Beni Mur (Arabic: بني مر, also spelled Bani Murr) is an Egyptian town in Upper Egypt located 8 kilometers north of the city of Asyut.
History
The town is believed to be the site of Deir Abu as-Sira (a corrupted form of the name Theodor (Ancient Greek: Θεόδωρος)), a monastery dedicated to Saint George.[1]
Today Beni Mur is the site of the Church of Saint George which is visited annually on 1 May by local Coptic pilgrims. The church is small, with two altars, dedicated to Saint George and the Mary.[2]
According to local tradition, the town was named after the Beni Mur elites who hailed from the Hejaz region, ruled over the rural town during the Muslim conquest of North Africa, and are attributed with promoting the Classical Arabic language and early teachings of Islam among the locals.[3][4]
.svg){kind=small}