2nd Point on Path of Holy Family Inaugurated in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

Dr. Khaled Al-Anani, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Saharawi, Minister of Local Development, and Maj. Gen. Jamal Nour El-Din, Governor of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, inaugurated the second point on the path of the Holy Family after the completion of its development project.

They also visited the Church of the Virgin Mary in Sakha in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.

This area is the second site in Egypt within the Holy Family Path project to be opened after its development.

This visit comes within a series of openings by the two ministries, which began last January with the inaugurating of development works at Samanoud in the Gharbia governorate, as the first point to be 100% rehabilitated.

During the visit, the two ministers inspected the site, where wooden umbrellas and seats were installed for visitors in the outer yard.

Also guiding signs were erected along with security system through the installation of electronic gates and surveillance cameras, and a modern system.

A lighting system was installed to illuminate the area at night and show its beauty, and a parking lot and a path walk for visitors have been provided.

The efficiency of the street leading to the church was upgraded also and paved and garbage bins were placed.

The local authorities converted the street into a pedestrian-only area, in addition to painting the facades of buildings on both sides of the road leading to the church and lighting them, and planting palm trees along the main corridor of the path.

During the visit, a short documentary film on the path of the Holy Family was shown.

During the visit, Dr. Khaled Al-Anani pointed out that the Church of the Virgin Mary in Sakha is a spiritual place where anyone can feel intense spirituality upon her visit and feel the blessing of the Holy Family for her.

The city of Sakha is an ancient place as it is the birthplace of the 14 kings of the dynasty in ancient Egypt, but the current church building is not registered in the antiquities count and is not subject to the antiquities protection law.

And there is a stone with footprints attributed to Christ, Monetary of Baptism (Deir al-Maghtas) is a pilgrimage destination to Christians from all over the world.

According to Coptic historical sources, the Holy Family visited the Sakha area for 7 days.

The area contains many important religious monuments, most notably the stone on which the foot of Christ imprinted as a child during the staying of the Holy Family, in addition to many manuscripts that have been preserved inside the church.

Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Saharawi pointed out the importance of the Holy Family Path project from the political, heritage, religious, cultural and tourism aspects for the Egyptian state.

He announced that the eight governorates in Egypt concerned with rehabilitating the path of the Holy Family have completed their work on all 25 points in a system of fruitful effort and cooperation that was carried out in coordination with Dr. Khaled Al-Anani and colleagues in the Ministries of Tourism, Antiquities and Local Development.

Contributed by Ahmed Moamar