Cave Church (Monastery of Saint Simon)
دير القديس سمعان الخراز
A group of Coptic churches carved into the cliffs behind Cairo's 'Garbage City'. The main cave can hold 20,000 people, making it one of the largest Christian churches in the Middle East.
The Monastery of St Simon the Tanner sits at the foot of Mokattam Hill, above Manshiyat Naser (commonly known as 'Garbage City'), a Coptic community that makes its living by recycling rubbish. From the 1970s onward, residents carved seven cave churches into the limestone. The largest, the Church of the Virgin Mary and St Simon, is laid out like an amphitheatre and can hold around 20,000 people. Its cliff face bears large Bible reliefs created by Polish artists. Admission is free. Sunday and Thursday evenings are service times, when worshippers come in great numbers. Vehicles must pass through the rubbish-sorting neighbourhood, which smells strong but is very striking. Taking a taxi or hiring a car straight to the entrance is recommended. Dress modestly, respect the local community, and do not photograph people without asking.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00 (closed during services)
Nearby sights
- Al-Azhar Park
- Citadel of Saladin
- City of the Dead (Cairo)
- Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
- Al-Rifa'i Mosque
- Al-Azhar Mosque
- Bab Zuweila
- Wikala of al-Ghuri (Tanoura Dance)