For the student of the Bible, Egypt holds enormous interest, especially for exploring the backgrounds of the Exodus. Because the traditions of Israel in Egypt are preserved in the Old Testament, we recommend one of our trained scholars and experienced pastors to guide your exploration of Old Testament backgrounds and interpretation of biblical texts.
Egypt is best known for its ancient monuments such as the pyramids and the Sphinx. However, the vast majority of tourists in Egypt become acquainted with the simplest interpretations of these well-known monuments and the cultures that produced them (Egyptology). Sadly, these interpretations are often incorrect.
While our journeys to Egypt introduce our travelers to Egyptology, for us, the primary objective is the study of the Bible. We insist that exploring Egypt is hugely significant for the study of the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament, and for understanding the development of early Christianity. Consider that in the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Egypt was a refuge for the Holy Family during Jesus’ infancy. By the middle of the 2nd century, 50% of the population of Egypt had been baptized into Christianity. The ascetic and monastic movement developed and flourished in Egypt from the 3rd through the 8th centuries. Our most ancient and best-preserved ancient manuscript of the New Testament, called Sinaiticus, was produced in Egypt and was discovered nearly intact in St. Katherine’s monastery in the heart of the Sinai wilderness in the 19th century. This is why your choice of who to travel with is important. Understanding the Egyptian backgrounds of the biblical texts, both the Old and New Testaments, is essential to accessing their meaning and significance.
Our journeys in Egypt introduce our travelers to the architectural and cultural legacy of the ancient Egyptians, and also include exploration of the development and significance of Egyptian backgrounds for study of the Bible. We continue the learning by introducing you to the history of early Christians in Egypt and the development of the monastic movement. Our relationships give us unique access to certain sites. For example, while visiting St. Katherine’s monastery in Sinai, our travelers not only have a chance, if they would like, to climb Mt. Sinai and visit the chapel of the monastery, but also to worship with the monks of St. Katherine’s and visit their private collections of icons and texts.
What’s more, a visit to Egypt gives our visitors a wonderful opportunity to engage with Egyptian Christians and Muslims on a host of issues. We explore the nature of Islam in Egypt. We examine the encounter between Christianity and Islam throughout history and especially today.