Gabal el-Tair, the Mountain of the Birds
Samallout · Al-Minia · Egipto · Ruta de la Sagrada Familia
The mountain over the Nile
Gabal el-Tair ("Mountain of the Birds" in Arabic) is a cliff that rises above the Nile at the height of the city of Samallout, in the province of Al-Minia (Egypt). On the cliff there is a Coptic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in one of the most spectacular places on the whole route of the Holy Family.
The tradition of the Holy Family
According to the Coptic tradition, when the Holy Family moved the Nile to Upper Egypt, the Child Jesus - who went in Mary's arms on the boat - pointed out the cliff and said that there would be a temple in honor of his Mother. A miracle would have happened at that point: a flock of birds (the birds of the name of the place) helped the family in some difficulty of the journey.
The church of Santa Maria de Gabal el- Tairbuilt on the very edge of the cliff, it is of very old origin: the Copts date it in the fourth century, attributed to the work of Saint Helena (mother of the Emperor Constantine), who would have ordered to build churches in all places on the route of the Holy Family.
The sanctuary and its miracles
The dramatic location of the sanctuary - a cliff over the Nile - makes it one of Egypt's most visually impressive. The pilgrims arrive by boat or by road from Al-Minia. The most important feast is that of the Assumption, when thousands of Copts from all over the region make the pilgrimage.
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