Photos: Artist sculpts biblical references in Egyptian cave church

St. Simon Monastery atop Cairo's Mokkatam hills is populated with sculptures with designs inspired by biblical stories. The sculptures have been created by 51-year-old artist Mario who wanted to fulfil the wishes of the monastery's parish priest who met him in the early 1990s in Cairo. Back then, Mario had no experience in sculpting. But he kept practising, sculpting for more than 23 years, and completed about 70 sculptures adding to the monastery's allure by giving it an ancient look.

Updated on: Jul 31, 2019 10:23 AM IST

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Artist Mario, sculptor of St. Simon the Tanner Monastery complex, poses for a picture alongside a scene relief depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and a verse in Arabic from the Biblical Book of Isaiah. Mario spent more than two decades carving the rugged insides of the seven cave churches and chapels of the rock-hewn St. Simon Monastery and church complex atop Cairo’s Mokkatam hills, with designs inspired by biblical stories. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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A sculpture depicting the torture of the Old Testament Biblical figure Samson at the hands of the Philistines according to the Book of Judges. The sculptures were made to fulfil the wishes of the monastery’s parish priest who met Mario in the early 1990s in Cairo. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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Mario, who hails from Poland, had arrived in Egypt on an educational mission, and was then looking for an opportunity to serve God at the monastery. “I want you to turn the mountain into an open Bible,” Mario recalls the priest telling him. Back then, Mario had no experience in sculpting. But he bought an electric drill and chisel hammer and within days had finished his first sculpture. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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“I had no idea sculpting was a talent I have, but it turned out (to be) as you can see,” said Mario as he showed off his work around the walls of a vast cavern which regularly hosts gatherings at the monastery. “It can take between five days up to half a year to finish a sculpture, depending on the design,” he further added. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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TResting at the pinnacle of Mokkatam mountain, the monastery has a commanding view of the megalopolis of Cairo. Unsurprisingly though, reaching the top of the mountain is no small feat. The gruelling trip to the top requires visitors to pass through the teeming slum area known as the city of “Garbage Collectors” of uneven roads and malodorous piles of garbage strewn along the way. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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For Mario, whose real name is Mariusz Dybich, he grew accustomed to life in Cairo and work at the monastery. Besides sculpting, he even gives an adrenaline-spiking High Ropes sport course at the monastery. “It is surprising to many that a European man willingly leaves his country to work in a poor slum area as that of the city of Garbage Collectors in Cairo,” said Mario. “But I believe it’s God who sent me here.” (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

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The 51-year-old Mario is originally from the city of Krakow in southern Poland but has been living in Egypt for nearly three decades now. He married an Egyptian woman and has two girls. He does not see himself settling anywhere else. “I just love living here. It’s where I am most comfortable among the simple people of Egypt. I would not leave unless God decides otherwise,” he said. (Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)