After the Lord Jesus blessed the area of Wadi Al-Natrun, the Holy Family headed south and from there crossed the Nile in the east until it reached the area of Oun – the oldest Egyptian city – Ain Shams now, and from there the Holy Family headed to the city of Betari – Al-Matareya now.
Al-Matareya is currently one of the regions of Cairo, and is located in the northern part of it. Al-Matareya is considered one of the most important places that the Holy Family passed through and resided in for several days, where the Holy Family sheltered under a sycamore tree known to this day as the “Mary’s Tree” and the Child Jesus sprang a well of water and drank from it and blessed it. The Virgin washed the child’s clothes and poured his water there, so it grew an aromatic plant with a beautiful smell, which is the elderberry plant (the balsam), which was used in making some medicine. And they add it to the types of perfumes from which the holy chrism is made.
Some historians called this well (the Balsam well), and there is still a street in Matariya called Balsam Street, and a street called Maryam’s Well.
Al-Suyuti’s book “The Oddities of Wonders” mentioned that the Balsam well is located in the land of Egypt near the rainforest, and the elderberry (balsam) plants are irrigated with its water.