The Cave Church of Mokattam
An amphitheatre carved into the Mokattam cliff, seating thousands, with the rock face itself sculpted in relief around it. The Monastery of Saint Simon is one of the largest churches in the Middle East and almost no visitor itinerary includes it — a guided visit to the church, its scripture reliefs, and the Coptic history that put it there.
The church is cut into the cliff and built in tiers — expect steps and slopes between the levels.
Куда вы пойдете
Что вы будете делать
- 1
Up to the cliff
The drive up through Mokattam to the monastery gate, with the history of Cairo's Coptic community on the way.
- 2
The carved amphitheatre
The main church cut into the rock, the scale of it, and the reliefs carved directly into the cliff face around the seating.
- 3
The smaller churches and the relief work
The chapels on the other terraces, and the sculpted scripture scenes that cover the rock between them.
Включенный
- ✓Private transfer from and back to your hotel in Cairo or Giza
- ✓An English-speaking guide
- ✓The guided visit to the monastery
Хорошо знать
Практическая правда об этом — сроки, условия и то, что мы не можем обещать.
- This is an active place of worship for a large congregation. Modest dress — knees and shoulders covered — quiet during services, and the guide's lead on photography inside.
- The monastery sits above the quarter where Cairo's zabbaleen live and work. We go there for the church; we do not run a tour of anyone's neighbourhood or livelihood, and we will not package it as a sight.
- The site is built in tiers up a cliff. There are steps and slopes between the levels, and parts are steep.
- Opening times follow the church's own calendar and feast days, so we confirm the day's access before you travel.
- Fridays and Sundays bring very large congregations. Beautiful to witness, and busy.
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