Dr. ʿAtif Najīb, former Director General of the Coptic Museum and a professor in the Department of Archaeology at the Institute of Coptic Studies, revealed the source of the historical information outlining the Holy Family’s route in Egypt.

In an exclusive statement to al-Dustūr, the source regarding this journey was identified as the vision of Pope Theophilus (the 23rd patriarch) in the late 4th century AD and the account of Anba Zacharias, Bishop of Sakhā, in the 7th century AD. However, we also possess heritage manuscripts—such as the Infancy Gospel (from the Nagʿa Ḥamādī collection)—that contain information about the childhood of Jesus Christ in the land of Egypt.