Coptic heritage · Cairo
Hanging Church
One of Egypt's oldest churches, set above a gatehouse of the Roman Babylon Fortress in the heart of Coptic Cairo.
Listen to the guide
The story
The church is called Hanging because its nave rises above a gatehouse and towers of the Roman Babylon Fortress. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it belongs to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Sources differ on its founding, placing it anywhere between the third and seventh centuries, and it has been rebuilt and restored many times since. In the Middle Ages it served as a seat of the Coptic popes. Its treasures include many icons and a marble pulpit dating to the 11th century. After roughly sixteen years of restoration it reopened in October 2014, and it lies within Historic Cairo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Good to know
- Its name comes from its position: it stands above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress, a Roman stronghold built in the 2nd century.
- It served as a seat of the Coptic popes in the Middle Ages, until the 13th century according to several sources.
- It reopened in October 2014 after a restoration of about 16 years costing over 100 million Egyptian pounds.
- It stands in Old Cairo's religious compound, near the Amr ibn al-As Mosque and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
Visiting tips
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities page lists daily visiting hours of 9am to 4pm. Please check before visiting, as hours can change. Modest dress is advisable inside the church.