At the same time that the Mahama church disappeared from geography and history, and from the east of the delta, al-Maqrizi wrote that the most important church in the east of the delta at that time was the Mostorod Church.
The Mostorod Church was also mentioned in the 12th century by Abu Al-Makarim, and was linked to the Matariya region, (which we can call the second Mahama, as history mentions that the Virgin bathed Christ in Matariya as well) when the Matariya church was destroyed. At that time, the Copts went during the celebration of the Holy Family to visit the well and the tree in Matariya, then they would complete their celebration by praying the Holy Mass in Mostorod.
After the demolition of the Matariya Church, which was next to the Virgin Mary’s tree, and the disappearance of the First Mahama Church, all the celebrations related to the Holy Family moved to the Mostorod Church, which is one of the points that the Holy Family passed through on their return journey and which is located south of Tel Basta point.
Hence, the confusion occurred between linking the Church of Mostorod with the First Mahama (located east of Basta), which disappeared in the 15th century, and the tradition of Christ bathing in Mostorod, which is related to the events of the Holy Family in Matariya, near Mostorod, and is linked to it historically and liturgically over the centuries.
Bibliography:
* The Path of the Holy Family in Egypt – Nuns of the Nunnery of the Great Martyr St. George, Old Cairo.
* The Journey of the Holy Family in the Land of Egypt – Isaac Ibrahim Agban
The American University book on the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt
* A study on the first district, Mostorod, and Al-Mataria – Abouna Begol Abdullah Zaki
* Research about the Holy Family in Mostorod (a group of church servants – presented by Rev. Abdel Masih Basit)
