A church in Egypt is dedicated to Saint Barbara, who is considered the country’s patron saint.
Location:
Old Cairo may be reached from the city’s central business district in around half an hour when traveling by automobile. It is near Old Coptic Cairo and situated in an older part of the city. It is situated in a primarily Christian neighborhood and is surrounded by churches of all denominations. Since the 10th century, this city has been carefully preserved over the centuries.
History:
This church was among the many buildings in Babylon destroyed by flames that Fustat ignited during the ninth and twelfth centuries. After completing the necessary repairs, it will need to be rebuilt. According to Al-Maqrizi, it was the church with the highest notoriety during that period. As a result of the galleries, the structure resembles a basilica overall. This structure and the Church of St. Sergius provide the same duty in the community.
Due to its flat front, crazed mobs who pillaged churches during times of crisis and persecution could not distinguish it from the homes in the immediate vicinity. The stone church has a footprint of 26 meters wide, 14.5 meters deep, and 15 meters high.
Two rows of columns, with five columns in each row, stand between the nave and the aisles. In the gap that’s been left between the columns, there’s a lovely architrave that’s been crafted out of wood.
Those who attended the services on Maundy Thursday and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul had their feet washed using the water tank in the church’s nave. In today’s world, portable sinks are a standard fixture.
The sanctuary is the only place where the apse may be found. A rectangle lies on each side of it, enclosing it on both sides.
Around 1900, the Church of Saint Barbara underwent a lengthy period of substantial renovation. The Coptic Museum collected some one-of-a-kind artifacts thanks to Saint Barbara’s Church in Alexandria, Egypt.
To the north of the shrine dedicated to Saint Barbara are three chapels, each devoted to Saint Cyrus or Saint John. Both Saint Cyrus and Saint John have earned a great deal of reverence. At the turn of the 20th century, a structure that had never existed before was constructed.
