Church of Saint Simon in Cairo, Cave church in Mokattam Mountain, Egypt.
The Church of Saint Simon features a vast interior space carved into limestone rock, with multiple chambers spreading across different levels of Mokattam Mountain.
The church opened in 1975 to serve the local Coptic population, who settled in the area after migrating from southern Egypt during the 1940s.
The walls display 76 carved religious artworks that represent traditional Coptic art, telling biblical stories and depicting the lives of various saints.
The church holds religious services daily and accommodates up to 20,000 people, making it the largest Christian church in the Middle East.
Located in Cairo's garbage collection district, the church serves a community that developed an efficient recycling system processing the city's waste.
Location: Cairo
Address: 27JG+3PW، البيدق، Ghayt Al Adah, Abdeen, Cairo Governorate 4421240, Egypt 4421240
GPS coordinates: 30.03023,31.27677
Latest update: March 2, 2025 20:11
Cairo is home to millennia of history. The Giza Pyramids, built between 2686 and 2494 BC, stand alongside Fatimid mosques like the Ibn Tulun Mosque from 879, and Mamluk fortifications such as Saladin's Citadel from the 12th century. Religious heritage reflects community diversity: Saint Serge Church dates to the 4th century, while Sainte-Marie Church from the 7th century reuses elements of the Roman fortress of Babylon. The Cairo Museum, opened in 1902, displays over 120,000 archaeological artifacts including Tutankhamun’s burial mask. Khan Al-Khalili market, established in 1382, continues traditional trade along its alleys lined with spice and craft shops. The Gayer Anderson House exemplifies 16th-century Ottoman residential architecture. These sites span Egypt’s history from pharaonic antiquity to the Ottoman period.
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