The Hanging Church
The Hanging Church is Al-Fustat’s (Old Cairo’s) oldest church.
Its name, Al-Muallaka (the hanging), was given to it since it was built on the ruins of two old towers belonging to an ancient fortress known as the Fortress of Babylon. It was dedicated to The Virgin Mary and St. Dimiana.
The church was originally built at the end of the 3rd Century A.D and beginning of the 4th Century A.D, although it has been reconstructed and renovated sevetimes since. Some historians believe that may be older than most think, and was possibly an ancient Roman Temple that was later converted to a Roman Church,
This church has played an important role in the history of the Coptic Church because it was once the seat of the Patriarchs, after it was transferred from Alexandria to Al-Fustat.
There are 110 icons here, the oldest of which dates back to the 8th Century. In 1898 A.D., the overseer of the church, Nakhla Al- Baraty Bey, bestowed some of them as gifts.
The Plan of the Church:
- It takes the shape of a basilica with a wooden roof resembling that of Noah’s Ark
