The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga) is a 4th century church and today is considered to be the oldest of Cairo's Christian churches. It is believed to have been built on the spot where the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary and the infant Christ, rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. We peeped into the crypt where tradition says the Holy Family lived during the flight to Egypt. These lanes of ancient Cairo housed a host of other churches like the round Greek church of Saint George (Upper church) built on a Roman tower, the church of the Virgin Mary and the church of Saint Mercurius. These old lanes and bylanes were all full of historical fables merged with facts. Who knows Jesus Christ himself might have walked down these lanes, holding Mary and Joseph’s hands. Just the thought gives me goose bumps. Hallelujah!!!!

Finally we came to the Ben Ezer’s Synagogue. A Jewish place of worship in an Islamic country? That is a surprise…..The temple was at the end of church buildings and is reported to have been erected in the 6th or presumably the 9th Century AD. We were not allowed to take cameras inside. In 1896, a collection of documents known as "Jineesah" were found in the temple which contained a number of rare manuscripts of interpretations of the Old Testament and excerpts of linguistic research on Hebrew. At the back of the temple, there is a very deep well, where the coffers in which Prophet Moses as an infant was placed by his mother, was reportedly found. These are the places where myths become history and history merges into the present.

Driving towards the hotel in the setting sun we passed by Khan El Khalili, the most famous market in Egypt. The driver asked me if I wanted to get down and buy some souvenirs. I did not tell him that I am carrying back mementos which will last me a lifetime. I am carrying back memories that I can share with one and all.

Dr. Sagarika Golder Asst. Professor,

Dept of Journalism.