The Hanging Church, Cairo

The Arabic name, 'Al-Mu'allaqah' means 'suspended'. Indeed the nave of the church is built against the old Roman wall and is like it is 'hanging'. From an ornate doorway on Mari Girgis, one enters a corridor and walk up the steps to the church past another corridor where they sell books and cassettes of Coptic literature and then through another very ornate and Arabic styled doorway into the church proper. In the corridor where they sell their stuff, Coptic chants are being played continuously and it is really beautiful. All kinds of pilgrims hang around and try to get into the mood of worship. A tour of the Holy Land could sometimes include Egypt, to some of the Coptic churches, this is one and also the monasteries in Wadi Natrun. We will be visiting the monasteries in Wadi Natrun later.

Matthew 2:14 says, 'So he (Joseph) took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.... so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet "Out of Egypt I called my son." Matthew 2: 19, 'After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.'

The Holy family, supposedly went to a few places during their stay in Egypt and the Coptic Christians say they know the route that they took. Today these places are places of worship in the Coptic church in Egypt. The hanging church is one of them.

Some interesting visitors....

Before entering the church is this long corridor where Coptic chants are being played and they sell Coptic literature and cassettes.

The entrance to the church, featuring some gorgeous Islamic motifs.

Inside the church.

Some pilgrims from India on a Holy land tour.

Must be tiring but it was such a beautiful sight.

It was a beautiful visit, one I'll always remember. It is always lovely to see that Christianity is still flourishing in countries that are hostile to its existence. We should reflect on our own Christian zeal or lack of in a country where we have no restrictions.