Attraction Details

LocationCairo, Greater Cairo
Visit Duration30-45 minutes
Best TimeYear-round; morning on weekdays
Difficulty🟢 Easy
Entrance🎫 Free Entry

Overview

Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church

The Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church — known in Arabic as Abu Serga — is the oldest surviving church in Cairo and one of the oldest Christian pilgrimage sites in Egypt, built in the 4th or 5th century CE on a site traditionally venerated as the place where the Holy Family rested during their flight into Egypt. According to Coptic tradition, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus sheltered in a cave beneath this church after entering Egypt to escape King Herod — a tradition that makes Abu Serga the focal point of the Flight into Egypt pilgrimage route that brings thousands of Coptic Christians to Old Cairo each year.

The church is a basilica-plan structure with two rows of columns dividing the nave from the side aisles — twelve granite columns representing the twelve apostles. The interior is relatively austere compared to the decorative richness of the adjacent Church of Saint Barbara, but the antiquity of the space is palpable: sections of the original 4th-century building survive in the lower courses of the nave walls, and the crypt beneath the main altar — the traditional cave of the Holy Family’s shelter — is accessible by descending a few steps into a partially flooded underground chamber.

The cave-crypt of Abu Serga is the most sacred space in the Coptic Quarter for pilgrims following the Flight into Egypt route. An annual liturgy is celebrated here on the 24th of Bashans (the Coptic calendar month corresponding to late May or early June), drawing large crowds. The flooding of the crypt, caused by the high water table beneath Old Cairo, ironically preserves the atmosphere of a place that has remained essentially unchanged for sixteen centuries.

✦ Abu Serga is the oldest surviving church in Cairo, with sections of its original fabric dating to the 4th or 5th century CE✦ The church is built over a cave-crypt traditionally identified as the resting place of the Holy Family (Virgin Mary, Joseph, and infant Jesus) during their Flight into Egypt — a tradition documented since the 5th century CE✦ The twelve granite columns of the nave represent the twelve apostles — a symbolic element incorporated into the church's original design✦ The cave-crypt beneath the main altar is partially flooded by the Old Cairo water table — the flooding has continued for centuries and is an accepted feature of the space✦ An annual Coptic liturgy celebrated in the crypt on the 24th of Bashans (approximately June 1) marks the Holy Family's traditional arrival in Egypt, drawing large pilgrim crowds

History & Significance

The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus was built in honor of two Roman soldier-martyrs executed for their Christian faith around 303 CE during the Diocletian persecution. The dedication to these military saints was common in the early Christian period, particularly in regions with significant Roman military presence — the Babylon fortress nearby maintained a garrison that presumably included Christian soldiers.

The tradition linking the site to the Holy Family’s Flight into Egypt is ancient — it appears in Coptic hagiographic texts from the 5th century CE onward and was well-established by the medieval period. Medieval Arab geographers and travelers including al-Maqrizi documented the church’s significance as a pilgrimage destination. The Coptic Pope traveled annually to celebrate the liturgy in the crypt.

The church underwent significant restoration in the Fatimid period and again during the 19th century, when extensive work was undertaken to stabilize the structure against the rising water table. Despite these interventions, substantial original fabric from the early centuries of the building’s existence remains visible, particularly in the lower sections of the walls and in the granite column capitals.

What to See

Holy Family Cave-Crypt

The partially flooded underground crypt beneath the main altar — traditionally the cave where the Holy Family sheltered during their Flight into Egypt — the most sacred space in Coptic Cairo for pilgrims.

Twelve Apostle Columns

Twelve granite columns with carved capitals dividing the nave from the side aisles — representing the apostles and forming the structural spine of the 4th-century basilica.

Original 4th-Century Fabric

Sections of the lower nave walls and column bases dating to the original building — one of the oldest legible Christian architectural structures in Egypt.

Visitor Information

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Opening Hours

Daily 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

⛔ Closed: Never
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Dress Code

Modest dress required

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Photography

Photography is free

⚠️
Accessibility

Limited accessibility

💡 Visitor Tips

⏰Visit the crypt first before the main nave — descend the steps to the left of the main altar and allow a few minutes in the underground space for the historical resonance to register
🚗Located within the Coptic Quarter compound, accessible from Mar Girgis metro station — the church is slightly south of the Hanging Church and requires walking through the compound
🥾The crypt steps are steep and the lower chamber may be wet — wear shoes with grip and be prepared for a low ceiling
🧕This is an active pilgrimage church — particularly on feast days, visitors may encounter Coptic Christian pilgrims in prayer; maintain respectful silence in the crypt area

Location & Map

Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo), Mar Girgis Street, Cairo Governorate, EgyptOpen in Google Maps →

🚕 How to Get There

Located within the Coptic Quarter compound in Old Cairo, accessible from Mar Girgis metro station on Cairo Metro Line 1 — enter the compound through the main gate and walk south past the Hanging Church.

Plan Your Visit

Visit Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church

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Quick Facts

📍
LocationCairo, Greater Cairo
⏱
Visit Time30-45 minutes
🎟
EntranceFree
🕐
HoursDaily 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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