This weekend I went on a tour that was sponsored by my school to Old Cairo and visited the Coptic section. We visited the first and one of the only synagogues in Cairo (Ben Ezra). It was small but really gorgeous. It was supposedly built from a compilation of traces and trails that Moses left behind when he was in Egypt. It was also a hiding place for almost 1600 ancient scrolls. A couple years ago, someone raided the synagogue and tried to steal the manuscripts but failed. The Egyptian government decided to take the manuscripts to a better place, but right now no one knows where they are. I wasn't allowed to take pictures due to preservation, so you'll have to visit the Synagogue to see what its like.
We also visited a Coptic museum that contained all the Coptic art. The Copts are known for their textiles because they are interwoven with linen and wool. The cloths don't look very nice but once you examine them carefully they are an amazing piece of work. The Copts also took their carving and sculpting seriously. Their images weren't as precise or beautiful as the Greek's but they were able to create their own identity with the differences. Some of the differences include the incorrect foreshortening (the arms were too long or heads were too big) but the purpose of the carvings were to portray Biblical stories. The majority of the population was illiterate so the people had to rely on pictures. The pictures were very specific, and I could recognize all the stories being portrayed. Once again I wasn't allowed to take pictures but I was at least able to take pictures of the Hanging Church.
The Hanging Church is not actually hanging and its not huge. lol I was a day-dreamer and thought they could actually have a huge building hanging by chains. But it does have a cool story to it though (which is portrayed in the pictured mosaic above). One day a man came to the priest of the Church and stated "if your religion is the religion of miracles then prove to me that it is and lift these limestone pillars that are holding up the church" The priest was worried because it was an impossible task. He asked the Copt community to fast and pray in hopes that a miracle would occur. A few nights later, Jesus came to the priest in a dream and told him to find the one eyed cobbler down the street. He would be the one to perform the miracle. The next morning the priest found the cobbler and explained the dream. The cobbler said he would try to help, not really thinking that he could do anything. As the everyone was walking up the hill to the Church to see the miracle, an earthquake occurred and separated the church from its foundations. There is still a gap today and hence it is a hanging church. They insides are done beautifully with carvings, tapestry, and paintings. I'm making a different website just for pictures and soon they will be available.
Here is some more information on the Church:
Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church also known as the Hanging Church (El Muallaqa) is one of the oldest churches in Egypt and the history of a church on this site dates to the 3rd century A.D.[1]
The Hanging (The Suspended) Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church."[2] The land surface has risen by some 6 metres since the Roman period so that the Roman tower is mostly buried below ground, reducing the visual impact of the church's elevated position. The entrance from the street is through iron gates under a pointed stone arch. The nineteenth century fascade with twin bell towers is then seen beyond a narrow courtyard decorated with modern art biblical designs. Up the steps and through the entrance is a further small courtyard leading to the eleventh century outer porch.
The Hanging Church is the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo, as well as possibly the first built in Basilican style. It was probably built during the patriarchate of Isaac (690-92), though an earlier church building may have existed elsewhere dating as early as the 3rd or 4th century. However, the earliest mention of the church was a statement in the biography of the patriarch Joseph I (831-49), when the governor of Egypt visited the establishment. The church was largely rebuilt by the Pope Abraham (975-78) and has seen many other restorations including one very recently, after which objects of historical interest that were no longer of service went to the Coptic Museum.
Interior of church
By the 11th century AD the church served as the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria, which is historically based in Alexandria, Egypt but as ruling powers moved away from Alexandria to Cairo after the Arab invasion of Egypt during Pope Christodolos 's tenure Cairo became the fixed and official residence of the Coptic Pope at the Hanging Church in Cairo in 1047.
Infighting between the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the El Muallaqa Church broke out due to the wishes of that patriarch's desire to be consecrated in the Hanging Church, a ceremony that traditionally took place at Saints Sergius and Bacchus
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