Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
The church of Abu Serga, this is the name of St. Sergius in Arabic, is located in Cairo, the historical part, also called “Old Cairo“, a part of Cairo, Egypt, which was built in a period before the Fatimid city of Cairo, founded in 969 AD.
The church of Abu Serga is known to be one of the oldest churches in the city, dating back to the 5th century, although some historians date its construction to the 8th century BC. For most visitors, the style of the structure recalls that of the Suspended Church, just like this one, the church of San Sergio is characterized by the two rows of columns that separate the aisles from the main one.
Construction of the Church of St Sergius & Bacchus
Its construction was dedicated to two martyr saints: Sergius and Bacchus. The two saints were two high-ranking Christian soldiers, part of the Roman army stationed in the East. They were martyred, following terrible tortures and humiliations, during the 4th century in Syria.
The two enjoyed a high position at the court of Maximinus Daia, tetrarch of the East since 305; they were denounced by envious enemies and when they refused to sacrifice to Jupiter they were martyred.
The church was built in a place where, according to tradition, the Holy Family would seek shelter at the end of their journey to Egypt. This event corresponds to the 24th day of the Coptic month ‘Bachons’, which corresponds to June 1st in the Gregorian calendar.
In commemoration of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, the Coptic church organizes a mass every year in this ancient place of worship at the end of the anniversary.
What happened to the church?
The church was burnt down during the fire in Fustat, which occurred during the reign of Marwan II around 750. It was rebuilt and restored as early as the Middle Ages, during the 8th century.
The interior is divided into three naves by two rows of pilasters. The two rows of six columns separate each of the aisles from the central nave, while the pulpit has been replaced by a copy of the one in the church of St. Barbara, one of the oldest, the wooden pulpit is now kept in the Coptic Museum of Cairo, also located in Old Cairo, in the area of Mar Girgis.
It is thought that the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus Christ, stopped to rest in this place at the end of their trip to Egypt. They may have lived here while Joseph worked at the nearby Babylonian fortress.
The historical value of the Church of St Sergius & Bacchus
The church is of considerable historical importance, given its antiquity, is considered a model of the first Coptic churches, moreover it was chosen over the centuries as the seat where many patriarchs of the Coptic Church were elected.
The first to be elected here was Patriarch Isaac (681-692). It is the episcopal church of Cairo, and it was the episcopal seat of the district of Old Cairo that replaced the former seat of Babylon. Many bishops of the See were consecrated in this church until the time of the mandate of Patriarch Christodulus (1047-1077).
The most interesting feature is the crypt where it is said that Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus rested. The crypt, 10 meters deep, is often submerged by the waters of the Nile when the water level rises. The most precious and oldest of the icons are located on the southern wall.
In the 11th century A.D. the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria, who had always had his historical base in Alexandria, was transferred to Cairo, following the ruling powers who also moved from Alexandria to Cairo at that time following the Arab invasion of Egypt.
Finally, during the mandate of Pope Christodolos, Cairo became the fixed and official residence of the Coptic pope, the seat is in the suspended Church (Kanisa el Muwallaqa or Hanging Church).
There is a certain rivalry between the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the Suspended Church (El Muwallaqa). This kind of competition originated because of the desire of Patriarch Christodolos to be consecrated in the Suspended Church, while the original ceremony traditionally took place in the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
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