Church · Coptic · AD 690
A church above Babylon Fortress.
Cairo
A church above part of Babylon Fortress, with a raised entrance, timber roof, screens and icons in Old Cairo.
Get to know this place
Church · Coptic · Built AD 690
The Hanging Church takes its name from its position above the remains of Babylon Fortress. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it became associated with the Coptic patriarchal seat in the medieval period. Successive alterations shaped the building encountered today, so its appearance belongs to several chapters of history.
Beyond the entrance steps, columns, wooden sanctuary screens and icons organise the interior. The timber roof gives it a distinctive, ship-like form. Marble details and painted faces sit close together within a space that retains its religious purpose as well as its historic importance.
Details worth pausing for
Raised entrance
Timber roof and screens
Icons
Marble pulpit
Hours, prices and practical details
Tips and things to know
Start from Mar Girgis station and walk between nearby monuments.
Good to know
Address and directions
Mar Girgis Street, Old Cairo
Nearest landmark: Old Cairo
Nearest metro: Mar Girgis
The best route depends on your starting point. Navigate to Mar Girgis Street, Old Cairo; for Historic Cairo sites, expect to walk the final part through narrow streets.
Get directions ↗The places closest to Hanging Church, to make a day of it.
Coptic MuseumCoptic art in one of Cairo’s most layered historic districts50 m · about 1 min on foot
Ben Ezra SynagogueEveryday documents behind a synagogue's history.100 m · about 2 min on foot
Abu Serga ChurchChurch and crypt in Old Cairo.150 m · about 2 min on foot
Distances and times are estimates from where each place sits on the map; the actual route may differ.
Stops close to each other, in an order we tried. Follow it as it is, or make it your own.
Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0
A suggested route · Faith & spirituality
A mosque, churches and a synagogue within a few steps of one another: the story of an Egypt where everyone lived side by side. A short, quiet route for a Friday or Saturday morning.
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