The Ladies Visit Coptic Cairo

After spending the first two days of their visit touring the Giza Pyramids, both the old and new museums and the Sakkara pyramid and archeological site, the intrepid travelers set out on Thursday morning for a tour of "Old Cairo," with particular focus on "Coptic Cairo." 

Now many might think of all of Cairo as "old" but the term "Old Cairo" refers to a district along the eastern side of The Nile a bit south of the current downtown area where the Roman emperors Trajan and Diocletian constructed their seat of government in the late BC- early AD centuries.  Contained within Old Cairo is the walled area of Coptic Cairo and the newly established and impressive National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, home to the mummies since 2021.  

But, enough of the geography and history, let's get to the photos.

The visit began at the entrance to Coptic Cairo where guide, Roshdy, described the remnants of the Babylon Fortress which once guarded this entrance to the old city.

 Visible in the background here is a station of the Cairo Metro line.

 

  

 

 Looking beyond the ancient towers, we will pass through the entrance to Coptic Cairo.

 

It is easily forgotten that in the early days of Christianity, Egypt was a strong outpost for the new religion.  The Coptic church still claims about ten percent of Egypt's population and visitors are sometimes surprised to see the occasional cross atop a church popping up among the many mosques.  There are even a few predominantly Christian neighborhoods in Cairo.

The "Flight into Egypt" by The Holy Family as briefly described in the Gospel of St. Matthew is memorialized in some detail via a good deal of oral tradition and maps throughout Egypt display the details of the route. 

 

Entering into the walled area of Coptic Cairo, the group moved through this passage photographed a few years ago and into one of the churches.

 

The group also climbed the stairway to St. George's for a tour of that church.

 

St. George is found in a traditional pose at the top of the stairs.

 

The Church of Abu Serga (The Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus) is a particularly noteworthy stop in Coptic Cairo since it was built atop one of the places where the Holy Family is believed to have rested.  In addition to its beautiful interior, a trip downstairs to the lower level reveals the actual ground crossed by the travelers.  A well providing water for the Holy Family can be observed from the main floor.

 

 

 

 

Our visitors descended into the lower cavern to see the original stones from a closer perspective.

 

  

 

Following the visit to the highlights of Coptic Cairo, the group moved eastward into the Muqattam Hills behind the Zabbalin village known as "Garbage City" to visit the spectacular Cave Church in another Christian setting.