COPTIC CHURCHES IN OLD CAIRO, AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL, ARCHITECTURAL AND ARTISTIC STUDY

Abstract

The churches of ancient Egypt received continuous care during the Islamic era. They were damaged when Fustat burned and were renovated during the reign of Harun al-Rashid al-'Abbasi and Al-'AzizBillah the Fatimid. They number ten churches with a rectangular and square plan. These churches include the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serja, the Church of Saint Barbara, the Church of Caesarea al-Rayhan, and the Church of Abu Seifin, the Church of AnbaShenouda, the Church of the Virgin of Damsheria, the Church of Babylon Al-Daraj, the Church of Aba Kiir and John, and the Church of Prince Tadros Al-Mashriqi.

Some of these churches take a rectangular plan consisting of the façade, the transverse entrance vestibule, and the longitudinal porticoes and structures, as in the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serja, Barbara, Abu Seifin, AnbaShenouda, and the Babylon Staircase. Others take a square plan, as in the Church of Caesarea Al-Rayhan and the Church of Prince Tadros Al-Mashriqi.

The research deals with the planning of Coptic churches and an archaeological, architectural and artistic study of four churches in ancient Egypt, including: the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serja, Barbara, and Abu Seifin.