Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church

The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus sits atop a foundation of heavy, ancient limestone blocks that local tradition identifies as the sanctuary where the Holy Family hid during their flight into Egypt. Its interior features twelve massive columns representing the apostles, one of which is distinctively red to mark the betrayal of Judas. The crypt lies six meters below the current ground level, and whenever the Nile rises, it fills this sacred space with water, forcing the monks to hold services elsewhere.