Featured Photo from Shangyun Shen, pilgrims in Dayr al-Muharraq.

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According to many accounts, the Holy Family continued their flight further south from Cairo, leading them to enter the vast land of Upper Egypt, where Nile Valley has its own distinctive character. Just like the Pharaonic tombs, many ancient churches were situated in or near the mountains from where one can see the Nile graciously flowing through the valley. The Egyptian hospitality, as in all Holy Family locations, is unsurpassed. Most important is the monastery of Dayr al-Muharraq, 48 km north of Assiut, where the Holy Family stayed six months and 5 days.

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