Hanging Church, Cairo

Hanging Church, Cairo

Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church is called the Hanging Church or Suspended Church for its location above a gatehouse of the ancient Babylon Fortress, with its nave being suspended over a passage.

Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church is called the Hanging Church or Suspended Church for its location above a gatehouse of the ancient Babylon Fortress, with its nave being suspended over a passage. It is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, tracing its origins to the 3rd century. A monumental stone arch with iron gates on Shar'a Mari Girgis Street leads to an open courtyard, from where you can climb the 29 steps up to the porch with geometric woodwork and decorative carvings. The 19thcentury symmetrical façade of the Basilican style church is flanked by bell towers.

The interiors feature 110 icons from various time periods. There are three sanctuaries on the eastern side of the church, of which the main altar in the middle is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and has an iconostasis of ebony inlaid with ivory with several Coptic Cross patterns. It is surmounted by icons of (L to R) Saint Peter, Archangel Gabriel, Virgin Mary, enthroned Jesus, John the Baptist, Archangel Michael and Saint Paul. The 5th century marble pulpit rests on 13 columns representing Jesus and his disciples. The sanctuary to the left is dedicated to Saint George and the one to the right is named after John the Baptist. The wooden roof of the church is evocative of Noah's Ark.