Living stones in marvel(ous) cave

Day 1: On a guided tour - part 1

After a bumpy ride through streets never meant to be navigated by car drivers, and after having witnessed poverty that almost defies description (i.e. one of Kairo's Garbage Districts), we finally arrived at one of Egypt's many paradoxes: the Cave Church.

This sanctuary and its congregation was started almost 40 years ago by an Orthodox priest. Feeling called by God to work among the destitute in the worst of slums, this man's initiative and vision gradually materialized into what can best be termed a miracle.

Certainly he wasn't alone in chiselling away the tons of stone that had to be removed: that work was undertaken by, amongst others, an Italian artisan, together with hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers. And over the years many artistic designs and other works of art have been added to the previously monotonous-looking mountainside. But this priest witnessed something I think has far greater value.

For more than three decades he provided hope to people in the nearby Garbage District where people still live off recycling and selling household garbage. Tirelessly he held out a message that transforms people's lives, and eventually he saw throngs of people attending the three weekly services.

Today the sanctuary boasts a 15 000 seat capacity, and reportedly it is filled each and every Sunday. Why? Because God's at work here. People don't come to hear about a dead Galilean preacher. They come to witness what God's dunamis, power, can achieve. And by the way. The Galilean isn't dead anymore. And, in a way, the priest isn't either.