travel to Zaafarana which overlooks the Red Sea.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Pharoahs'.

Day 7

We visit St. Anthony's Monastery which is the largest of the Coptic Monasteries, situated under the lea of Mt Kalalah at a height of 680 metres.

A further 276 metres above the monastery is the cave where St Antony spent much of his time in quiet contemplation. There will be an opportunity to climb up to the cave for those who wish to do so. The monastery is surrounded by high walls with trees and several churches decorated with frescos. The oldest structure is the church of St Antony built over the saint's tomb by his disciples around 356CE after his death.

Lunch is provided during the day. Return to the Hotel Pharoahs for dinner and overnight

After breakfast we visit the Monastery of St. Paul. Lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon we return to Cairo.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel "Concorde El Salam".

Day 9

After breakfast visit the monasteries of Wadi El Natroun in the Eastern Sahara desert about half way between Cairo and Alexandria. This valley is considered the home of asceticism and worship and where holy Myroun oil can be obtained. A 'must' to visit is the monastery of St Macarius surrounded by a high wall with a large farm.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Also to be visited will be the monasteries of Anba Bishoy and Baranoss where His Holiness the late Coptic Pope Kyrillos VI was once a monk. Return to Cairo for dinner and overnight

Day 10

Breakfast at your hotel.Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.