Virgin Mary Church - Haret Zuweila
Churches are very important for Christians in Egypt; churches 
are the refuge where they take shelter in times of uproar. The older the church is, the more blessed it becomes. Imagine a church that has been there for about 1655 years. The Virgin Mary Church is such an ancient church hidden in a small Coptic enclave in the alleys of medieval Cairo. It has witnessed many blessings as well as religious conflicts. The church is located in Haret Zuweila near a medieval gate in Cairo of the same name, Bab Zuweila, which is one of the few gates still standing until today. The compound today includes three churches built during different eras: the Virgin Mary Church (the lower church), Saint George Church (upper church), and Abu Seiffein Church . A nun convent is annexed to the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary with a chapel in the gallery on the north side of the Church. All these churches are interlinked, and you might get quite confused of where you have visited and where you are going next.
According to Makrizi, the famous Egyptian historian, the Virgin Mary Church was built most likely in 352, prior to the construction of Cairo in the 7 th century. When in 969 the military leader Gawhar El Sekelly under Mu'ez Ed Din overthrew the Abbasid dynasty and ushered in the Fatimid era, he divided fortified medieval Cairo. A Berber tribe by name Zuweyla was appointed to guard the quarter where the church is located, and hence the district came to its name Zuweila.
Tradition says that the water coming out of the well located inside the sanctuary of the 
Virgin Mary Church was blessed by the child Jesus during the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt escaping the wrath of King Herod (Matthew 2.13). The water is said to have healing effects on the sick and every year in June, Ethiopian priests visit the Virgin Mary church to draw water from the well.
The church was the patriarchal see of the Coptic Church from the 14 th to the 17 th century. During the centuries the church has seen many alterations and restorations and little is left of the original structure. The Virgin Mary Church is known for its precious icons, among them an icon of the Annunciation dating back to 1335.
Restoration is in progress to save the church from the disastrous effects of underground water attacks. The church lies 5 meters below ground water level.
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published 31 July, 2007
Source: Sara Fahmi