Greeks of Cairo: The Fascinating Bond Between Greece and Egypt

The Spetseropouleion Greek School successful Heliopolis, Cairo. Credit: Anastasios Papapostolou / Greek Reporter

The small, but vibrant, remaining Greek assemblage successful Cairo, Egypt has its roots heavy successful history.

These are nary mean achievements for the Greeks of Cairo, who since the mid-1950s person abandoned Egypt successful droves. Until the nationalization thrust of the Nasser era, tens of thousands of Greeks lived — and flourished — determination successful the fields of concern and agriculture arsenic good arsenic successful the realm of the arts.

After years of restoration work, the historical Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, which was built successful 1914 and dominates the halfway of the Egyptian capital, was reopened.

A fewer years ago, the Greek Hospital of the metropolis was expanded and refurbished with an outpatient clinic, becoming a wholly modernized, state-of-the-art facility.

Today, the size of the Greek assemblage is simply a large woody smaller, numbering lone respective hundred, though galore radical of Greek root are present counted arsenic Egyptians, having changed their nationality officially.

The Greek assemblage of Cairo, Egypt

Most Greeks successful Cairo accidental that they consciousness some Greek and Egyptian. “We person 2 homelands. We don’t separate the 1 from the other,” Leonidas Fontrie said.

“When successful Cairo I consciousness Egyptian, erstwhile successful Greece I consciousness Hellene,” said pupil Aris Grustein, who the Greek Reporter met sitting with his friends astatine the Greek Center of Heliopolis, a suburb conscionable extracurricular Cairo.

Apart from the Sts. Constantine and Helen church, respective different Orthodox churches stay successful Cairo, including Saint Nicholas and Saint George, historical places of Christian worship successful this predominantly Muslim country.

Greeks person been contiguous successful Egypt since astatine slightest the 7th period BC. Herodotus visited Egypt successful the 5th period BC and claimed that the Greeks were 1 of the archetypal groups of foreigners who had ever lived successful the country.

Beginning successful the mid 19th century, tens of thousands of Greek citizens emigrated again to Egypt, chiefly to the large cities of Alexandria and Cairo, strengthening the bonds betwixt the 2 past civilizations connected either broadside of the Mediterranean.

The archetypal organized Greek community successful Cairo successful modern times was founded successful 1856, with the assemblage based successful 3 main neighborhoods: Tzouonia, Haret el Roum (Street of the Greeks), and successful Hamzaoui.

The operation of galore Greek schools, churches, and societies scattered each astir the metropolis soon followed.

“The Greek Club of Cairo,” located adjacent the halfway of the city, is simply a spot wherever generations of Greek expatriates person spent their escaped time, talking business, authorities and diaspora issues. It is inactive unfastened contiguous — and inactive offers delicious Greek food.

Today, determination are conscionable a fewer twelve students successful assorted grades astatine the Achillopouleios School, which since 1928 has been housed successful the gathering of the erstwhile Spetseropouleios Orphanage.

Apart from the lessons that are being taught successful each the schools successful Greece determination are besides classes teaching the Arabic language, arsenic good arsenic the past and geography of Egypt, which are taught by Egyptians.

Many Egyptian children whose parents were immigrants to Greece besides be classes there.

The gathering is an illustration of classical Greek architecture, and a fig of priceless relics and large works of creation are kept successful its august halls and classrooms.

During the past decade, determination has been a renewed involvement from the Egyptian authorities for a diplomatic rapprochement with Greece, and this has positively affected the Greek diaspora.

The Greek assemblage successful Egypt has received a fig of authoritative visits from galore Greek politicians implicit the years, and economical relationships betwixt Greece and Egypt person expanded apace.

As of 2010, Egypt had received a fig of caller large Greek investments successful the areas of banking, tourism, paper, and the lipid industry, arsenic good arsenic galore different fields.

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