Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this church is popularly called the “Hanging” or “Suspended” Church (Al-Muallaqa in Arabic) because it was built on top of the Water Gate of the old Roman fortress of Babylon.
The original structure was built possibly as early as the 4th century AD, but it was the icon of destroyed and rebuilt in the 11th century, st George Expansion and reconstruction has gone on ever since, making it difficult to date precisely any specific part of the church.
A marble pulpit and the inlaid ivory screens that hide the three altar areas date from between the 10th and 13th centuries. Despite its venerable nature, the church is still used for regular public services, which are held every Friday and Sunday morning.
