Today the Coptic Church honours an event which, even though basically Christian, concerns Egypt in the first place. The 1st of June (24 Bashans)
marks the annual celebration of the entry of the Holy Family into Egypt when, as the Biblical story goes, they fled the face of Herod the King who sought to kill the Christ Child. Tradition has it that St Joseph, the Holy Virgin, and the Baby Jesus stayed in Egypt for some three years till Herod died and they returned to the land of Israel. The painting is by Adel Nassief.
Watani International
1 June 2014