Social relations between the Christian communities of Alexandria: Re-examining social boundaries in times of decline‪

Abstract

Between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, Alexandria was known as a multicultural hub and a vibrant port in the Southern Mediterranean, and was home to a number of foreign communities, each with its own cultural institutions, schools, and places of worship. Since the Egyptian revolution of 1952 and the Suez War of 1956, most of these communities have seen a dramatic decline in local numbers, and the city of Alexandria has gone through dramatic social changes. This article will focus on the remnants of cosmopolitan Alexandria and the small church communities that struggle to maintain a local existence in the city. I will look at some of the ways in which members of these communities have adjusted to present-day realities and sought ways to maintain a sustainable presence in the city. In particular, I will reexamine how social relations are structured along ethnic and sectarian divides in Alexandria’s Christian communities.