The history of Christianity in Egypt consists of two parts. The first part is the Journey of the Holy Family.

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The Route Of The Holy Family In Egypt

Jesus Christ was born in Bait Lahem in Palestine during the rule of Herod the king and after the coming of the Wise men from the east to see Jesus and their departure. An angel of the lord appeared to Joseph in a dream ordering the Holy Family to flee to Egypt and stay there until the next message. Most probably the Holy Family departed from Bait Lahem to Ghazza and form Ghazza to Raphia then El Ariesh until they reached the town of El Pharma then they moved to Tell Basta near Zagazig. The Holy Family entered the town of Bubastis (Tell Basta near at Sharkia governorate about 100k to the north east of Cairo) where Jesus gushed a spring of water to drink. The city was full of idols while their worshippers were spread all over Egypt. On the arrival of the Holy Family into the town of Tell Basta the idols fell down which surprised the inhabitants of this town so they treated the Holy Family in a very bad way which made them try to leave the city as soon as possible until they reach Mustorod which was known as El Mahmmah (it is 10k south Cairo; reached by public transportation). The word Mahmmah in Arabic means a place for taking a bath because Virgin Mary gave her son a bath and ashed his clothes in this place. The existing church was established on that same place and was called the church of Saint Mary at Mustorod. The Holy Family traveled from Mustorod for some reason to Belbais about 55k from Cairo. The Holy Family sheltered under a tree known as the tree of Virgin Mary. There is a church dedicted to this visit known as church of Saint George. From Belbais the Holy Family traveled north to Samanoud they were received in a very pleasant way. At Samanoud a church was built after the name of Saint Mary the virgin later it was changed and a new church was built on the ruins of the old one dedicated to a martyr called Anba Abanoub. At this church there is a part which contains his relics and the relics of other martyrs. There is a huge round granite trough for making dough and there is also a holy well which the Holy Family might have drunk its water and some miracles happened by that blessed water of the well.