Russian pilgrims in Egypt

A group of 50 pilgrims consisting of the sisters and parishioners of the Moscow representation church of the Puhtica Convent visited the holy places of Egypt from 15 to 20 of May. They ascended the Mountain of Moses, visited the monasteries of Ss Anthony the Great, Paul of Thebes, Macarius the Great, Bishoy of Egypt, ‘the Romans’, ‘the Syrians’ and Menas the Martyr, where they venerated the relics of the holy men of God, and also the places on the site of the ancient Cairo where the Holy Family stayed.

On the last day of the pilgrimage the leader of the group heiromonk Ippolit (Pageyev) and other clergymen celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Russian church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica (representation church of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.) Hegumen Leonid (Gorbachev), a representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia with the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa warmly greeted the pilgrims after the service. The representation office arranged the programme for the pilgrims.

According to the Russian Consulate in Egypt, some 800.000 tourists from Russia visited the country for the last year. They spend their holiday at the Read Sea resorts, but, regrettably, know next to nothing about the ancient holy places of Egypt.

Nevertheless, pilgrimage to Egypt is developing. The representation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia with the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa helped to arrange several programmes for pilgrims allowing them to be introduced to Christian antiquity and pray at the relics of the Desert Fathers when visiting the places where the founders of monasticism performed their deeds.