Church of St. George, Cairo
St. George's Church from Mari Girgis Station. Photo
Azlan Nache.
Exterior of St. George's Church. Photo
Shannon Hobbs.
Closer view of the exterior of St. George. Photo
Azlan Nache.
Greek Orthodox liturgy in St. George's Church. Photo © Peter Brubacher.
Interior view of the Church of St. George. Photo
Azlan Nache.
An enshrined silver icon of St. George. Photo
Azlan Nache.The Church of St. George in Coptic Cairo is the principal Greek Orthodox church of Egypt. It is built atop an old Roman tower and adjoins the Monastery of St. George.
History
The Church of St. George was built in the 10th century, but a fire destroyed the original structure. The present church dates only from 1904.
What to See
St. George is the only round church in Egypt, but unlike the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre and its many imitators (such as Rome's Santa Stefano Rotondo and London's Temple Church), this is only for practical reasons - it is built atop the foundations of a Roman round tower.
Inside, the dark interior is heavy with incense and pierced by sunbeams that filter through its stained glass windows. A (closed) flight of steps leads down into the old Roman tower, once believed to be "peopled by devils."
Next door, the Monastery of St. George is now the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. The monastery rarely admits tourists.
Confusingly, just down the road is another Church of St. George and a Convent of St. George, the latter of which opens its chapel to visitors (daily 9-4) and has some English-speaking nuns. Both of these institutions are Coptic Orthodox.
Festivals and Events
St. George's celebration of the Moulid of Mari Girgis (St. George's Day) on April 23 is one of the largest Coptic festivals in Cairo - despite the fact that the church is Greek, not Coptic.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Church of St. George; Mari Girgis |
| Type of site: | Church and monastery |
| Faith: | Greek Orthodox |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | Founded 10C; rebuilt 1904 |
| Location: | Next to the Mari Girgis Station, Coptic Cairo, Egypt |
| Hours: | Daily 8:30-4pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Map of Cairo - our own interactive map plus links to more online maps
- Cairo Hostels - search and book budget lodgings
- Cairo Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Guided Tours of Cairo - sightseeing tours and excursions
- Cairo Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Cairo travel
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Egypt 6 (November 2005), 199.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Church of St. George. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Cairo Map or get our free Google Earth download.
