Many Christian landmarks in Cairo include the Jewish Temple of Ben Ezra, the ruins of the ancient fortress known as Babylon, the legendary Hanging Church, and the Coptic Museum, chronicling an almost extinct civilization.
What does Coptic mean?
Previously, the word “Gopt” or “Kopto” was sometimes used to spell “Copt” or, more accurately “, Gibt”. This is what the Christians of the Nile Valley called after the Arab conquest. The name is derived from the Greek word for “Egypt”. The hieroglyphic phrase Hu-ka-Ptah, which means “Temple of Ptah-Suy” and was one of the names for Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital at the time of the Pharaohs, is most likely where the Greek term for Memphis originated.
Coptic churches
The oldest Coptic churches can be seen within the walls of the former Roman fortress of Babylon: Abu Serga, meaning “Saint Sergius”, Al-Malaka, “The Hanging Church”, “Set Barbara”, Saint Barbara, “Al-Adra”. , “The Church of the Virgin” or “Kusrayat Al-Rayhan”, and Mary Gerges, meaning “Mar Gerges”. Most historic Coptic churches do not face the street and blend in with the surrounding houses. The entrances were closed at once to protect them from attacks. You enter through a small side door. The Holy Family’s lair is a crypt to the sanctuary’s left. A three-aisled chapel with an altar in a tomb was constructed inside the ancient cave in the centre of the choir.
The Abu Sergius Church

In Cairo, there is a very ancient church called Abu Sergius. It designates one of the locations in Egypt where the Holy Family often stopped. Sergius and Bacchus, two Roman soldiers who died in Syria during Maximian’s authority, are honoured by the Church’s name. The building’s oldest section was constructed in the fifth century, and it was built on the alleged cave where the Holy Family hid during their departure to Egypt. The Church was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in the eighth century, and the Fatimids continued to build on it after then. It includes three basilican-style aisles that are 27 m long, 17 m broad, and 15 m high. To enter the Church, utilize a little side entrance. The Church of St. Sergius is still regarded as an exemplary illustration of one of the earliest places of worship for Copts despite being renovated.
Church of St. Barbara

A large and stunning structure in Egypt is the Church of Saint. Barbara. It is in memory of a young lady from Asia Minor’s Nicodemus, whose father murdered her after she persuaded him to accept Christianity. The Church was first constructed in honour of Saints Cyrus and John. As early as the fourth century, it could have been built. The Church was restored in 684 by a wealthy scribe. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Fustat in 750 and reconstructed in the eleventh century. Once they were transported there, a new shrine was constructed to house St. Barbara’s bones. The primary section of the Church bears Saint—Barbara’s name. The shrine, which honours two victims and houses their bones, is the addition to the sanctuary on the left.
The Hanging Church

The Hanging Church was threatened by air pollution, a high subsoil water table, excessive humidity, and water leaks from an antiquated and failing 100-year-old sewage system in a heavily populated location. A 1992 earthquake also caused fissures in the Church’s walls and foundation and smoke marks on the wooden ceiling decorations. After 16 years of repairs, it is again available to the public.
The first basilican-style Church to be constructed in Egypt was the Hanging Church. Moreover, it is one of Egypt’s oldest churches. It was built atop a fortified Babylonian city, and in the seventh century, it was converted into the residence of the Bishop of Babylon. Since it was constructed atop two of the ancient Babylon fortress’s southwestern bastions, the Church is also known as “Suspended” or “Hanging.” One of the bastions serves as the foundation for the Church’s baptistery, which’s east and west ends rely on the two bastions in the southwest. As a result, the Church’s centre portion crosses the former fort’s entrance wall. Significant religious gatherings existed, and the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria originally resided there in the seventh century. It served as a court for those who disregarded religious regulations. It was demolished in the ninth century but rebuilt and turned into the Coptic Patriarchate’s residence in the eleventh.
Al Moallaka church has undergone several renovations from the Middle Ages. As a result, some of the stone and woodwork that has been reused predates the structure itself. A large aisle runs along the centre of the Church’s central area, with smaller halls on each side. The galleries are divided into eight columns on each side. A repair has been made to the wooden vaulted roof. The columns are all composed of white marble, except one that is built of black basalt. Some of the finest inlaid woodwork may be seen in the Church. Ivory and cedarwood were used to make the sanctuary screen. The Coptic cross was made from ivory, cut into lovely pieces, and put into the timber.
An Ethiopian girl called Takia Hamanout has a little church for her near the altar, to the right of the central Church. One of the outstanding specimens of Coptic woodwork from the 1800s, in the opinion of many, is the screen that stands between it and the central Church. Two murals in the Church of the famed Ethiopian saint have minimal colour left. One depicts the Mother and Child, while the other has the 24 elders of the end of the world standing in a row with haloes above them.
Ben Ezra Synagogue

The oldest synagogue in Egypt still in existence is the Synagogue of Ben Ezra. The synagogue is said to have existed since the time of Moses by the Jewish community in Old Cairo. According to most ancient writings, the ancient temple of Ben Ezra was located here. It was converted into a Christian church in the fifth century and remained so until the Copts were repaid 20,000 dinars in the ninth century by the Jewish community, who owed them rent. Yet, the majority of the ornaments were created in the 1200s.
A significant discovery was made in a concealed space on the synagogue’s second level in 1896. The building’s rear was where this chamber was located. The removal of old garbage discovered valuable original Middle Ages manuscripts. The extraordinary discovery, known as the Geniza Papers, relates to every aspect of Jewish life in Old Cairo during the period. Contracts for marriage, business dealings, and even overdue debts are included. A copy of the Old Testament authored by the first-century BC scribe Ezra was also discovered in the synagogue (now in Cambridge university). One of the most significant literary discoveries of the previous century, according to many.
There are several Coptic churches and cemeteries all around the synagogue. The structure is 269 metres long and 8.5 metres tall, and the space is around 3500 square metres. Men should be on the lower level, while ladies should be on the higher floor. They wash their clothes at a well called Mikfa on the synagogue’s southern side. In the west-southwest corner of the structure is the main entrance. Twelve marble columns with varying tops support the ceiling on the upper level of the synagogue. On the ground level, the same is true, except the columns are built of cement.
The ground level of the hall is divided into three sections by two rows of columns. Three bookcase-like niches may be seen on the north and south sides. The marble stage is located in the centre of the room. Marble fragments with lettering concerning Moses pleading with God to preserve Israel may be seen on the stage’s edges. The ladies ascend wooden steps from the synagogue’s exterior to the top level. Except for the eastern side, the steps around the whole structure. A chamber was enclosed on all sides at the top of this level. The only way to access this chamber was from above, where the Ginza was located.