Explore the famous hanging churches of Egypt, the seven wonders of the world
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Alaina
- . June 23, 2025
- . Update: June 23, 2025 6:19 pm
The Hanging Church, or El Muallaqa, lies in Old Cairo and is one of the oldest and most honored Coptic churches in Egypt. It is named Hanging Church for its one-of-a-kind location, above two ancient towers of the Roman Babylon Fortress, which was established during the rule of Emperor Trajan in the second century A.D.
A Church Built on Faith and History
The Hanging Church is more than a religious entity; it is a cultural artifact. It has a ceiling shaped like an upside-down Noah’s Ark representing the salvation of Noah and his family during the flood. There is a pulpit supported by 15 symbolic pillars: the 1st pillar was for Jesus, the 2nd and 3rd were for Saints Mark and Luke respectively, and the other twelve were for the apostles. The symbolic architectural elements can be representative of the spiritual meaning behind everything in the church.
The Life of Saint Demiana
This holy site has connections to Saint Demiana, a respected figure in Coptic Christianity. Demiana was born into a family of noble descent; her father was the governor of the Nile delta, who built her a palace for her to remain celibate. Her father supported her desires and built her a palace away from people, with forty other virgins. She took a life of celibacy and a spiritual life with them.
Emperor Diocletian staged a war against Christians. Because Demiana’s father wouldn’t renounce obedience to Jesus, he renounced the faith. By Demiana’s strong words, he repented and affirmed his faith in Jesus; therefore condemned to execution.
A Church Dedicated to a Martyr
Years later, Emperor Constantine reigned, and his mother, Helena, came to where Demiana was martyred and ordered a church to be built. The church is no longer; however, people still come to the site as a pilgrimage.
A Wonder of the Coptic World
The Hanging Church is not just an architectural marvel. It represents resilience, faith, and history. The Hanging Church is richly layered in symbolism, biblical references, and is tied to one of the first female martyrs of the Christian faith. It ranks as one of the 7 wonders in the spiritual world of Egypt
