The Church of St. George: the only round church in Egypt, built directly on top of a Roman tower
Nel Vecchio Cairo, la Chiesa greco-ortodossa di San Giorgio, nota come Mari Girgis, sorge sopra una delle torri circolari della fortezza romana di Babilonia; un edificio precedente sullo stesso sito fu distrutto da un incendio nel 1904, e la chiesa attuale fu ricostruita e completata nel 1909, associata alla comunità greca e al Patriarcato greco-ortodosso di Alessandria, sebbene le fonti non riportino il nome di un architetto né dettagli precisi sul finanziamento dei lavori. L’edificio, unica chiesa a pianta circolare esistente in Egitto, è sostenuto da otto colonne interne, un impianto che le fonti accostano architettonicamente alla basilica di San Vitale a Ravenna, ed è costruito direttamente sopra una delle torri rotonde delle fortificazioni romane di Babilonia, risalenti al II-III secolo d.C. Accanto alla chiesa si trova il Monastero, o Convento, di San Giorgio, tradizionalmente datato al VII secolo, con una sala principale del X secolo, che custodisce una stanza-reliquiario contenente catene tradizionalmente associate ai tormenti subiti da san Giorgio sotto il re persiano Dadianos; secondo una pratica devozionale ancora viva, documentata da diverse fonti turistiche e storiche, alcuni pellegrini si fanno avvolgere in quelle catene dalle monache residenti, in un rito legato a richieste di guarigione o benedizione, soprattutto per disturbi nervosi o spirituali — una tradizione popolare e devozionale, non una pratica medica riconosciuta. Il nome della chiesa dà il nome anche alla stazione della metropolitana del Cairo “Mar Girgis”, che serve l’area del Cairo copto, a conferma dello status di punto di riferimento della zona. La chiesa funge oggi da sede patriarcale greco-ortodossa al Cairo, guidata da un religioso che dal 2009 porta il titolo di vescovo di Babylonos, resta attiva per le funzioni religiose ed è una tappa abituale del circuito turistico del Cairo copto, pur essendo greco-ortodossa e non copta.
About the Church of St. George
In Old Cairo, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, known as Mari Girgis, stands atop one of the round towers of the Roman fortress of Babylon; an earlier building on the site was destroyed by fire in 1904, and the present church was rebuilt and completed in 1909, associated with the Greek community and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, though sources do not record an architect’s name or precise funding details for the work. The building, the only circular church in Egypt, is supported by eight internal columns, a layout sources compare architecturally to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, and is built directly atop one of the round towers of the Roman fortifications of Babylon, dating to the 2nd-3rd century AD. Beside the church stands the Monastery, or Convent, of St. George, traditionally dated to the 7th century, with a main hall from the 10th century, which holds a shrine room containing chains traditionally associated with St. George’s torments under the Persian king Dadianos; according to a still-living devotional practice documented by several travel and history sources, some pilgrims are wrapped in these chains by the resident nuns, in a ritual tied to requests for healing or blessing, particularly for nervous or spiritual afflictions — a folk and devotional tradition, not a recognised medical practice. The church’s name also gives its name to the Cairo Metro station “Mar Girgis,” serving the Coptic Cairo area, confirming its landmark status in the neighborhood. The church today serves as the Greek Orthodox patriarchal seat in Cairo, led by a cleric who has held the title Bishop of Babylonos since 2009, remains active for services, and is a regular stop on the Coptic Cairo tourist circuit despite being Greek Orthodox rather than Coptic.
Key facts
- 1904: an earlier church on the site destroyed by fire
- 1909: the present church rebuilt, the only circular church in Egypt
- Built atop a round Roman tower of the Babylon Fortress, 2nd-3rd century AD
- Adjoining Monastery of St. George, traditionally dated to the 7th century
- Chains ritual at the adjoining convent, a documented folk devotional tradition
- Names the Cairo Metro’s “Mar Girgis” station, serving Coptic Cairo
History
Rebuilt in 1909 after fire destroyed its predecessor, the Church of St. George stands as the sole example of a circular church plan in Egypt, its position atop a genuine Roman defensive tower embedding nearly two millennia of continuous structural history into a single site. Its adjoining monastery’s chains ritual, still practiced today, connects the church to a long tradition of devotional healing practices that predate and coexist with its formal role as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s Cairo seat.
What you see
A circular church rises directly from the round stonework of a Roman tower, its interior ringed by eight columns in a form unique among Egyptian churches. In the adjoining monastery, a shrine room holds chains tied to St. George’s martyrdom, still used today in a folk healing ritual practiced by resident nuns.
Practical information
- Opening hours: generally open daily; check current hours before visiting
- Address: Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo), near Mar Girgis Metro station, Cairo, Egypt
Getting there
The church stands within Coptic Cairo, directly above the Mar Girgis metro station, which takes its name from the site. GPS: 30°00′23″N, 31°13′48″E.
Nearby
- Church of Abu Serga — the nearby church associated with the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt
- The Hanging Church — the celebrated Coptic church suspended over a Roman gate
- Church of St. Barbara — another ancient church within the Coptic Cairo complex
Sources
- Wikipedia — “Church of St. George (Cairo)” (en.wikipedia.org)
- OrthodoxWiki — “Monastery of St. George (Old Cairo)”
- Fodor’s Travel — “Convent of St. George Review, Cairo”
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