Part Five

The Holy Family Within the Area of Old Cairo

In Central Cairo

• The Church of the Virgin Mary in Zuweila Alley.

• The Church of St George the Martyr.

• The Church of St. Mercurios Abu Sefein (he of the Two Swords).

• The Convent of the Virgin Mary.

• The Convent of St George.

In The Downtown District of Clot BeyI

• The Cathedral of St Mark in Azbekieh.

• Numerous churches attached to the Cairo headquarters of many of Egypt's monasteries.

• The Church of the Virgin Mary (known by the name Ezbaweya).

(Right: Entrance of the Cathedral of St. Mark - Ezbekieh, Central Cairo)

The area now called Old Cairo, known as Misr El Kadima, is among the most important locations visited by the Holy Family where the spiritual impact of their presence is most felt still; though their stay was brief, for the Governor of what was then Fustat – enraged by the tumbling down of idols at Jesus' approach – sought to kill the Child. But they took shelter from his wrath in a cave above which, in later years, the Church of Abu Serga (St Sergious) was built. This, and the whole area of the Fort of Babylon, is a destination of pilgrimage not only for the Egyptians but for Christians from around the world. An air of piety and devotion pervades the whole district

(Left: Virgin Mary Church of Al-Damsheria)

Here, too, it is useful to list the sites which visitors to the Fortress of Babylon section of Old Cairo take in:

• The Church of Abu Serga and the Crypt of the Holy Family beneath it.

• Al-Muallaqa (Hanging Church), dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Patriarchal See of the Coptic Church in the early centuries.

• The Church of St Barbara.

• The Church of St George (in the Palace of Waxworks).

• The Church of the Virgin, identified by its alternative name of Qasriet Al-Rihan (Basil Pot).

• The Convent of St George.

• The Coptic Museum and the ramparts of the Fortress of Babylon.

• The Greek Orthodox Church of St George.

• The Jewish Synagogue of Ben Ezra.

(Above: The Church of Abu Sefein.  Below Left: An icon from the Church of Abu Sefein.  Below Right: Entrance of the Virgin Mary Church - Zuwaila Alley - Central Cairo)

The Fustat section of Old Cairo, which lies west of the Mosque of Amr Ibn'l Aas, includes:

(Right: The ancient alter of the Church of Abu Serga)

• The Church of St Mercurios Abu Sefein (he of the Two Swords).

• The Church of Abba Shenouda.

• The Church of the Virgin Mary of Al-Demshiria.

• The Convent of Abu Sefein.

• The Church of the Virgin of Babylon El Darag.

• The Church of Saints Abakir and Yohanna,

• The Church of Prince Tadros Al Mishriqi.

• The Church of the Archangel Mikhail (known also as Al Malak AI-Qibli-or "Southern Angel').

• The Church of St. Mena in Zahraa – Misr El Kadima.

Interior of the Church of Al Malak Al Qibli - Old Cairo

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