Sightseein
- The Greek Church & Monastery of St. George
The Greek Church &
Monastery of St. George (Mari Girguis)
The Coptic Quarter
Old Cairo (Misr El-Qadima)
Mari Girguis Metro Station
The Greek Church of St. George is one of the
few remaining round churches in the east. The church
was built over a rounded Roman tower, which explains
its round shape. Like a number of churches in the
area, this church was burnt down a number of times and
was finally rebuilt in 1909. Despite the fires, the
church still retains some of its exquisite original
stained glass windows.
The church has a
unique hall dating to the 13th Century AD, and is most
famous for its beautiful external relief depicting St
George and the Dragon.
The church's ownership shifted between the
Copts and the Greeks a number of times over its
history but has remained Greek Orthodox since the 15th
century. The monastery, which is joint to the church,
is now the seat of the Greek patriarchy.
The church is opened to visitors but the
monastery is not.
Plan one day for your tour of the Coptic
Quarter, including the Church of St. George. As in all
other places of worship, modest dress is required.