The name “Hanging Church” refers to the location of this building above the gatehouse of an old Babylon Fortress. In Arabic, this church it is known as al-Muallaqah (the Suspended One).
This Coptic church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Current church at this site dates from the 7th century but there may have been another church at this site from 3rd or 4th century AD.
Since the 11th century, the Hanging Church became the official residence of the Coptic patriarchs of Alexandria. It became known to travelers during the 14th and 15th centuries as the “staircase church”.
The church measures 23.5 meters long, 18.5 meters wide and 9.5 meters high.