The Blaatschapen wrote:The Archregimancy wrote:
And a historically inaccurate one for the most part, too; at least in the Old Testament.
On the New Testament front, though... when I was living in Cairo, I had the opportunity to visit the church on the site of where, according to Coptic tradition, the Holy Family sheltered while in Egypt.
Here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Se ... (Abu_Serga)
By coincidence, my Arabic teacher was a Copt who worked as a tour guide at the church in her spare time. Lovely young woman.
Though the well that Coptic tradition holds that they used is ... I write this with all due reverence ... perhaps slightly tackier than it might be. I've found a picture:
Yeah, using modern day English makes it incredibly tacky. Like, tourist central.
Well, the tricky bit about that is that Coptic Cairo is to some extent tourist central.
Obviously it's not on the same level of tourist radar as the Pyramids or the old Egyptian museum, but it's still a very popular tourist area (particularly with tour groups) as well as a very important religious and cultural centre for Cairo's Copts, Eastern Orthodox Christians (the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria's main monastery-church complex is in the area) and the few remaining Jews (one of Cairo's most important - and best-maintained - synagogues is also in the area). It also hosts the excellent Coptic museum and the ruins of an important Roman port (the Orthodox Patriarch's church is round because it sits over one of the Roman towers). I highly recommend a visit for anyone travelling to Cairo, regardless of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) since it offers a fascinating insight both into Egypt's post-pharaonic history and into Coptic art and culture.
The balance between being an active religious centre and a major tourist site is often difficult to get right, and Coptic Cairo mostly does - the souvenir shops, for example, are prominently placed down major alleyways, but don't intrude on the religious sites. But every now and then there's a slightly jarring disconnect - like the well.
The intrusive security is perhaps more of an issue; but it is, unfortunately, likely necessary - to protect both the cultural sites and the tourists. I'd recommend taking the metro if possible since cars, taxis, and buses aren't allowed into the core area; the Mar Girgis [Saint George] metro station is just across the street from the museum.
