The Journey of the Holy Family from Palestine to Sinai

---

Before the Holy Family , together with Salome , the midwife , left Bethlehem , they remained for a while in a grotto , known to the Arabs as "Magharat El Sayyidah" , which is situated south-east of the Basilica of the Nativity .
The Holy Family first went to the ancient Philistine , a city and a seaport of Ashkelon . From Ashkelon , the Holy Family proceeded in an almost easterly direction to Hebron . About 40 kilometers further on , in a westerly direction , there was the site of the ancient Canaanite stronghold of Gaza . By taking the route which ran parallel to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea , the Holy Family would have crossed , within two hours , the Wadi Gaza . A day's journey from Gaza brought the Holy Family to the ancient township of Jenysos . Today , this village , which is part of the Gaza Strip , is known as Khan Yunis .
The next town on the Holy Family's route would have been Raphia (Rafah) , the frontier town between the Gaza Strip and Egypt , continuing another 44 kilometers , along the caravan-route , about two days of traveling . The Holy Family crossed a stream , the Wadi al-Arish , which , at all times formed the natural boundary between Egypt and Palestine . A little further on , the Holy Family would have arrived at the city of Rhinocolura , the present El-Arish .
The first town , which would have been reached after Rhinocolura , was Ostrakini . Ostrakini has since disappeared , though there is a village called Straki , which is situated at the vicinity of El-Arish . Almost at the south-western end of the caravan-route from Judea to Egypt , there is the celebrated city of Pelusium (Al-Farama) , sea-port and key to Egypt . The Greek monk , Epiphanius (Ninth century) , and Bernard the Wise (870 AD) , mention the tradition according to which the Holy Family visited this historical city .