My trip to Coptic Cairo. Photos by Glenn Belverio

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Above: Inside the Hanging Church

Dear Shaded Viewers,

Last month I took a stroll through the oldest area of Cairo, Coptic Cairo, a maze of ancient churches and cathedrals that date back to the 7th century. The Copts are the native Christians of Egypt (Christianity was the majority religion in Egypt from the 4th through 6th centuries AD until the Muslim conquest of Egypt. The current worldwide Coptic Christian population is between 10 and 20 million. I met a few Coptic Christians here and in other parts of Cairo (including a very cute taxi driver at the airport) and they like to show you the cultish crucifix tattoo they have on their wrists.

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Greek Orthodox Monastery and Church of Saint George. A Palestinian conscript in the Roman Army, St. George was executed in 303 AD for resisting Emperor Diocletian’s decree forbidding the practive of Christianity.

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St. George and the Dragon

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I wandered through some more ancient churches in the area….

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Coptic cemetery

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Poster rasising awareness about AIDS and drug addiction. The happy pill is apparently a cheap form of speed that is abused with popular abandon in Cairo. Not sure if it was a good idea to make into a smiling cartoon character…

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The Hanging Church. The entrance dates back to the 7th or 9th century (the date can’t be agreed on) but the above facade is from the 19th century. It’s called the Hanging Church because it is suspended over the Water Gate of Roman Babylon.

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Two views inside the Hanging Church.

Salam,

Glenn Belverio

Glenn Belverio

Glenn Belverio is a writer and New Yorker. He has been reporting for ASVOF since 2005 and currently works at The Museum of Modern Art as the Content Manager for MoMA Design Store.