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Some Tourist Sites In Minia |
The Holy Family at Al Garnous Monastery, Maghagha
The sailboat docked at the village of Deir Al-Garnous (the later
site of the Monastery of Arganos) 10 kms west of Ashnein el Nassara (a
small village near the town of Maghagha). Outside the western wall of
the Church of the Virgin there, a deep well is believed to have provided
the Holy Family with the water they needed.
The Holy Family at
Al Bahnassa
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Wells at Al
Garnous Monastery - Maghagha |
They went
on from there to a spot later named Abai Issous, "the Home of Jesus",
the site of present-day Sandafa village, east of Al-Bahnassa which,
itself, stand some 17 kms west of the town of Beni Mazar.
GABAL AL TAIR -
SAMALOUT
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St. Mary
Tree at Minia. |
Virgin Mary
Church - Gabal Al Tair |
On towards the
south they went from Bahnassa to Samalout and crossed the Nile again
from that town to the spot on the east bank of the River where the
Monastery of the Virgin now stands upon Gabal El-Tair
'Bird Mountain' east of Samalout,
2 kms south of Meadeyat Beni Khaled. It is known by this name (Gabal
El-Tair) because thousands of birds gather there. The Holy Family rested
in the cave which is now located inside the ancient church there. Gabal
El-Tair is also called Gabal El-Kaf ('Palm Mountain'). Coptic tradition
maintains that, as the Holy Family rested in the shade of the Mountain,
Jesus stretched His little hand to hold back a rock which was about to
detach itself from the mountain-side and fall upon them. The imprint of
His palm is still visible.
When they resumed their travels, the Holy Family passed a laurel tree a
stone's throw south of Gabal El-Tair, along the pathway flanking the
Nile and leading from the Mountain to Nazlet Ebeid and the New Minia
Bridge of today. It is claimed that this tree bowed to worship the Lord
Christ – glory be to Him – as He was passing. The configuration of the
Tree is, indeed, unique: all its branches incline downwards, trailing on
the ground, then turn upwards again, covered in a cloak of green leaves.
They call the tree, Al Abed – 'The Worshipper'.
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Al-Abed (the
Worshipper's) Tree - Nazlet Ebeid, Minia |
Veil of the
Sanctuary - El Barsha |
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El - Barsha
Monastery Church
Mounde Basin at
El Barsha |
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