The Church of the Virgin Mary in Maadi is located on the banks of the Nile River and is associated with an important stage of the Holy Family's journey as they headed south. The site is one of the most prominent stations of the trail within Cairo and holds a special place in Coptic memory. The site is also famous for the historic staircase leading down to the Nile, which represents one of its most prominent spiritual and heritage features.
Since this location was far from Cairo at the time, a monastery for monks was established here called the Monastery of the Virgin Al-Adawiya. When the Maadi area later became part of the urban center, it was no longer suitable for the monks, who preferred solitude and quiet in the deserts, so the monastery was converted into a church to serve the people.
The Holy Family stayed several days at this location while a boat was arranged to take them to Upper Egypt. There is an opening in the church courtyard leading to a staircase down to the waters of the Nile, and it is said that it was from here that the Holy Family boarded the boat to Upper Egypt.
Quick Facts:
Location: Maadi – Cairo
Site type: Historic church
Significance: A major transit station on the journey
Key features: The church – the historic staircase – the banks of the Nile
Development Works
The project includes building a 150-room hotel to serve visitors to the area, which contains a large number of archaeological and religious sites of historical significance (Islamic, Christian, and Jewish), enhancing the accommodation experience for visitors.
