Sergios and Bakchos Church (Abu Serga)

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Iconostasis in the central nave

The Sergios and Bakchos Church in the Coptic Quarter of Cairos , also called Abu Serga (Saint Sergios), is one of the oldest Coptic churches in Egypt and dates back to the 4th century.

meaning

In the Coptic tradition, it is believed that the Sergios and Bakchos Church of Cairo was built in a place where the Holy Family spent some time at the end of their flight to Egypt.

The Church is not without importance in Coptic history; several patriarchs of the Coptic Church were elected here, including the patriarch Isaac (681–692).

church

crypt

The church is dedicated to Sergios and Bakchos , two soldier saints who were martyred in Syria in the 4th century, and holds various relics of the two saints. The old altar of the church has meanwhile been transferred to the Coptic Museum in Cairo. The most interesting feature of the church is the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are said to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and, when the water level of the Nile is high, it is often flooded.

The church was started as early as the 4th century and probably finished in the 5th century. It burned down during the Fustat Fire during the reign of Marwan II around 750. It was rebuilt in the 8th century and was rebuilt and restored several times during the Middle Ages; it is still considered an example of an early Coptic church. The most valuable and oldest icons can be found along the south wall. The massive main room of the church is divided into three naves by two rows of pilasters. The ceiling should be reminiscent of Noah's ark.

Patriarch Christodolos

Construction work in 2015
Central nave in 2007

In the 11th century AD, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope was moved from Alexandria to Cairo; this was done along with other institutions of power that fled the Arab invasion of Egypt. This led to quarrels between the Sergios and Bakchos Church and the Hanging Church , because the Patriarch wanted to be consecrated in the Hanging Church instead of, as was usual before, in the Sergios and Bakchos Church. As a result, the Hanging Church in Cairo became the permanent residence of the Coptic Popes in 1047.

See also

Web links

Commons : Church of Sergios and Bakchos  - collection of pictures, videos, and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Egypt: The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga) on touregypt.net (English).
  2. ^ The church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius) - Cairo - Egypt. on andrejkoymasky.com (English).
  3. ↑ Holy Family in Egypt: Searching for Traces of the Flight into Egypt. on netz-trends.de.
  4. ↑ a b Abu Sarga on coptic-cairo.com (English).
  5. ↑ Church of Abu Serga (St Sergius) Guide ( Memento of July 29, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) - Yahoo! (English).
  6. ↑ Abu Serga Church on a-1hotels.com (English).

Coordinates: 30 ° 0 ′ 22.5 ″  N , 31 ° 13 ′ 50.3 ″  E