The Hanging Church

The Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary or Hanging Church ( Egyptian Arabic الكنيسه المعلقه El Muallaqa ) is one of the oldest churches in Egypt; the history of a church on this site dates back to the 3rd century.

The Hanging Church is named after its place, named above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman citadel in Coptic Cairo ( Old Cairo ); its nave is located on one pass. To reach the church, 29 steps must be climbed. Early travelers to Cairo they called the " staircase church ".

From the 11th to the 13th century, the church was the seat of the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria.

In the Hanging Church, there are 110 icons, the oldest dating back to the 8th century, but most of them are from the 18th century. Nachla al - Baraty Bey gave some of them as gifts in 1898, when he was the overseer of the church. The iconostasis is made of ebony, incorporated into the ivory, and is covered by icons of the Virgin Mary and the Twelve Apostles. The image of the main altar ( Egyptian Arabic Heikal ) consists of ebony inlaid with ivory, which is carved into segments that show different variations of the Coptic Cross; these are from the 12th or 13th century. Above the altar is a long series of seven large icons, the center is Jesus Christ sitting on the throne from. On one side of the icons of the Virgin Mary, Archangel Gabriel and St. Peter's are lined up. On the other hand, the icons of Saint John the Baptist are depicted, Archangel Michael and Saint Paul.

Gallery

Door from the road

Barrel Vaulted roof

Detail of marble pulpits

Icons and decorated picture

Prayers inside the church

Ceiling

A revered icon

The Coptic Orthodox bishops of the Holy Synod