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Coptic Cairo, Cairo
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Inside the Hanging Church - Cairo
Inside the Hanging Church
by MM212
Things to Do in Cairo: Coptic Cairo tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cairo locals.
Coptic Cairo
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Coptic Cairo: Ben Ezra Synagogue
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  • If you're going to be in Old Cairo, stop in the Ben Ezra Synagogue. You weren't allowed to take photos, so I bought this picture there. A church was first built on the site in 336 B.C. It was originally a Christian church. The church has undergone much restoration and the current building dates back to 1892 when the original collapsed. It was rebuilt following the old model. The church is a rectangle, two-story buiding with the 1st dedicated for the men and the 2nd is for the women.

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  • Website: http://www.ask-aladdin.com/benezra.html

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    Coptic Cairo: The Hanging Church
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  • The oldest Coptic church in Egypt is also called hanging church because it was built on the Roman tower. You may see it under its glass floor near the entrance of the church. The architecture of the church imitates the Arch of Noah (the celling part) and they still keep the original stage in the middle of the church. Coptic church is the oldest Christian on earth. This is the only tourist spot in Cairo without the entrance fee!! After the main entrance going to the church, you will see tyle painting wall at the sides. After the stairs going to the main site of coptic church, you will see the picture of cocptic priests on the upper side of the wall. Take a look at Virgin Mary painting at the right back side and take your time to bow your head and pray. You may take pictures inside the church, without the flash please.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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    Coptic Cairo: Coptic Monalisa
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  • Coptic Monalisa in Hanging Church - Cairo
    Coptic Monalisa in Hanging
    Church
    by pangtidor, 1 more photos
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    When you visit Coptic Cairo, see the Coptic Monalisa!!It is located at the right side of you right after the praying room gate of the church. It is a painting of Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. This is called Monalisa because the eyes of virgin Mary will follow your eyes in all the directions like the real Monalisa painting does. Picture taking is allowed.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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    Coptic Cairo: Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging) Church
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  • Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging) Church - Cairo
    Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging)
    Church
    by Diana75,
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    Constructed around the 4th or 5th Century, the church was named "Al-Muaallaqah" (other names "Sitt Mariam" and "Saint Mary") because it was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. "Muaallaqah" means "hanging". This is the most renown Coptic Christian church in Cairo and it is said that it was the first built in basilican style probably during the patriarchate of Isaac (690 - 92 B.C.). Inside the church you can find the "Egyptian Mona Lisa", an icon of the Virgin Mary painted by Amba Ibraham on a column on the right side of the entrance. Amba Ibraham saw Virgin Mary in his dream saying to him that she will help him to move the mountain in order to obtain the sheik's help for building a church on this place.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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    Coptic Cairo: Abu Serga Church (Coptic Cairo)
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  • Picture of the offical sign - Cairo
    Picture of the offical sign
    by ATXtraveler
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    On our second day of the tour, we went into Coptic portion of Cairo. As the tour guide presented this to us, we were informed that this was the area of Cairo that the Holy family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) actually stayed in during their travels. They were hidden in Abu Serga's basement (at that time, the Pharaohs would not have accepted the Holy Family). This is a very historical church, and well worth the visit. It is free to enter, although a donation is worth it to be able to preserve this piece of history. You will be intrigued by the basement worship area that is currently underwater, and the detail in the woodworking in the church. There is no doubt the coptics were great carpenters! I would have added a picture other than the sign at the entrance, but out of respect for the Church, there are no pictures allowed inside.

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  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/serga.htm

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    Coptic Cairo: Nunnery of St. George
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  • Nunnery of St. George entrance sign - Cairo
    Nunnery of St. George entrance
    sign
    by ATXtraveler
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    Across the street and down the Coptic alley from Abu Serga Church is a small area that holds the Nunnery of St. George. Although we were not able to stay long, there was a very nice garden here to enjoy the Cairo sun in, and view some nice landscaping. Please respect the members of the nunnery and be reverent!

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    Coptic Cairo: Sitt Barbara (Saint Barbara) Church
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  • Inside Sitt Barbara (Saint Barbara) Church - Cairo
    Inside Sitt Barbara (Saint
    Barbara) Church
    by Diana75, 1 more photos
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    The church was founded in the 5th Century by a wealthy scribe called Athanasius, and was originally dedicated to Abu Kir and Yohanna (or St. Cyrus and St. John). The legend said that Barbara, the daughter of a pagan merchant, converted to Christianity and when she tried to convert her father, he tried to kill her. The church was rebuilt in the 10th Century, but still preserves its wooden door, a magnificent example of fine Coptic art.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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    Coptic Cairo: Abu Serga (St. Sergius) Church
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  • Abu Serga (St. Sergius) Church - Cairo
    Abu Serga (St. Sergius) Church
    by Diana75, 1 more photos
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    Abu Serga Church is build on a cave in which the Holy Family is believed to have stayed when they came to Egypt. The Church of St. Sergius is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, two soldier-saints martyred during the 4th Century in Syria. Dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century and the roof is built in Noe's Arc style as a symbol to the fact that in God's house we are saved as the ones saved by the arc. The church's main attraction is the crypt containing the remains of the original church where tradition says the Holy Family stayed.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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    Coptic Cairo: Coptic Cairo
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  • Christianity came very early to Egypt and what is now known as the Coptic quarter of Cairo was a city long before the arrival of Islam led to the development of the great metropolis we now see sprawling all around. There has always been a holy aspect to this place, for all the faiths of the region - once there were more than 20 churches here, and even today you will find several churches and a monastery as well as Cairo's oldest synagogue and even mosques dotted around the quiet streets and laneways of the quarter. If you're fortunate enough to arrive as a church service is coming to an end,do wait quietly at the back. Not only will you hear the wonderful chant of the liturgy,as ancient as the faith itself, but you will witness the lovely interaction of the congregation and the clergy when the service is done and you may well, as we were, be offered bread in a spirit of Christian fellowship. When the hustle of the streets of Cairo become too much for you, this is the area to head for. If you're planning to visit the churches be sure to be properly dressed - no shorts or bare arms for either men or women are allowed. Photography may also be forbidden in the churches and in the synagogue - we were allowed to take photos a while back but a very recent visitor to Cairo tells me they were not.

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  • Directions: The metro is the best way to get there. Get off at Mar Girgis (St George) station

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    Coptic Cairo: Mari Guirguis (St. George) Church
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  • Updated By Diana75 on February 18, 2006
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  • Built on the ruins of an ancient church, it was named after St. George, the victim of Roman persecution. This is one of the few round churches in Egypt and has a unique hall dating to the 13th Century AD. The church was damaged by a fire in 1904 and was rebuilt in 1909.

  • Website: http://www.touregypt.net

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