Terror attacks and security unrest in Egypt since the step-down of the Muslim brotherhood in 2013, consequently panned the Upper Egyptian province of Minya from the international tourism map. Now, after security is under control, and the Egyptian police are in full power to secure each footstep in Minya, the Egyptian government decided to bring Minya back to Egypt's international tourism map. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities now is continuing their excavation projects and restoration of sanctified sites that the holy family visited when they fled Israel out of fear of persecution by King Herod in Minya.
Egypt's Minya Will Soon Be Back on International Tourism Map
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Dr. Khaled ElAnany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, listens to school children telling what they learned from their tour of the Virgin Mary Church. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Christians are a minority in Egypt, but the country still has more than 25 historic sites relating to the Holy Family, most of them now turned into churches, monasteries, and other places of worship. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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This cave, believed to be one of the main places where the holly family lived, now is located inside the Church and Monastery of the Virgin Mary, where Christians from all over the world visit to pray and receive blessings. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Most of the sites believed to have been visited by the Holy Family have been turned into churches or other places of worship. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)