Going on a pilgrimage to Egypt is a powerful experience for Catholics, offering not only sacred encounters with early Christianity but also a profound connection to the biblical and ancient worlds. Egypt holds an important place in Christian history as the land that welcomed the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. Pilgrims trace the journey of the Holy Family through sites such as the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius) in Old Cairo, believed to be built over the cave where the Holy Family rested, and the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa), one of Egypt’s oldest and most beloved Christian landmarks. Visits to Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and the ancient St. Catherine’s Monastery further connect pilgrims to the Judeo-Christian faith, as well as the desert tradition of silence, prayer, and divine encounter.
Pilgrims can also explore the deeply spiritual Wadi Natrun, a desert region that became one of the birthplaces of Christian monasticism. It is home to some of the oldest functioning monasteries in the world, where monks continue to live lives of prayer, simplicity, and hospitality, echoing the spirit of the Desert Fathers who helped shape early Christian spirituality. Another significant Christian site is St. Simon the Tanner Monastery in Mokattam, located in a cave overlooking Cairo, where a community of faithful Christians continues to worship today, often under challenging circumstances.
In addition to sacred Christian sites, Egypt offers a rich culture and history that enhances the pilgrimage experience. The Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and Saqqara’s Step Pyramid reveal the spiritual depth of Egypt’s ancient civilizations, whose stories intertwine with the biblical narratives of Moses, Joseph, and the Exodus. These sites provide a living context for the Old Testament, allowing pilgrims to reflect on the unfolding of God’s plan throughout human history.
Traveling further south, pilgrims may visit Luxor, where the magnificent Temple of Karnak stands as a testament to ancient Egyptian devotion and architectural mastery. Within Karnak lies the breathtaking Great Hypostyle Hall, with its massive stone columns that have stood for thousands of years, an awe-inspiring space that invites contemplation of God’s greatness. Not far from there, the Temple of Edfu reminds us how ancient peoples sought the divine in their own ways. For Catholic pilgrims, these places don’t serve as objects of worship, but are historical markers of humanity’s long and universal search for truth and transcendence, a search fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
A visit to Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great and once home to one of the greatest libraries in history, brings pilgrims to the roots of Christian intellectual tradition. It’s here that St. Mark the Evangelist brought the Gospel in the first century, establishing what would become the Coptic Church. Pilgrims can visit St. Mark’s Cathedral, explore Christian catacombs, and reflect on Alexandria’s legacy as a cradle of theology, scholarship, and early Church Fathers.
Though the majority of Christians in Egypt belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, which shares many beliefs and traditions with Catholicism, there is also a faithful Coptic Catholic Church in full communion with Rome. Other Eastern Catholic communities—including Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, and Chaldean Catholics contribute to the richness of the local Church. Encountering this diversity offers a powerful reminder of the universality of the Church, the resilience of faith under persecution, and the living continuity of the Gospel in one of the world’s oldest Christian lands.
A pilgrimage to Egypt invites Catholics into a deeper understanding of faith, history, and the enduring presence of God across time and cultures. In the very place where the Bible’s stories came to life and Christianity first flourished, pilgrims find that the journey of faith continues to speak across time, both rooted in the past and alive today. Egypt offers more than a destination. It offers a spiritual encounter that leaves hearts transformed.
Interest in Egypt as a pilgrimage destination has grown significantly, with more and more people eager to explore its deep spiritual and historical roots. In fact, one of our upcoming trips has sold out and has a waitlist, and the other trip is filling quickly, a clear sign that pilgrims are drawn to this sacred land. Egypt continues to capture hearts and minds. Will it capture yours?