Church of the Holy Virgin (Babylon El-Darag)
| Coptic Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin Mary | |
|---|---|
| Location | Babylon El-Darag, Coptic Cairo |
| Country |
 Egypt |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Consecrated | 11th century |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Coptic |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Old Cairo, Manial and Fum Al-Khalig |
| Division | The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) |
HH Pope Tawadros II HG Bishop Selwaniss |
The Church of the Holy Virgin in Babylon El-Darag (Babylon of the Steps) is a Coptic Orthodox church in Coptic Cairo built in the 11th century AD.[1]
History
The Church of the Holy Virgin in Babylon El-Darag was occupied from the 11th to the 15th centuries by several Coptic patriarchs, seven of whom were buried in the church.[2] Pope Zacharias was one of them.
Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria used to pray in the church before assuming papacy.[3] According to tradition, the church was one of the resting places of the Holy Family during their sojourn in Egypt, as well as the location from which Peter sent his epistle (1 Peter 5:13).[4]
The relics of saints Demiana and Simon the Tanner are contained in the church as well.
Architecture
The ground plan of the church is typical of other Coptic churches: a narthex, a nave, a choir, northern and southern aisles and three sanctuaries. The northern sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the southern sanctuary is used as a shrine. It contains several 19th century icons of the Holy Virgin and saints Demiana, Stephen, Barbara, Shenouda, Paul the Hermit, Anthony, and Peter and Paul.[5]
See also
Other Coptic Orthodox Churches
- Coptic architecture — information on Coptic Orthodox Churches
- List of Coptic Orthodox Churches in the United States
- Coptic Cairo
- Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria)
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)
- Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Heliopolis)
- Saint Mary and Saint Abasikhiron Coptic Orthodox Church
- Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)
- St Mary and St Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church
- Church of Saint Menas (Cairo)
- Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo
- Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga)
- The Hanging Church
- Church of the Virgin Mary (Haret Zuweila)
Notes
- ↑ egyptologyonline.com
- ↑ Meinardus, p. 192
- ↑ St Mary Mons
- ↑ Meinardus, op cit.
- ↑ op cit.
External links
References
- Meinardus, Otto F. A. (1999). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity (2nd ed.). Cairo: American University in Cairo. ISBN 977-424-511-3.