Every August, tens of thousands of Egypt’s Coptic Christians and Egyptian Muslims take buses and trains to the Virgin Mary Monastery in Assiut. This year, Muslims were banned from attending the event by the Egyptian authorities. The monastery is believed to have been visited by the Holy family when they fled Israel out of fear of persecution by King Herod.
Devotion to Mary in Assiut, Egypt
5
A coptic woman cries while she praying at the cave where the holy family is believed to have lived in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
6
Adel Hanna Botros, 62 from Aswan says “I used to come with my Muslim friends every year, but this year they have been panned, I know many Muslims, they respect and love Virgin Mary so much” in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
7
Saad Saleb 36, says while he holds his son Kirolos “I came here for blessings and seeing my family who lives in other provinces, they all came to meet here.” in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
8
A priest observes the ritual. Muslims and cultural celebrations have been panned from the event this year in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)