Fac̦ade of the Coptic Church of el-Mu'allakah. Old Cairo, Egypt

"Coptic architecture is best illustrated by their churches and monasteries, although the beginning of Coptic Christian architecture is obscure. Five old churches still exist in Old Cairo. One of the most beautiful churches among them is el-Mu'allakah or the "Hanging Church", dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was built over the Byzantine keep on the walls of the ancient fortress of Babylon and was the seat of the Coptic Patriarchs from the eleventh to the fourteenth century. The windows of Coptic church are small and set high in the wall. The exteriors of the old Coptic churches were plain and unimposing, and often entry was made to them by means of a small side door. This was because attacks on christians by Muslims mobs were of fairly frequent occurence, and it was prudent for churches to be unobtrusive and as indistinguishable as possible from neighboring houses." [Watterson B., 1988: Coptic Egypt. Scottish Academy Press]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.