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When and Where “the Melkite renaissance” Started?
Metropolitan uwakim of Betlehem,
a Forgotten Arab-Christian Scholar of the late 16 th century
ConStAntIn pAnChenKo
the most important episode of the history of the Greek orthodox
Arabic community of Syria (Melkites) in the early Modern time was their
cultural revival after a long period of decline. the main representatives
of this revival, named “the Melkite renaissance” (al-Nahda in Arabic),
were Antiochean patriarch Macarius Ibn al-za’im and his son paul of
Aleppo, who are known by their travel to the eastern europe in the mid 17 th
century which was described by paul. the renaissance itself started in the
early 17 th century and was instigated by metropolitan of Aleppo Meletius
Karma (1572–1635) (later he became Antiochean patriarch under the name
euthimius II /1634–5/). this movement can be described as an attempt of
the orthodox Arabs to overcome their cultural isolation and to integrate
themselves into the Byzantine intellectual tradtion. Meletius Karma,
trying to keep the liturgical unity of the orthodox peoples, wrote new
Arabic versions of the service books, revised and corrected according to
Greek printed texts. 1 Disciples of Karma actively translated hagiographical,
historical and geographical Greek literture, composed original traits, which
familiarized Arabs with the orthodox cultural heritage.
the main stimulus of the “Melkite Nahda” is obvious – it was the
integration of the Arabic Middle east into the ottoman empire. this event
stimulated cultural contacts between Christian Arabs and Balkan Greeks
and increased hellenic cultural influence on the Middle eastern orthodox
1 For the literary activity of Karma see: GrAF G., Geschichte der Christlichen
Arabischen Literatur. Citta del Vaticano. 1944. t.1. p. 496, 631-633; t.3. p. 91-94;
nASrAllAh J., Histoire du mouvement littéraire dans l’église Melchite du V e au XX e
siecle. Vol. 4 (1) p. 70-86.