OLD CAIRO:
The churches
Easter mass in the Coptic Church of St Barbara.
The facade of the Greek Church of St George, the only round church in Egypt.
Eater crowds in the Church of St Sergius.
The saintly slaying of a dragon. From the entance hall to the Convent of St George.
There is a nice collection of 5 churches, one convent and a monastery within a radius of 100 metres. And they are all in use, and each has its own story. The Greek Church of St George (picture 2), rebuilt in 1904 and therefore perhaps not the greatest attraction, is the only round church in Egypt. There isn't too much to see inside, perhaps except the stained glass windows. Next door is the Monastery of St George, normally closed to the public. The other Church of St George, this one Coptic was founded in 684 by Athanasius. In a fire in 1857 only the marriage chamber survived, and the rest was rebuilt. The chamber holds some real works of art, like the ceiling with coloured frescos. The Church of St Sergius (picture 3) appears as just another house in the area — with a modest and ordinary door on a flat unadorned facade. This church is possibly the oldest and most unique of the churches here, founded in the 5th century. Its main attraction is crypt claimed to be the place where the Holy Family stayed during their Egyptian exile. The Convent of St George (picture 4) is among the most fascinating churches. Note both the enormously tall and slender doors, as well as the unique ritual here. It is normally referred to as the "chain wrapping ritual", performed at any time and by anyone. It is in remembrance of the persecution of the saint by the Romans. The main building, a nunnery, is closed, but the hall you enter is the oldest, dating back to the 10th century. The 11th century Church of St Barbara (picture 1) was built after the destruction of an earlier church by al-Hakim. St. Barbara's relics are said to be in the western sanctuary. According to a disputed legend, she was killed for preaching Christianity in the 3rd century. Also the remains of St Catherine, after whom the famous monastery in Sinai is named, are said to be here. While the Church of the Virgin Mary dates back to the 9th century, most of what you see belongs to far younger reconstructions.
