At the foot of the great Christian necropolis of Minya in Sawada on the East bank of the Nile is the church of St. Apa Hor, a third century martyr. Built within a Ptolemaic temple and like the one at Gabal al-Tayr, the Church of Apa Hor is cut into the rock. One enters the nave through a narrow tunnel, which has empty tombs on both sides. To the left inside the Church is a well, local monks use it as a water source.

Local Christians believe that the Holy Family must have passed through such an important historical site. The bishopric of Minya has demolished the nearby church of Dimyana in an effort to replace it with a larger cathedral.

Photo: Norbert Schiller, parishioners parading new icons around the Church of Apa Hor after mass

Photo: Paul Perry, the entrance of the Church of Apa Hor. To the left are the empty tombs.

Photo: Paul Perry, the large Christian necropolis seen from the Church of Apa Hor. Part of the Christian community lives here.

Photo: Norbert Schiller, dome of the Church of Apa Hor at Sawada.

Photo: Paul Perry, interior of the Church of Apa Hor.

Photo: Popko van Meekeren, icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in the church of Sawada.

Photo: Popko van Meekeren, construction of a new church in full swing.