The Coptic Church of Saint Menas is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, dating back to the 6th century. It is located in a Christian cemetery in Fum el-Khalig, which is an area in the north end of Old Cairo, north to the Roman aqueduct and the famous Babylon fortress.

Saint Menas, who this church is dedicated to, is one of the most well-known Coptic saints. He was a Christian soldier in the Roman army who was martyred because he wouldn’t renounce his Christian faith. He was famous for the numerous miracles that were attributed to his prayers. Saint Menas is celebrated on November 11. He is considered a minor saint in western churches, however, some historians argue that he is celebrated in these churches under the name of Saint Christopher.

The Church of Saint Menas was built in the 6th century. It is said that the church was destroyed in the 8th century, but was quickly built again. Another renovation for the church occurred in 1164, where pillars were added instead of the marble columns. The church today has a length of 20.5 metres, a width of 13 metres and a height of 15.5 metres. It is divided into many sanctuaries, nave and aisles. The pillars that were added in 1164 still separate the nave from the aisles with six on each side. The church used to contain many of Saint Menas’ relics, until lots of them were moved in 1962 to the Monastery of Saint Menas in Mariut (near Alexandria), where Saint Menas is buried. The relics that remain in the church today are kept in the narthex. The church includes lots of beautiful icons, especially the Coptic icons of the shrine at the southern sanctuary of the church.