St. Simon "The Tanner" Monastery — Local services in Cairo

Visiting St. Simon the Tanner Monastery, also known as the Cave Church in Mokattam, was an unforgettable experience. Hidden within the cliffs of the Mokattam hills, the church feels like a secret sanctuary carved out of stone. The moment I arrived, I was struck by the sheer scale and beauty of the place—it’s massive, peaceful, and completely unique.

The rock carvings and biblical scenes etched into the walls are incredibly detailed and moving. The atmosphere inside the church is calm and spiritual, and it’s amazing to think that it can hold thousands of worshippers. Despite being a lesser-known attraction, it left a deep impression on me—both for its architectural wonder and the strong sense of faith you feel just by being there.

Getting there requires passing through the Zabaleen (garbage collector) community, which adds another layer of perspective to the visit. It reminded me how faith and resilience often go hand in hand.

If you’re in Cairo and want to see something truly off the beaten path, I highly recommend a visit to St. Simon’s. It’s not just a church—it’s a hidden gem...

St. Simon “The Tanner” Monastery is an incredible and humbling experience. It took us about 40 minutes to get there from Cairo Citadel, and we quickly understood why. The route takes you through the shocking “City of Garbage” (Mokattam), which completely changes your perspective and leaves you speechless. The area is unlike any other in Cairo, and it’s hard to describe the mix of emotions it stirs.

Our Uber driver had trouble finding the monastery and had to ask locals for directions, as it’s not a typical tourist destination. We decided to have our driver wait for us, paying him 400 EGP to bring us back to Giza instead of the usual 100 EGP fare, since we weren’t sure we’d be able to find a taxi there. This turned out to be the best decision.

Once we arrived, the monastery itself was absolutely beautiful and grand. The architecture and the peaceful atmosphere inside were truly remarkable, making the journey worthwhile. It’s a unique place that offers a deep sense of history and tranquility. Highly recommended, but be prepared for the unexpected journey...

It's one of the Holy places in Greater Cairo, where the mountain moves from old Egypt to Al Mkokattam. This happens when Mozz Eldein Bellah asked Pope Sawiris to approve their Christianity and the bove Holy bible verse, which says.

So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you if you have faith as mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move fron here to there and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you . (Mathew 17: 20)

Plus, if they can't achieve what they are believing in, they will be forced to be Muslims or leave Egypt forever.

Pope Sawiris asked all the christians to fast and keep warm prayers for three days to ask Jusus to move the mountain and achieve the Holy Bible verse. Saint Marybappeared to Pope Sawiris and told him that Saint Simon, a very humble person, is carrying a water bottle, and the mircale will happen on his hand on the third day.

The christians keep praying Kerilison in coptic, which means in English (God's mercy), and the miracle happened and the Holy bible...