Flight into Egypt panel

Three consecutive verses in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13–15) are the only biblical source for the story of the Flight into Egypt. According to Matthew, after the visit of the Wise Men, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him’” (2:13). Although the Bible provides very little information about this episode in the Nativity narrative, it is frequently depicted in art. Usually Mary is shown riding a donkey with Jesus on her lap, accompanied by Joseph (as is the case here) and sometimes a servant.

This panel, together with three others from a Christmas window, was originally located in Bryn Athyn Cathedral. It was later placed in storage, where it remained until it was rediscovered in the late 1980s.