Contemporary Churches and Cathedrals in Egypt and Their Influence on Their Direct Neighborhoods

Abstract

Churches and cathedrals in Europe had always played a leading rule in forming the urban fabric around them. They were the focal points, from which, not only the direct neighborhood, but rather the whole city, used to branch out and radiate. For Coptic churches and cathedrals this was not the case. Quite on the contrary, they were built in remote areas away from the urban density, and were meant to have modest look. In some cases, in order to hide them from the eye of the rabble, especially in the times of the ruthless persecution, they were built behind clusters of buildings, so that they become completely unseen from outside. In recent times, i.e. starting for the 19th century, which are comparatively more peaceful times for the Coptic Church, comparatively larger and richer cathedrals were built. Nevertheless, they were still hidden behind high fences. This study aims at studying the neighborhoods around some of the most important churches and cathedrals that had been built in Egypt during the 19-20th centuries. The main idea here is to address the question about the way they had influenced there direct neighborhoods and whether they had actually any influence on these neighborhoods.