Shobra

Shobra (Coptic: coptic|ϭⲱⲡⲣⲟ " _co. Schobro"; Arabic: شبرا; also written Shoubra or Shubra) is one of the largest districts of Cairo, Egypt and it is administratively divided into three areas: Shobra, Road El Farag, and Elsahel.

Etymology

Ironically, although Shobra has been immensely large for the last few decades, the name originally derives from the Coptic word " _co. Schobro", which means a small village or field, as the area is well known for its rich fields that neighbour the Nile River. In Egypt, there are many neighborhoods, towns and villages that bear the name of Shobra, for example, the administrative region of Shobra that is within the large district of Shobra, both of which are not to be confused with one of Cairo's industrial suburbs, Shobra el Kheima. Of the less well-known areas—villages specifically—there are also several places that bear the name of Shobra, such as the Shobra Bekhoum village that is about 75 minutes away from Cairo. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6472/is_200012/ai_n25771306?tag=untagged Find Articles (Online)] . "The Cairo Experiment - It Takes a Village." Accessed August 23, 2008.] However, these areas are quite distinguishable as the word "Shobra" has come to include only a general meaning and does not fully describe all of these regions in a literal sense.

Early History

During the rule of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, Shobra was developed into a residential area after he built himself a Palace in the area and extended Shobra street in 1808. [ [http://www.aljazeeratalk.net/english/content/view/76/29/ Aljazeera] ]

Modern Shobra

The present-day area is now heavily populated, with an estimated 3 million people living in it, the vast majority of whom are Coptic Orthodox Christians. [ The Copts in Shoubra may number about 2-3 million, as claimed by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria] There are several churches throughout the district's neighberhoods, such as the decades-old Church of St. Mary in Massarra [http://www.massarra.org/] [http://www.massarra.org/mahragan/images/massarra.jpg] and St. George, El-Geushi. Shobra is currently served by the Cairo Metro.

Administrative regions

Due to the large population of the area of Shobra it is divided into three administrative regions:
# Shobra (administrative region)
# Elsahel
# Road El Farag

Famous residents

*In the 1940s and 1950s, Nazir Gayyed (before becoming Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria in 1971) was notable in serving the Coptic Orthodox communities in the district of Shobra, particularly Saint Antonious Church in Shobra. [ [http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html St Takla Online] . "Biography of HH Pope Shenouda III." Accessed August 23, 2008.]
*The famous French-Italian singer Dalida was born in Shobra in 1933. [ [http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/dalida Foxy tunes] ]

References