"The Holy Family journey in Egypt: Belbeis" Bilbays by Diana75

Bilbays Travel Guide: 7 reviews and 15 photos

Our day trip on the steps of the Holy Family in Egypt started with Belbeis, a district of El Sharqiya govemorate, located at about 52 km from Cairo, which was an important diocese in the 4th century.

It is said that the Holy Family passed by Bilbais on their return from Mostorod and sheltered under a tree known as "The tree of the Virgin Mary".

On this place stands today the church of St George.

There are three things that really intrigued me about this place.

First of them is the correct name of the place.

Bilbais, Bilbays, Belbeis, Bilbeis or Bilbes?

The most common are Belbeis, officially used on maps and in the notes about the Holy Family jouney in Egypt, and sometimes Bilbays.

Second is the name of the church.
To us it was presented as the St. George church and the representations of the saint killing the dragon found in the church are confirming this name. Still, on some pictures of the church it was mentioned as Church of the Virgin Mary.

The third aspect is related to the "The tree of the Virgin Mary". There is no evidence of this tree in Belbeis, while the worldwide recognized as Mary's tree is the one located in Al Matariyah.

  • Last visit to Bilbays: Sep 2005
  • Intro Updated Apr 9, 2006
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Reviews (7)

Comments (4)

  • Nov 18, 2009 at 2:01 PM

    thanks for info. my mother was born in Belbeis in 1904. i want to visit it next year. shall i stay in Cairo or find accommodation in Belbeis? i have a picture of the house. would that be useful? i've got no other information, thanks

  • LoriPori's Profile Photo
    Dec 19, 2006 at 4:16 PM

    Interesting page on Bilbays Diana. Also thanks for visiting the various France pages. Southern France is absolutely wonderful.

  • matcrazy1's Profile Photo
    Dec 10, 2006 at 7:25 AM

    Glad to hear the Coptic monk opens the church for visitors in Belbeis. I'd like to visit it while in Cairo.

  • Apr 26, 2006 at 11:36 PM

    Hi Diana, An Interesting page on Bilbay. Thank you. We are celebrating Freedom Day in South Africa so, yes....off work today.:~)) Hope you are doing ok.

Diana75

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