St Barbara Church, Cairo

St Barbara Church, Cairo tickets: which one to buy

The Church of Saint Barbara stands in Coptic Cairo, the old Christian quarter in the south of the city, and entry is free. It is part of a compact group of historic churches and monuments around the Roman fortress of Babylon, including the Hanging Church, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum, which is the only one charging a ticket. The Mar Girgis metro station is right beside the quarter, making it easy to reach.

Almost all city tours of Cairo include Coptic Cairo, usually in combination with the Citadel, the mosques of Islamic Cairo or the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. A guide is useful, as the lanes are narrow and the churches are not always labelled. Modest dress is required. Photography may be restricted inside the churches. Security checks are common at the entrances to the quarter. Guides waiting at the metro station offer walks of the quarter, and prices should be agreed first.

Visiting St Barbara Church, Cairo: what to see

The church was built in the late seventh or early eighth century and was originally dedicated to Saints Cyrus and John; it was rebuilt several times, notably after a fire in the eleventh century, and later received relics of Saint Barbara, a young woman martyred, according to tradition, by her father for her Christian faith. The church is one of the most beautiful in Coptic Cairo, a basilica with a nave and two aisles divided by columns, and a wooden roof. Its most precious feature is the iconostasis, a screen of dark wood inlaid with ivory and ebony in geometric patterns, dating from the thirteenth century, with icons above.

Old icons hang on the walls, and the relics of Saint Barbara are kept in a side chapel. The original carved wooden door of the church is displayed in the Coptic Museum nearby, which holds the finest collection of early Christian art in Egypt. A small chapel beside the nave is dedicated to Saints Cyrus and John, the original patrons, and holds their relics. The church's coffered wooden ceiling and hanging lamps create a warm atmosphere. Inscriptions in Coptic and Arabic can be seen on some of the icons and woodwork. The courtyard outside is shaded and leads to the neighbouring cemetery.

St Barbara Church, Cairo opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, with services on Sundays and on major feasts, when visits are limited. Cairo is very hot from May to September, and the best time to visit is from October to April. Mornings are the most comfortable time to walk through the quarter and before tour groups arrive. The feast of Saint Barbara is celebrated in December, and Coptic Christmas on 7 January and Coptic Easter bring large congregations.

Fridays and Sundays are busy with local visitors. Allow about twenty minutes for Saint Barbara, and around two hours for Coptic Cairo, including the Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum. The Ben Ezra Synagogue, a few steps away, is where the famous Cairo Geniza manuscripts were discovered.