This is a beautiful space for a church.

Cave Church theater by vagabondblogger

Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church, is located in the Mokattam “mountain” in southeastern Cairo, Egypt. Simon the Tanner lived in Egypt, during the end of the 10th century. Saint Simon worked in tanning, a craft still practiced there today.

Church of Virgin Mary and Saint Simon by vagabondblogger

The main Cathedral at the site is named after the Virgin Mary and Saint Simon. The Coptic Cathedral is actually quite new. It was constructed in 2 main phases during 1986 and 1994.

The Monastery of St. Simon is on the west bank of the Nile behind the Zabbaleen village. In 1969 the governor of Cairo decided to move all of the garbage collectors to the Mokattam and many still live there.

Related: More details on Tour Egypt web site – Wonderful Low Impact Woodland House – Egytian Statue in Front of the The Temple of Dendur at the Met in NYC – Giza Pyramids