Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner (Cave Church)

The Monastery of Saint Simon, famously known as the Cave Church, is perched on the Mokattam Mountain in southeastern Cairo. Its history is deeply intertwined with the Coptic Christian community and the miraculous legend of Saint Simon the Tanner, who lived in the 10th century. According to tradition, Simon was a humble craftsman who was chosen to prove the strength of his faith by moving the Mokattam Mountain to save the Christian community from persecution under the Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz. Despite its ancient spiritual roots, the physical structure of the modern monastery began to take shape much later, in the 1970s. The area became home to the Zabbaleen, or garbage collectors, who were relocated to the cliffs of Mokattam. Seeking a place of worship, the community began clearing the caves and carving out spaces within the limestone. This grassroots movement transformed a series of natural caverns into a sprawling religious complex that serves as the heart of the local community today. Over the decades, the site has evolved into one of the largest and most impressive religious centers in the Middle East. It comprises several churches, the largest being the Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner Cathedral, which can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. The walls are adorned with stunning stone carvings and reliefs depicting biblical scenes, created by Polish artist Mario, who spent years decorating the interior to turn the raw rock into a masterpiece of spiritual art.