Egypt’s tourism & antiquities min. visits Virgin Mary Tree in Cairo

CAIRO – 25 May 2021: On May 24, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Enany visited the Virgin Mary Tree in Matareya to follow up on the development of the tree and its surrounding area. 

It was one of the points of the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt. 

Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya, Cairo - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Enany was accompanied by Vice Governor of Cairo for the Eastern Region Ibrahim Saber, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Waziri, Assistant Minister for Engineering Affairs and General Supervisor of Historic Cairo Hisham Samir, Director General of the General Administration of Strategic Management of the Ministry and National Coordinator of the Holy Family Path in Egypt Adel Al-Gendy, Assistant Minister for Museum Affairs and Archaeological Site Development Nevin Nizar and President of the National Heritage Revival Society (Nehra) Munir Ghabour, 

Enany accompanied by officials and restorers during the inspection tour - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Enany asked for modifications in the designs of lighting units to become consistent with the overall design of the site. He also asked for labels to be added on the icons in the outer courtyard, adding interactive screens to introduce the visitor to the points of the route of the Holy Family journey in Egypt and its restoration and development projects, in addition to the development of some Coptic artifacts to be placed in a hall for museum display in the Mary's Tree area.

Enany also asked for allocating a place as an outlet for archeological replicas of Konouz factory. That is in addition to providing a parking lot next to the garden of the Mary's Tree.

During the tour, Enany visited the Catholic Church of the Holy Family next to the Virgin Mary Tree.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Waziri reviewed the stages of development of the project from maintenance work, and the upgrading of the efficiency of the site to receive visitors. He said that some tree-bearing supports have been replaced by the Institute of Archaeological Crafts and scouts around the tree have been developed. A wooden fence has been installed around the archaeological tree to protect it permanently, as well as the clearance of the well next to the tree, with the development of the waterfall in it.

Assistant Minister for Engineering Affairs Hisham Samir announced the completion of the development of the park adjacent to the area of Virgin Marys Tree and the preparation of the road leading to it, in cooperation with the governorate of Cairo, explaining that signs are being placed in accordance with the engineering drawings adopted from the project sector and with the approval of the Standing Committee for Islamic and Coptic Antiquities, and the development of the area around the tree is under way by the competent neighborhood, in addition to receiving 10 murals from the Nehra Association to install them on the walls surrounding Virgin Mary's Tree.  Work is under way in installation of these paintings.

Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish antiquities sector Osama Talat pointed out the completion of floor maintenance within the area, the development of external fences, setting of a pergola and some seats around the tree to seat visitors, in addition to the processing of the administrative headquarters, and a visitor center where screens will be placed to display documentaries about the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt. The restoration of walls of the mahky, the removal of salts and impurities from the domes, and the maintenance of the oil painting in it and in the exhibition hall, insulation of the dome and maintenance of walls, floors and doors, and the hall is currently being equipped with images of the holy trip visit in its various locations.

Director General of the General Administration of Strategic Management of the Ministry and national coordinator of the Holy Family Route in Egypt Adel al-Gendy added that the development work also included the development of the archaeological site from the inside where the Virgin Mary Tree is located, the re-painting of the facades of the buildings in the vicinity of the site, the re-cladding of fences and the preparation of a hall for museum display to be placed in it, in addition to the development of tourist services in the area, and the provision of the site with aesthetic and coordinating elements of the site that coincide with the historical appearance of the site and its importance as an important traffic point for the course of the holy family, and the development of the surrounding area in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Development.