Background:
The Holy Family (Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph) are believed to have visited Asyūṭ, Egypt around 2000 years ago. This revelation is very important to Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the monastery is therefore a place often visited by them. The degree of significance and popularity of Dayr al-Muḥarraq (Monastery of the Holy Virgin) in al-Qūsiyyah, Asyūṭ is discussed as well as the Muslim-Christian relations in a predominantly Christian area.
Side A:
To the Christians situated in al-Qūsiyyah, Asyūṭ, the visit of the Holy Family on their land is of great importance. People feel blessed that the Holy Family, and especially, Jesus Christ have walked on the same land they are walking on today. According to Bishop Thomas, there are not many pilgrims who travel to the village al-Sarakna (Qūsiyyah, Asyūṭ) because besides the narrative of the Holy Family’s visit, there is not much to visit.
The story goes that the Holy Family fled from Jerusalem, and was touring around when they came to al-Qūsiyyah and would later return to Jerusalem. They fled because people were trying to harm the Holy Family. Rumour has it that Jesus was not welcomed when he came to al-Qūsiyyah, and thus he cursed the city. Bishop Thomas objects and argues that if the city was cursed, the city would not have been here today with so many people practicing Christianity and living peacefully. The bishop does not know where this story came from, but claims it has been told from generation to generation.
The bishop believes Christian-Muslim relations in al-Qūsiyyah are okay, but incidents have taken place in the past. Some fundamentalists are asking Christians to pay money for so-called protection of the country. Some are paying, some are objecting. According to the bishop, the ones who object have a higher chance of being killed. He believes Christians need to encourage moderate Muslims to face the fundamentalists through dialogue.
Side B:
On this side of the recording, several locals in Asyūṭ are interviewed regarding the popularity and importance of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin (Dayr al-Muḥarraq) as well as the government’s role in natural disasters in the area. The locals include a South-African primary school teacher, a local physician and a local Muslim man.
The South-African teacher, Eveline, was asked why it is of great significance to the Copts to visit the monastery. She responded by saying that the Copts find it important to visit places where the Holy family has also been. They go to all the places where the Holy Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ have stayed because they want to feel closer to the saints. They come here to pray and to baptise their children.
According to a local physician, Muslims do visit the monastery as well and argues that the doors are open daily and to everyone. Muslims also believe in the Virgin Mary (Maryam in Arabic) so this place is significant to their faith too. Another local, argues that Maryam was a very good woman, and that Muslims visit the monastery because Maryam was mentioned in the Qurʾān. Other Muslims come just to visit the place as tourists and find out more about the history of the monastery.
Not long before the interview was conducted, there had been a flood in Durunka, Asyūṭ, the Muslim businessman who survived the disaster in Durunka, argues that a minister of the government had come and promised to pay for all the losses, but in reality this turned out to be an empty promise. He argues the government is responsible for destruction and claims that whenever people build on places they are not allowed to, the government should tell them beforehand and not after it is almost done.
