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Day 1: Arrival Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! You are met and assisted on arrival at Cairo Airport by Santa Maria Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and begin exploring this fascinating city. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: Cairo
On this full day tour, we will discover the oldest part of the city, known as Coptic Cairo, originally a Roman fortress town called ‘’Babylon”. Visit the Hanging Church (El Muallaqa) one of the oldest churches in Egypt and the history of a church dates to the 3rd century A.D, after visit Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, also known as Abu Serga dating back to the 4th century A.D. Visit Church of St. Barbara is one of the oldest buildings in Cairo, dating back to the 5th or 6th Century AD. Visit the Church of St. George is a Greek Orthodox church. The church dates back to the 10th century (or earlier). Back to hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)
Optional visits in this day the Egyptian Museum and Coptic Museum.
Day 3: Cairo
Today we will visit the quarter of Maadi to see the Church of the Holly Virgin Mary. Where the Holy Family sought refuge from persecution. On 12th March 1976, a Holy Bible was found floating in the Nile at Maadi miraculously undamaged, it was open at the chapter Isaiah 19:25 containing the phrase: `Blessed be Egypt my people’. Drive to Zeitoun, visit St. Mary’s Church where she appeared on April 1968.Leave to Matarya visit St. Mary’s tree for the Family is believed to have rested in its shade. Here, too, the Infant Jesus caused water to flow from a spring, from which He drank and blessed, and in which the Virgin washed His clothes. She poured the washing water on to the ground, and from that spot, the fragrant balsam plant blossomed. Proceed to Mostorod (which came to be called, in those days, 'Al Mahamma') it means 'the Bathing Place', a name given to the town because the Virgin Mary bathed the Christ Child and washed his clothes. It is worthy of note that, eventually, on their way back to Palestine, the Holy Family stopped once more at Mostorod and, this time, caused a spring to gush from the earth which still flows forth to the present day. Back to hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)
Optional visit in this day the Great pyramids
Day 4: Sakha / Alexandria
After breakfast drive to Sakha the Coptic name of the town, 'Pekha-Issous', (vernacularized to Lysous) means,’ the foot of Jesus'; for the Holy Child's foot-print was marked, here, in bas-relief on a rock. The rock was preserved, but hidden for centuries for fear of robbery, and only unearthed again 13 years ago. Proceed to Alexandria and overnight. (Breakfast)
Day 5: Alexandria / King Mariut
Today we will visit Saint Mark’s Cathedral as it is the historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church since 60 AD, after we will visit St. Mina Monastery in Mariut an Egyptian young man who came from a large family, with rulers' status. He left the army to live in the desert and be filled with the blessings of the heavens. He then publicly declared his faith in Christ and was martyred for Christ's beloved name, after suffering great tribulations. Back to Hotel. Overnight in Alexandria. (Breakfast)
Optional visits in this day ( Alexandria Library, Catacomb of Kom Elshokafa, pompy’s pillar and the Qayet bay fort)
Day 6: Alexandria / Wadi El Natrun / Cairo
After breakfast, leave Alexandria experience completely different scenery today as you travel back to Cairo on the desert road. We stop in Wadi el Natrun, situated in a valley dotted with oases. Visit some of the four quietly inhabited monasteries of the Coptic Monasteries of this area and learn about Coptic faith. Arrive to Cairo, visit the St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the district of Abbassia, it is the largest cathedral in Africa. Check-in to our hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)
Day 7: St. Catherine
Depart Cairo in the morning traveling towards Suez Canal for Tanis. Many believe that this was the Biblical city from which the Exodus began. Cross the Suez Canal and proceed to visit Moses Springs, from here on to Wadi Feiran. Steeped in biblical mystery, it was here, that Moses struck a rock with his staff, bringing forth a spring so his people could drink. It is said that a journey through Feiran is to pass through an entire chapter of the Old Testament (Exodus 17). Visit the Seven Girls’ Monastery. Continue St. Catherine for Overnight. (Breakfast)
Day 8: St. Catherine / Ein Sukhna
Depart the hotel about 3AM and climb to the Moses Mountain to watch the sunrise then return to the base for breakfast at the hotel. Check out and visit St. Catherine's Monastery with its Chapel of the Burning Bush and a history that goes to the 400’s (AD). Subsequently, travel to the east bank of the Gulf of Suez at the Red Sea Ein Sukhna for overnight. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Ein Sukhna / Cairo
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Zafarana to visit the monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul the oldest inhabited Monasteries in Egypt. St. Anthony, along with St. Pachomius, was two of the first exponents of Christian monasticism the monastery was founded in 356 AD. St. Antony's Cave (magharah), where he lived as a hermit, is a 2 km hike from the monastery and 680 m. above the Red Sea. It offers stunning views of the mountains and the sea, and the chance to see a wide range of bird life. Proceed to St .Paul Monastery; the Monastery probably dates to the fifth century. St. Paul renounced his inheritance and consecrated his life to God, where he is said to have lived until the age of one hundred and thirteen. Living in his cave, and clothed in a tunic made of plaited palm leaves, tradition holds that a raven brought a half of a loaf of bread each day for him to eat. Drive back to Cairo for Overnight. (Breakfast)
Day 10: Cairo
After Breakfast, Santa Maria Tours representative will transfer you to Cairo Airport and assist you for final departure. (Breakfast) |
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