Devotion to Mary in Assiut, Egypt

Teams help check people coming to attend the event of Virgin Mary at the Dronka mountain foot in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Coptic participants camp at the monastery of Virgin Mary waiting for the event to start in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Coptic pilgrims come to the Virgin Mary monastery with animals to slaughter in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Coptics chant for the holy family in Arabic saying “Hero, Hero, Virgin Mary is the mother of the hero,” in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

A coptic woman cries while she praying at the cave where the holy family is believed to have lived in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Adel Hanna Botros, 62 from Aswan says “I used to come with my Muslim friends every year, but this year they have been panned, I know many Muslims, they respect and love Virgin Mary so much” in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Saad Saleb 36, says while he holds his son Kirolos “I came here for blessings and seeing my family who lives in other provinces, they all came to meet here.” in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

A priest observes the ritual. Muslims and cultural celebrations have been panned from the event this year in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Copts cheer deacons while they walk on the mountain as a religious ritual for the event in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The monastery pastor cheer copts who came to attend the event in Virgin Mary monastery in Dronka Mountain in Assiut, Egypt, August 20, 2017. (H. Elrasam/VOA)