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{{For|the church in Constantinople which was also called Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus|Little Hagia Sophia}}{{Infobox church
| name = Saint Sergius & Saint Bacchus Coptic Orthodox Church
| image = File:Cairo, chiesa di san sergio 01.JPG
| imagesize =
| caption = Saint Sergius & Saint Bacchus Church, 2015
| country = {{EGY}}
| denomination = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Church]]
| diocese = Coptic Orthodox Diocese of [[Coptic Cairo|Old Cairo]], Manial and Fum Al-Khalig
| division = The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
| parish =
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| dedication = [[Saints Sergius and Bacchus]]
| dedicated date =
| consecrated date = 4th century
| cult =
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| architectural type = [[church architecture|church]]
| style = [[Coptic architecture|Coptic]]
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| bishop = [[Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria|Pope Tawadros II]]<br>Bishop Selwaniss
| priest = Fr. Ghobrial Guirguis Bestawros
| archdeacon =
| location = Babylon Fortress, [[Coptic Cairo]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.coptic-cairo.com/oldcairo/church/sarga/sarga.html}}
| native_name = ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓ⳥ ⲥⲉⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲃⲁⲭⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲥⲡⲉⲗⲉⲱⲛ
}}
'''Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church''' ({{Langx|cop|ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓ⳥ ⲥⲉⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲃⲁⲭⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲥⲡⲉⲗⲉⲱⲛ}}, ''The Church of Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in The Cave)'' ({{langx|ar|كنيسة القديسين سرجيوس و باخوس (أبو سرجة)}}), also known as the '''Abu Serga Church''', is one of the oldest [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Christian]] churches in [[Egypt]], dating back to the 4th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sheehan |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-9ZjDQAAQBAJ |title=Babylon of Egypt: The Archaeology of Old Cairo and the Origins of the City |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-977-416-731-7 |pages=35, 40 |language=en}}</ref>
==Importance==
The church is of significant historical importance. It is where many [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church|patriarchs of the Coptic Church]] were elected. The first to be elected here was Patriarch [[Pope Isaac of Alexandria|Isaac]] (681-692). It is the episcopal church of Cairo, and it was the episcopal See of Masr (the district of [[Old Cairo]]) that replaced the former See of Babylon. Many bishops of the See were consecrated in the Church until the reign of [[Pope Christodoulos of Alexandria|Patriarch Christodulus]] (1047–1077).
Tradition holds that Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church was built on the spot where the [[Holy Family]] ([[Saint Joseph|Joseph]], [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]] and the infant [[Christ Child|Jesus]]) rested at the end of their [[Flight into Egypt|journey into Egypt]]. They may have lived here while Joseph worked at the [[Babylon Fortress]].{{cn|date=December 2023}}
==The church==
The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who were soldier-saints martyred during the 4th century in Syria by the Roman Emperor [[Maximian]].
The most interesting feature is the crypt where Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are said to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and, when Nile levels are high, is often flooded. The crypt is over the eastern wall of the canal in Old Cairo.<ref name=":0" />
The Church was built in the 4th century and was probably finished during the 5th century. It was burned during the fire of [[Fustat]] during the reign of [[Marwan II]] around 750. It was then restored during the 8th century, and has been rebuilt and restored constantly since medieval times; however, it is still considered to be a model of the early Coptic churches. Again, the most precious and ancient of the icons are on the southern wall.
==Pope Christodolos==
By the 11th century AD, the [[Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria]], which is  historically based in [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]] was moved to [[Coptic Cairo|Cairo]] as ruling powers moved away from Alexandria to [[Cairo]] after the [[Arab]] invasion of Egypt and during [[Pope Christodolos of Alexandria|Pope Christodolos]]'s tenure Cairo became the fixed and official residence of the Coptic Pope at the Hanging Church in Cairo in 1047.
Infighting between the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the [[Hanging Church]] broke out due to that patriarch's wish to be consecrated in the latter, a ceremony that traditionally took place at Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
==See also==
*[[Egypt (Roman province)#Christian Egypt|Christian Egypt]]
*[[List of Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{coord|30.0058|31.2307|type:landmark_region:EG|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sergius and Bacchus, Church}}
[[Category:Coptic Orthodox churches in Cairo]]
[[Category:Old Cairo]]
[[Category:Coptic Cairo]]
[[Category:Coptic architecture]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]
[[Category:4th-century churches]]
[[Category:4th-century establishments in Egypt]]
[[Category:Flight into Egypt]]