Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church also known as the Hanging Church (El Muallaqa) is one of the oldest churches in Egypt.
The Hanging (The Suspended) Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo , its nave is suspended over a passage.
The church is approached by 29 steps, early travelers to Cairo dubbed it : the Staircase Church
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 facade 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 Church possibly the first built in Basilican style
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.
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