Church of St. Barbara
About Church of St. Barbara
Cairo & Surrounding Region, Egypt
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Oct 30, 2008
The church of St. Barbara is one of the oldest and the most remarkable churches in Cairo. It is situated
on the eastern part of the Babylon fort and dates back to the 5 th Century, though it was rebuilt around the 11 th Century. It was named after St. Barbara,
who was born in the beginning of the 3 rd Century in
Nicomedia in Asia Minor. She converted to Christianity and refused to marry any of the aristocratic young men in Alexandria, devoting herself to serving God. Her father was a Pagan, who continually tortured her, and then he complained about her to the Roman
governor Marcianus, who in turn severely tortured her, but she resisted and refused to leave Christianity. Finally she was killed, together with her companion Juliana.
The Church takes a shape of a Roman Basilica,
comprising of an entrance, a narthex, a nave,
2 aisles and 3 Sanctuaries that are located in the
east wing of the church, the middle Sanctuary is
the main one, dedicated to St. Barbara. After
entering, from the narthex, there are 5 marble
columns, with palm leaf capitals, which separate
the nave from the 2 aisles. In front of the middle
Sanctuary there is a semi-circular choir, which consists of 7 steps. From the southern Sanctuary, of the church, visitors
can enter through a doorway to a rectangular hall, which contains a chapel dedicated to St. Barbara,
and is one of the very recent modifications to the
church. From the northern Sanctuary there is a
doorway that leads to the small church, which was
consecrated to St. Cyrus and St. John. This small church has 3 Sanctuaries. The middle one dedicated to St. Cyrus and John, the right one
dedicated to St. George while the third one is used
today for baptisms. The most precious item, found inside this church, is a sycamore door that dates back to the 5 th Century. The church has many icons, the most remarkable
dates back to about the 13 th Century. The main
icons depict Christ surrounded by Angels. There are other icons on the southern aisle of the church, representing the Virgin Mary and Jesus when he was a child, Jesus entering Jerusalem and the
baptism of Christ.
on the eastern part of the Babylon fort and dates back to the 5 th Century, though it was rebuilt around the 11 th Century. It was named after St. Barbara,
who was born in the beginning of the 3 rd Century in
Nicomedia in Asia Minor. She converted to Christianity and refused to marry any of the aristocratic young men in Alexandria, devoting herself to serving God. Her father was a Pagan, who continually tortured her, and then he complained about her to the Roman
governor Marcianus, who in turn severely tortured her, but she resisted and refused to leave Christianity. Finally she was killed, together with her companion Juliana.
The Church takes a shape of a Roman Basilica,
comprising of an entrance, a narthex, a nave,
2 aisles and 3 Sanctuaries that are located in the
east wing of the church, the middle Sanctuary is
the main one, dedicated to St. Barbara. After
entering, from the narthex, there are 5 marble
columns, with palm leaf capitals, which separate
the nave from the 2 aisles. In front of the middle
Sanctuary there is a semi-circular choir, which consists of 7 steps. From the southern Sanctuary, of the church, visitors
can enter through a doorway to a rectangular hall, which contains a chapel dedicated to St. Barbara,
and is one of the very recent modifications to the
church. From the northern Sanctuary there is a
doorway that leads to the small church, which was
consecrated to St. Cyrus and St. John. This small church has 3 Sanctuaries. The middle one dedicated to St. Cyrus and John, the right one
dedicated to St. George while the third one is used
today for baptisms. The most precious item, found inside this church, is a sycamore door that dates back to the 5 th Century. The church has many icons, the most remarkable
dates back to about the 13 th Century. The main
icons depict Christ surrounded by Angels. There are other icons on the southern aisle of the church, representing the Virgin Mary and Jesus when he was a child, Jesus entering Jerusalem and the
baptism of Christ.
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