The heart of this monastery is an ancient church carved entirely out of the solid rock cliff face, sheltering the exact stone cave where the Holy Family hid for three days during their journey into Upper Egypt.
- The monastery is situated atop the mountain adjacent to the Nile, east of Samalut in the Minya Governorate.
- It stands as one of the most significant pilgrimage sites associated with the Holy Family, featuring a church carved directly into the rock face.
- Approximately three million visitors, both Christians and Muslims, visit this church annually during August.
- The site houses a grotto where the Holy Family once took refuge.
Proposed Development Plan:
- Construction of a 4-star hotel with a capacity of 150 guest rooms.
- Installation of a cable car system traversing the Nile and the agricultural lands to reach the mountain summit to the east.
- Construction of a docking facility on the eastern bank of the Nile to accommodate tourist cruise ships, along with the establishment of a road link connecting the Desert Road to the Agricultural Road.
- Allocation of a 6-acre plot of land to accommodate the hotel, as well as other tourism-related activities and projects.
