Portal:Egypt/Selected picture
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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. 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." 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 and during Pope Christodolos 's tenure Cairo became the fixed and official residence of the Coptic Pope at the Hanging Church in Cairo in 1047.
