On Friday we went to Salah-din’s palace and the Mohammed Ali Masjid. It was a beautiful masjid that was reminiscent on the Blue Mosque in Instabul. We gathered around and sat on the floor as we listened to Imam Plemon El-Amim.
Afterwards we went to the Hanging Church that had incredible mosaics that depicted the Holy Family’s travels in Egypt. When we went to enter the sanctuary, mass was happening so we stayed outside. Known as the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church also known as the Hanging Church it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt . The Hanging (The Suspended) Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, its nave was suspended over a passage of a Roman fortress.
We left the church to go to the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which did not allow pictures. This relatively humble church was the home to the Cairo Genizah which was a huge discovery (a la Dead Sea Scrolls) giving us incredible insight into the Jewish world in Egypt. According to local tradition, it is located on the site of where baby Moses was found. The land for the synagogue was purchased in 882 CE for 20,000 dinars by Abraham ibn Ezra of Jerusalem.
Following this we went to St. George’s church which was also having mass, but this time we were allowed inside this Coptic Church.
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