Without doubt when you visit
Egypt you will not hesitate to visit the
Old or Coptic
Cairo and will gain some experience with the churches of Fort Babylon. Yet there are many important churches and monasteries outside that district, though not so far away, and example of which is the area of Zuwaila in the district known as Al-Khurinfish in the Fatimid section of Cairo near Al-Muski off Shari Bain al-Surain. Here, we find the ruins of an old monastery, some important churches, along with a several more modern monastery. We know little about the
ancient monastery, but there survives the churches dedicated to St. Mercurius (Abu al-Seifein), St. George, and its convent, and the oldest, dedicated to the
Holy Virgin, including its convent. This district is important because tradition holds that it was blessed by the Holy Family during their travels in Egypt. However, The Church of the Virgin Mary was also the patriarchal seal for some three centuries, until 1660 AD.
