Tourists can follow Jesus along the Holy Family Trail, which includes several locations that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus believed to have visited while fleeing King Herod’s soldiers. One of those restoration stops was the Virgin Mary Monastery in Assiut governorate.

The monastery is believed to have been built over 1,500 years ago and was carved into a cave and mountainside. Coptic Orthodox priests reopened the monastery on the 1st of August to discover that the floor of the chapel had been covered with tiles, covering the original rock floors.

The Virgin Mary Monastery is one of 25 sites along the Holy Family Trail. Other sites include churches, towns, and water wells. Other restoration issues have been reported at other historical sites being renovated for tourism as well, including some several years back.

A 6th-century Christian town was also discovered in northern Egypt on Lake Mariout, with some hoping that the site ruins will become another tourist attraction for Christians seeking to learn more about their faith’s history. The town appears well-planned with uniform building layouts and public areas.

Source: persecution.org