The Hanging Church, al-Muallaqa in Arabic, is the most famous church in Coptic Cairo. It gets its name because it was built on top of the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon, so its nave hangs above the old passage below. You can see the gap through a glass panel in the floor.
Hanging Church Coptic CairoHistory
A church has stood here since at least the 7th century, and perhaps earlier, though it has been rebuilt many times. For several centuries it was the seat of the Coptic Pope, the head of Egypt’s Christian church, and important church councils were held here. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
What to see
You climb a flight of steps from the street to a courtyard decorated with modern mosaics. Inside, the wooden ceiling is shaped like the hull of Noah’s Ark. Look for the marble pulpit on 13 slender columns, said to represent Christ and the twelve apostles, one of them dark for Judas. Screens of ebony and ivory separate the three sanctuaries, and the walls hold more than 100 icons, the oldest from the 8th century.
Visiting
Entry is free. Dress modestly and be quiet if a service is under way. Allow about 30 minutes. The church is part of our Old Cairo Cairo day tours and our spiritual tours.
