MECMiddle East
Churches
CHURCH BUILDING

Saint Mary Church

Sakha · Kafr El-Sheikh · Coptic Orthodox

A brief history

Saint Mary’s at Sakha preserves an older church setting within a building repeatedly renewed. The pilgrimage account records rebuilding authorised by Muhammad Ali and a modern restoration completed in May 2014, continuing the site’s place in Coptic devotional life.

Saints & traditions

A stone venerated here is traditionally identified with the infant Jesus’ footprint. The footprint and miraculous spring belong to Coptic devotional tradition.

Bible connections

Matthew describes flight into Egypt; the named stop belongs to later Coptic tradition.

Matthew 2:13–15

Sources & directions