The Muharraq Monastery at Gabal Qusqam in Assiut Governorate is one of the most important and holiest sites along the Holy Family Trail in the Coptic tradition. According to church tradition, this site witnessed the longest period of stay of the Holy Family during their presence in Egypt, giving it an exceptional place in the spiritual awareness and historical memory of the Coptic Church. Over the centuries, the monastery became a prominent spiritual center and a destination for visitors from around the world. Today, it is also considered one of the most important landmarks of Christian heritage in the Middle East.
The Qusqam area was a mountainous region where the halfa grass plant was abundant. It was harvested and burned, which is why Qusqam was given its name, meaning “burial place of halfa grass.” It was the most important and final stop, where the Holy Family stayed for more than six months. At this place, the angel appeared to Saint Joseph the Carpenter and said to him: "Arise, take the child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead" (Matthew 2:20).
Quick Facts:
Location: Al-Qusiya – Assiut Governorate
Site Type: Historic monastery
Significance: The longest stay of the Holy Family in Egypt
Key Features: Historic Church of the Virgin Mary – Monastic buildings – Gabal Qusqam
Development Works
The development plan includes the construction of a 100-room hotel and an exhibition for the monastery’s archaeological collections, along with an integrated tourist services center featuring a cafeteria, a medical center, and restrooms outside the monastery walls.
