Tour of the 'Hanging Church', Ben Ezra Synagogue and Abu Serja Church
On our tour we saw the ancient Bablyon Fortress that acted as a boundary between Upper and Middle Egypt. Known also by the name as Qasr al Shamee or the Palace of Candles, inhabitants used to place candles on the tops of the towers of the fort at the beginning of the month to monitor the movement of the sun from one tower to another. Today, the fortress continues to act as an enclosure to six Coptic churches, a convent and the Coptic Museum.
The 'Hanging Church' or Al Muallaqa is actually named for its unique construction - it is suspended over one of the gates of the Bablyon Fortress. The most famous Coptic Christian Church in Cairo, it was built in the 3rd or 4th century AD.
The courtyard leading to the chuch steps houses a number of mosaics depicting scenes from the Holy Family's life and travels.
Abu Serja Church dates from the 4th century AD and is believed to have been built on site where the Holy Family rested on their trip to Egypt.
