Church of St. Sergio Abu Serga

Church of St. Sergio ( Sergius), Abu Serga, was built in the center of the Ancient Roman fort of Babylon. The church is considered as one of the sites visited by the Holly Family during their escape from herod to the land of Egypt.

The church most probably dates back to the 5 century, although some historians believe that it was built in the 8th century. We are not sure of the origin of Saint Sergius, Since in the history of the Coptic Church, there are two Saints with the same name, the first one was Egyptian, he died together with his father and his sister at the time of the intense Christian persecution and now the people celebrate his memory every year on the 7th of February.

The second one was a servant of the Roman Emperor Maximilianus and he was martyred in Syria at the beginning of the 4th century.

The Church takes the shape of a basilica with Narthex, nave, and the 2 aisles which are separate from the nave by 12 columns with Corinthian capitals, 10 of stone, one of marble and one of rosette granite. There are 3 sanctuaries on the east side; each sanctuary contains an altar with a wooden dome supported by 4 marble columns. The dome of each altar has religious scenes of Christ, the angels, and the 4 evangelists. There is a pulpit on the north-east side of the Nave, made of marble, however, originally made of wood incrusted with ebony and ivory.

The pulpit is used once annually in the prayer of the Great Friday. The central sanctuary has a wooden screen, which dates back to the 13 century, incrusted with panels of ebony and ivory. The frieze and the icons of the church are remarkable, most date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, some were partly damaged and restored later.

One of the most important locations in this church is the cave in which the Holly Family stayed during their journey into Egypt. The ceiling of the Cave sanctuary is domed, and it has a nave and 2 aisles. At the end of the southern aisle of the Cave, is a baptistery. On June 1st every year, the church of St. Sergius celebrates the arrival of the Holy Family by praying inside the church of the cave.