Synaxarium

On this blessed day, our Lord Jesus Christ came to the land of Egypt as a child of two years old, as the Holy Gospel mentions that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying: "Arise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be there until I tell you, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him" (Matthew 2:13).

This was for two reasons: first, so that if he fell into Herod's hands and Herod could not kill him, he would think his body was a phantom; and second, to bless the people of Egypt by His presence among them, thus fulfilling the prophecy saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Hosea 11:1), and also fulfilling the prophecy saying, "Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt; the idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the heart of Egypt will melt within it" (Isaiah 19:1). It is said that the idols of Egypt retreated when the Word of God incarnate came to them, just as Dagon retreated before the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5:3).

Then the Lord Jesus Christ, glory be to Him, came with Joseph, His virgin mother, and Salome. Their first passage was through a village called Basta, where they drank from a spring whose water became healing for every disease. From there, they went to the village of Samannoud and crossed the river to the western side. It happened there that the Lord Jesus placed His foot on a stone, and the imprint of His foot appeared on it, so the place where the stone was located was called in Coptic "Pikha Isous," meaning (the heel of Jesus). From there, they crossed west opposite the Wadi El-Natrun. The Virgin blessed it, knowing what monasteries would be established there. Then they reached Ashmunein and stayed there a few days. Then they headed to Mount Qusqam. At the place where they stayed on this mountain, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary was built, known as the Monastery of Al-Muharraq.

When Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream again, saying, "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 2:20-21).

They returned to Egypt and stayed in the cave which today is at the Church of Abu Serga in Old Cairo. Then they passed through Al-Matariyyah and bathed there from a spring whose water became blessed and sanctified from that hour. Near it grew a balsam tree, from whose oil the holy chrism is made for the consecration of churches and their vessels. From there, the Holy Family went to Al-Mahamma (Masturd), then to the land of Israel. We must celebrate on this day a spiritual feast, rejoicing and glad, because our Savior honored our land on this blessed day. Glory be to His holy name forever. Amen.

It is a minor feast of our Lord, prayed with the joyful rite, and if it falls during the Pentecost days, it is preferred to read its chapters to feel the spirituality of the feast.

On this day, the Prophet Habakkuk, one of the twelve minor prophets, departed. He was from the tribe of Levi, among the singers on stringed instruments, as indicated by his saying: "The Lord God is my strength, and He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and He sets me upon my high places" for the chief singer on stringed instruments (Habakkuk 3:19).

He prophesied in the time of King Jehoiakim and lived a very long life, even after the return of the Israelite people from the Babylonian captivity. He prayed saying: "O Lord, I have heard your report and was afraid; O Lord, revive your work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2). He prophesied the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus Christ saying: "God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran" (Habakkuk 3:3). After completing his good struggle, he departed in peace. A church was built for him in Qartasa in the region of Beheira during the time of King Anastasios the Christian, and it was consecrated on the twenty-fourth of the month of Bashans. May the prayer of this prophet be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 880 A.M. (May 19, 1164 A.D.), Saint Bishnouna was martyred. He was a monk at the Monastery of Abu Maqar in the wilderness. At that time, a rebellion was ongoing in the country between the men of Prince Dirgham and the men of Minister Shawar during the caliphate of Al-Adid Al-Fatimi (late 12th century). This monk was arrested and was offered to renounce his faith, but he refused with all pride and steadfastness. They burned his body, and he received the crown of martyrdom at their hands. The faithful took what they found of his bones and carried them to the Church of Abu Serga in Old Cairo at the Palace of Al-Sham'a and buried them there.

May his prayer be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever, Amen.