Photo Credit: Khaled ElAdawy for Shutterstock
Nestled at the heart of Mokattam Mountain in southeastern Cairo, St. Simon Monastery, also known as The Cave Church, is one of the largest churches not only in Egypt but also in the Middle East. The Cave Church is located in an area known as the Zabbaleen city, meaning literally ‘garbage city’. This city has the largest population of garbage collectors and recyclers in Cairo.
The story goes back to the 40s when descendants of farmers of Upper Egypt started migrating to Cairo fleeing the tough conditions of poverty and seeking a shift. These immigrants initially followed their farming traditions of raising goats, chickens, pigs, and other animals until they found more profit in collecting the waste of the residents, sorting it out, and salvaging things of value to be sold.
As this business has progressed and done well, more groups and larger waves of people moved to different parts of Cairo to explore this new business and seek more profit. Around 1970 as garbage collectors were scattered in different parts of Cairo, they were evicted and moved together to one city. As a result, this large community has finally settled under the cliffs of Mokattam Mountain and started establishing Zabbaleen City.
The Cave church was built in commemoration of St. Simon who lived towards the end of the 10th century during the rule of Fatimid Caliph Al-Mui’zz. St. Simon worked in tanning which is a well-known craft to this very day.
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