The Hanging Church is an architectural marvel in the middle of Old Cairo. The full name of the building is the Church of the Virgin Mary. The name of this building comes from the fact that the nave is suspended over a passageway. It was built on top of the southern gate of the Roman-built Babylon Fortress.
Because it is on a hill, the church looks like it is floating. When it was first built, when the ground level was several meters lower than it is now, this view must have been much more beautiful. The name of the church in Arabic is al-Muallaqah, which means “The Suspended” in English.
History:
The current Hanging Church was likely built in the 7th century when Coptic Pope Isaac of Alexandria was in charge of the area. The Roman garrison’s troops once used a church as a place to worship, and it was built at the beginning of the third century.
Since this church has been around for so long, it’s not surprising that Egyptian Christians were the first to come here. Since the 7th century, it has been put back together many times, and the most important one happened in the 10th century when Pope Abraham I was in charge.
The Hanging Church has been an essential part of the history and practice of the Coptic Christian Church for as long as there has been one. After the Muslims took over Egypt in 1047 and moved the capital from Alexandria to Cairo, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church moved into this building.
Around the same time, Pope Christodolos broke with tradition by having his consecration in the Hanging Church instead of the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. This decision caused a rift in the Coptic Church and a lot of fighting. Christodoulou, the first pope, set a new standard when he chose to be crowned, elected, and buried in the Hanging Church.
The most well-known sign of Mary at the Hanging Church is the Mokattam Mountain Miracle. The Caliph at the time was al-Muizz, and it was up to Pope Abraham to show him that Christianity was authentic. This happened in the year 1000. Jesus says, “I’m telling you for sure that if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, you can tell this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will.” Based on this verse, Al-Muizz made a test. This Bible passage is where the idea for Al-test Muizz came from. So, al-Muizz told Abraham to find a place near Mokattam Mountain where he could spend all of his time praying.
After pleading for more time, Abraham went to the Hanging Church and prayed for three days. On the third day, Mary came to him and told him to find a tanner named Simon, who was blind in one eye. If he found Simon and did what she told him, Simon would give him the power to do the miracle. In the end, Abraham found Simon. The mountain moved when he got to the hill and said what the tanner had told him to say. After seeing this miracle, the Caliph knew that Abraham’s faith was based on reality. Members of the Hanging Church still show their devotion to Mary even in the present day.
Hanging Church today:
The only way to get to the Hanging Church is through a courtyard with mosaics from the Bible and a set of iron doors. At the other end of the yard, down 29 steps, you can get to the beautiful front of the church, which has two towers and carved wooden doors. The whole front of the house is brand new, built around the turn of the nineteenth century. All three worship areas and three main aisles of the church are on the east side of the building. From the left side of the building and going clockwise, these churches honor St. George, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Michael. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist are the same person. Each lamp’s shade has beautiful inlays made of ebony and ivory.
One of the most exciting things about the Hanging Church is its ceiling, which has a very detailed design. This dome-shaped building is made of wood and is meant to look like the inside of Noah’s ark. The marble pulpit in the building is imposing. The building is held up by 13 columns made of marble. These pilasters are supposed to represent Jesus and his 12 followers. Judas, the traitor, is shown by a black column, and Thomas, who didn’t believe that Jesus had come back from the dead, is led by a grey column. Even so, the 110 holy icons that are still on display inside the church are what most people come to see.
In the 18th century, only one artist was in charge of painting most of the screens in the sanctuary. The Coptic version of the Mona Lisa is the first and best-known version of the famous face. The picture of the Virgin Mary is from the ninth century, and it probably shows something that happened.
Many historical items that used to be in the Hanging Church are now on display at the Coptic Museum, which is right next to it. The church is still one of the best things to do when you go to Old Cairo. When the church is open to the public, people can look at the beautiful building or go to a Coptic Mass, an old liturgical language.
