Meeting Point

In front of the Coptic Museum

Coptic Museum

Let's start your tour from Coptic Museum.

The Hanging Church

The Hanging Church is also referred to as the Suspended Church or Al-Moallaqa. It is called the Hanging Church because it was built on the southern gate of the Roman Fortress. Logs of palm trees and layers of stones were constructed above the ruins of the Roman fortress to be used as a fundament. The Hanging Church is a unique church and has a wooden roof in the shape of Noah’s ark. From the 7th century to the 13th century, the Hanging Church served as the residence of the Coptic Patriarch. Al-Moallaqa has witnessed important elections and religious ceremonies.

Abu segra Church

According to a biblical narration by evangelist Matthew (Chapter 2), Virgin Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus fled from Palestine to Egypt out of fear from the persecution of the Jewish King Herod the Great. The Holy Family traveled as far as Assiut (“Deir el Muharraq”) and on their way back home spent some weeks in Old Cairo (below this church)

The Jewish Synagogue of Ben Ezra

The Synagogue of Ben Ezra was originally a church. However, it needed to be sold to pay the annual taxes imposed on the church by the government in 882 A.D. The synagogue is named after Abraham Ben Ezra who bought the church for a sum of 20,000 dinars. The basilican structure with a nave and two aisles is still recognizable. The synagogue has become famous for its Geniza, an archive of ancient Jewish manuscripts, comprising thousands of rare manuscripts.

Ending The tour

If you want to locate a coffee shop nearby, I can show you one before I leave.

Ending Point

The Jewish Synagogue of Ben Ezra