Egypt is not just the pyramids! The recent hot topics in society, apart from “plastic-free living,” of course, include garbage collection fees. Mentioning garbage brings to mind Egypt’s garbage city. Although the sanitation environment inside the garbage city is very dirty and unbearable, there is a hidden and stunning cave church – the Cave Church.
Cairo Garbage City (Manshiyat Nasser)
Cairo, the capital (Arabic: القاهرة) of Egypt, is the largest city in the country and serves as the economic, transportation, and cultural center. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world. The city is filled with churches and mosques, boasting numerous historical stories and architecture, and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
However, as the name suggests, the sanitation environment in Egypt’s Garbage City is worrying, not only very dirty and messy, filled with bags of garbage, flies, and rats, but also a very tricky social issue in the area. Most of the people living here are Zabbaleen, who are unofficial garbage collectors for the Egyptian government, manually handling the garbage produced by nearly ten million people in the city of Cairo, with a unique garbage disposal method.
Further Reading:
- Hong Kong illustrator Don Mak takes you through the intriguing Inner Child reverse growth diary
- 【Singers Chan Kit-ling, Fung Wan-him Interview】Legendary meets new generation, gathering together in Hong Kong music!
- 【French artist Camille Walala interview】Unraveling the mystery of Planet Walala!
But the chaotic surroundings and the sacred church form a strong contrast and an incredible sight.
Cave Church
The Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church, is located inside the Garbage City in Cairo. The church is situated in a huge cave, capable of accommodating over ten thousand people, making it the largest church in the Middle East. What makes it even more special is that people must pass through the Garbage City to reach the church, creating a strong contrast between the inside and outside of the church.
The entrance of the church may seem ordinary, but stepping inside feels like entering another world.
Walking along a small slope into the church, the church carved into the cave is very shocking, with a mysterious atmosphere; and on the huge and magnificent mountain walls, there are various Christ statues and Bible stories. From another perspective, the back of the church also conveys the visual impact and shock that the church gives to people.
Can you imagine the scene here filled with people?
Not only can you feel the grandeur and solemnity of the church here, but you can also feel the religious history and the life of the believers.
*Image sourced from the internet
