The Hanging Church, Cairo
Ornate outer gate to the courtyard. Photo by Azlan Nache.
Exterior of the Hanging Church. Photo by Christian Funke.
The Hanging Church is approached by a flight of 29 steps - one of its
many nicknames is the "Staircase Church." Photo by dannebrog.
Detail of decoration over the door. Photo © Peter Brubacher.
Interior of the Hanging Church, with marble pulpit. Photo © Richard Beck.
Beautifully decorated nave arcade. Photo by Carolyn.
Central iconostasis. Photo: Azlan Nache.
Known in Arabic as al-Muallaqah ("The Suspended"), the Hanging Church is the most famous Coptic church in Cairo. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is thus also known as Sitt Mariam or St. Mary's Church.
The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress in Old Cairo; its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church."
History
The Hanging Church was built in the 7th century, probably on the site of a 3rd or 4th century church for the soldiers of the bastion. It has been rebuilt several times since then, including a major rebuild under Patriarch Abraham in the 10th century.
By the 11th century, the Hanging Church became the official residence of the Coptic patriarchs of Alexandria and Coptic synods were held in the church. The main furnishings - the pulpit and screens - date from th 13th century.
What to See
Entrance to the Hanging Church is via a beautifully-decorated gate on Shar'a Mari Girgis Street. This leads into an open courtyard, flanked by mosaics, from which there are 29 steps to the church. At the top of the stairs are three wooden doors decorated with geometric patterns, framed with decorative carvings in the stone wall.
Inside, only the section to the right of the sanctuary, above the southern bastion, is considered original. Nevertheless, the Hanging Church remains one of the most impressive churches in the city, remarkable for its marble pulpit, inlaid screens, icons and murals. The timber roof of the nave recalls Noah's Ark.
The 11th-century marble pulpit surmounts 13 graceful pillars, representing Jesus and the 12 disciples. As customary in Coptic churches, one of the pillars is black, representing Judas, and another is grey, for doubting Thomas. Its steps are carved with a shell and a cross.
The oldest icon in the Hanging Church dates from the 8th century. Many other artifacts from this church are now displayed in the Coptic Museum, including a lintel showing Christ's entry into Jerusalem that dates from the 5th or 6th century.
In the eastern end of the church are three sanctuaries with altars, dedicated to the Virgin Mary (center); St. George (left) and St. John the Baptist (right).
The central iconostasis (sanctuary screen) dates from the 12th or 13th century. It is made of ebony inlaid with ivory and carved into segments showing fine geometric designs and crosses, and has a row of seven large icons. The center icon depicts the Christ Enthroned; to his right is the Virgin Mary, the Archangel Gabriel and St. Peter; to his left are John the Baptist, the Archangel Michael and St. Paul.
The left screen has a design of squares with crosses in alternate ivory and ebony, surmounted by 17 icons depicting scenes from the martyrdom of St. George. The right screen dates from the 13th century and has a cruciform pattern. Across the top are seven small icons representing the life of St. John the Baptist. All the icons on these screens are the work of a single Armenian artist, Orhan Karabedian, and date from 1777.
| Names: | al-Muallaqah ("The Suspended"), Hanging Church, Sitt Mariam, St. Mary's Church, Staircase Church |
| Dates: | Founded 3rd or 4th century; rebuilt 7th and 10th centuries |
| Size: | 23.5 meters long, 18.5 meters wide and 9.5 meters high |
| Address: | Shar'a Mari Girgis, Cairo, Egypt |
| Phone: | None |
| Hours: | Daily 9-4 (except during services) |
| Cost: | Free |
| Tip: | Call ahead to determine if restorations will affect your visit. Guided tours are available. |
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Hanging Church (central marker). Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Cairo Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- The Hanging Church, El Muallaqa – Tour Egypt
- Fodor's Exploring Egypt
