The Church of Saint George in Coptic Cairo is the only round church in Egypt. It belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and is built on top of one of the round towers of the Roman fortress of Babylon, which gives it its circular shape.
History
A church was first built here in the 10th century. It burned down in 1904, and the present church was finished in 1909. Saint George was a soldier in the Roman army, executed in 303 AD for refusing to give up his Christian faith, and he is one of the most popular saints in Egypt. His feast on 23 April draws large crowds.
What to see
Inside, the domed interior is filled with icons and light from the stained-glass windows. Nearby, the Coptic Convent of Saint George keeps a chain that, by tradition, was used to bind the saint.
Visiting
Entry is free. Dress modestly. The church is next to the Coptic Museum and the Hanging Church, and part of our Old Cairo day tours.
