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Hanging Church
The Hanging Church, also known as the Church of Mother of God Saint Mary or the Suspended Church, is one of the most ancient churches in Egypt and the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo. The Hanging Church dates back to the 3rd century. It was probably built by Pope Isaac of Alexandria. The Suspended Church was rebuilt by Pope Abraham during the reign of the Fatimid caliph Al Muizz. The Hanging Church was named after its suspension between the two bastions of the Roman Fortress Babylon, built in the 19th century B.C. with Emperor Augustus' arrival in Egypt.
The Hanging Church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and contains sanctuaries to her and Saints John the Baptist and George. The church witnessed many Marian apparitions. The Holy Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared in a dream to Pope Abraham in the story of moving the Mokattam Mountain. The Hanging Church has 110 icons; most of these icons date back to the 8th century. In 2008, the church received an official visit from Queen Sofia of Spain.
Abu Serga Church
Abu Serga Church, also known as Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, is one of the oldest churches in Egypt. The church dates back to the 5th century. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church was built upon the crypt of the Holy Family, where they stayed for three weeks during their sojourn in Egypt. The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who served as soldiers in the Roman Army. They refused to worship the Roman gods and were martyred in Syria during the reign of Roman Emperor Maximian in 296 A.D. The church keeps some of the two saints’ relics.
Abu Serga Church has significant historical importance as it witnessed several elections of the patriarchs of the Coptic Church. The church also kept Egypt’s oldest altar, which was transferred to the Coptic Museum. The church’s main feature is that its roof was constructed in the shape of Noah’s ark.
Ben Ezra Synagogue
Ben Ezra Synagogue, also known as El geniza Synagogue or the Synagogue of the Levantines, is located in the Fustat part of Old Cairo, where baby Moses was found. It is the oldest synagogue in Egypt. The synagogue's foundation date is a matter of debate. Ben Ezra synagogue was originally a church sold by the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria to Jews. The synagogue was named after Abraham Ben Ezra, the Jewish religious scholar and philosopher.
Ben Ezra contains all the main features of the synagogue. The synagogue also has a geniza, a repository for old documents mentioning the name of God. Today, Ben Ezra Synagogue functions as a tourist attraction and not as a place of worship because most of the Jews in Cairo have immigrated to Europe over the years.
Coptic Museum
The Coptic Museum is home to the largest collection of Coptic Christian artifacts in the world. It is located within the walls of the fortress of Babylon, near the Hanging Church. The museum was founded in 1908 by Marcus Simaika Pasha, a prominent Coptic figure who was concerned with the preservation of Coptic heritage, after obtaining the approval of Patriarch Kyrillos V.
The objects in the Coptic Museum are grouped into different mediums, such as stonework, woodwork, metalwork, textiles, and manuscripts. There are approximately 15,000 objects on display in total.