Coptic Cairo - Abu Serga-St. Sergius Church, Cairo

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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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.

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Cairo's oldest, the Church of Abu Serga was first built in the 4th century AD on the spot where the Holy Family is thought to have rested during their journey in Egypt. Following damage in the 8th century, the church was rebuilt, and was subsequently restored several times over time. It is located in Coptic Cairo, among several other churches in this Christian stronghold and is typical of Coptic church architecture with some motifs that could be mistaken for a mosque. The columns of the church may have been borrowed from earlier Roman buildings.

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Saints Sergius and Bacchus also known as Abu Serga Church is the oldest in Cairo. It is also the most holly place as it has been risen on the spot where Holly Family had lived when arrived in Egypt after escaping from Israel. The Church dates from 4th or 5th century and is erected in the middle of Roman Fortress of Babylon.
The interior of the Church is amazing. The visitor can admire the rich decoration, the frescos (most of them date from 15th c.) and are able to visit the crypt where Holly Family had lived. The crypt is 10 meters deep and is often flooded when Nile levels are high.

The Church of Abu Serga is an interesting church located "underground". It's also called the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus, two martyrs.

This church is the oldest in Cairo: it was built in the 4th century. However its importance does not come its old age: it's due to the fact that it's supposed to have been built on the precise place where the Holy Family stopped to rest at the end of their flight to Egypt.

Although there are more impressive religious places in the world this one is steeped with significance. It is said that this is where Joseph, Mary, and a baby Jesus are said to have stopped while coming to Egypt.

This is one of the oldest churches in Cairo having been built in the 4th century and is named after Sergius and Bacchus, officers of the Roman Army in Syria, they were tortured to death around 303 AD under Roman Emperor Maximian for their refusal to worship Roman gods.

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This is the main greek orthodox church in Egypt. This is also the only round church in Egypt and this was not to imitate the church of the holy sepulchre in Jerusalem, but just for a practical reason, infact the saint george is at the top of a hill.
The church was built in 10th century but a fire destroyed the original one, it was rebuilt in 1904.
It is opened from 8.30 am to 4 pm.

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Abu Serga is where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and Jesus) hid for a while when they were in Egypt. It is an old church and very good for Christians and people of all faiths to visit.