Saint Mary’s Church of Maadi stands on the eastern bank of the Nile, about 13 kilometers south of central Cairo, in one of the most evocative locations linked to the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt. According to Christian tradition, Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus reached this spot by boat while traveling along the Nile, and a stone staircase—still preserved today—marks the place where they descended to the riverbank. This staircase, protected by an iron gate and accessible from the church courtyard, makes Maadi one of the most tangible and emotionally powerful stops on the Holy Family route. The church’s three domes, a classic feature of Coptic architecture, visually anchor this sacred memory in the landscape.
Originally founded in the medieval period and rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century, the church preserves a serene interior filled with 19th-century icons depicting the Virgin Mary, saints and biblical scenes. Three altars structure its spiritual life: the central altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary; the northern altar honoring the Desert Fathers and hermits – Saint Anthony, Saint Paul and Saint Shenouda; and the southern altar dedicated to martyrs such as Saint George, Saint Mina and Saint Demiana. In 1976, the church gained renewed attention when a Bible was found floating on the Nile nearby, opened to the Book of Isaiah—an event widely interpreted as a sign of blessing. Today, Saint Mary’s Church of Maadi remains a living pilgrimage site, where faith, history and the quiet flow of the Nile converge.
- Address
Nile Corniche, Maadi Al Khabiri Ash Sharqeyah, Maadi, Cairo Governorate 11431, Egypt - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Every day from 9:00 to 21:00 - What to see
Holy Staircase, floating Bible
