Every year in November, thousands of Egypt’s Coptic Christians travel to the Monastery of St George in Mount Rozayqat in the southern Egyptian governorate of Qena.
They come to commemorate the birthday of St George, who is known for slaying dragons in the English-speaking world but who is referred to as the Prince of Martyrs by Egypt’s Coptic Christians.
Every year in November, thousands of Egypt’s Coptic Christians travel to the Monastery of St George in Mount Rozayqat in the southern Egyptian governorate of Qena.
They come to commemorate the birthday of St George, who is known for slaying dragons in the English-speaking world but who is referred to as the Prince of Martyrs by Egypt’s Coptic Christians.
Most of the year the monastery is a quiet place, home only to its monks. But in mid-November, huge numbers of visitors must be catered for as they come to seek blessings and miracles.
The event is one of the most important in the year for Coptic Christians, a member of the Rozayqat organizing committee, Bishop Marcos of the diocese of Shoubra El-Kheima, said. “There has been a significant improvement in this year’s celebrations,” the bishop said. “In the past, we lacked toilets and electricity. Visitors were also endangered by kidnappers and looters at night.”
Tents are pitched on over 100 acres of land just behind the monastery – the land was bought especially for the purpose by the office of the Pope of Alexandria, when it was led by recently deceased Pope Shenouda III.
The celebrations begin with religious hymns and a morning mass. Various religious activities continue until around 5pm and they are followed by a procession during which crowds follow an icon of St George around, singing and chanting.
The procession is wonderful and everyone always wants to attend this, Bishop Pimen, of the Diocese of Naqada and Qus said. Many of the thousands of visitors who come seek more than a religious parade; they have heard rumours about the healing powers of St George.
“During a visit to the monastery the Lord cured me,” Sameh Bishoy, a teacher from Esna, enthuses. “St George appeared to me and put his lance on my body and said “never seek treatment again”.” Bishoy says he had been to a number of doctors and clinics to cure his complaint.
A 35-year-old from a nearby village, Michael Azir Samuel, says he was seeking respite from a severe and ongoing headache. “I slept outside the monastery,” he says. “Then I felt like my hands were tied and my eyes got wet and a beam of light came out of my heart. I was completely healed.”
There are plenty of other similar stories but obviously it is very difficult to prove their veracity.
Meanwhile Hana Ahmed, an assistant professor at South Valley University, also in Qena, had different reasons for attending. She told how she simply enjoyed the spiritual atmosphere at such gatherings. “It’s like a spiritual fire that purifies us,” she explains. Ahmed also really enjoys meeting new people there and looking around at the arts and crafts on sale at such events.
