During my visit to Coptic Cairo, I was lucky to witness a couple of events that may seem quite normal or common to the people that live here or come here everyday, but that were truly special to me.

One of them was looking at the precious colors that sunlight creates on a late afternoon where almost no tourists were to be seen. As a matter of fact, just a couple of Egyptians were here and there, enjoying a calm day at one of the city's most special places. 

The sand-like colors of the St. George church were a fantastic feature which contrasted powerfully with the lush green of the treetop at the entrance gate. While climbing the stairs towards the entrance of the church, which by that time was undergoing a renovation work, I started to hear a murmur in the air, which sounded so sacred that I had to stop and listen.

"Allah u akbar", I heard from a distance. The call for the asr prayer had just started. The asr prayer is also known as the afternoon prayer. Muslims pray 5 times a day; this is called the salat and is one of the 5 pillars of islam, this means, one of the 5 basic acts that are mandatory for muslims.

I stood still to listen to that magnificent sound, which became louder as the other mosques started the call for prayer, too.

The sound got lost between the treetops and hit against the walls of Coptic Cairo, in an unsual show that enthralled me instantly.

For one brief instant, I felt how the weight of problems and prejudices fell apart and how magical it was, to hear that sound from the place I was standing...