St Simon the Tanner Monastery

Welcome to the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner, commonly known as the Cave Church. Located on the slopes of the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo, this is not just a place of worship; it is an architectural and spiritual marvel. …

The centerpiece of the monastery is the Great Amphitheater, a cavernous space that serves as the main cathedral. As you stand at the top of the seating area and look down, the scale is overwhelming. …

Just adjacent to the large amphitheater is a smaller, more intimate space known as Saint Mary’s Church. This church is also located entirely within a cave and offers a quieter, more reflective atmosphere. …

As you walk between the different churches of the monastery, you cannot help but notice the massive reliefs and carvings that decorate the mountain face. These are the work of a Polish artist named Mario, who began his work here…

Another significant part of the complex is the fifth church, which belongs to Saint Paul and was built around 1992. This area tells the story of how the site was discovered in 1974, when it was still full of huge rocks that…

In front of the Saint Ibrahim Church lies a great garden, providing a rare green space in the midst of the dry Mokattam landscape. This garden is more than just a place of rest; it is designed with a series of scenes that…

To fully understand Saint Simon the Tanner Monastery, one must understand the people who built it. As you move toward the edges of the monastery complex, you are once again close to the livelihoods of the Zabbaleen. …

As we conclude our tour of Saint Simon the Tanner Monastery, I hope you carry with you a sense of the 'unusual location' and the 'unexpected size' of this hidden wonder. We have walked through a mountain that has been transformed…