Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates biblical Flight into Egypt

CAIRO – 2 June 2017: Eucharist Prayers took place at the Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria on Thursday in commemoration of the Flight Into Egypt, the biblical account of Joseph, Mary and infant Jesus’ escape from King Herod into Egypt.

The Flight into Egypt, as described in the Gospel of Matthew, marks the arrival of Mary, Saint Joseph and infant Jesus to Egypt after an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to flee to Egypt as King Herod intended to kill all male infants in Bethlehem.

A huge crowd of worshippers were keen on attending the prayers, especially after Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II on April 14 canceled most Easter celebrations and limited them to a simple Mass.

Easter celebrations were canceled following the recent twin bombings on two Churches in Alexandria and Tanta on Palm Sunday, killing dozens of Christian worshippers. The Islamic State claimed both attacks.