The Christian Heritage of Iraq: Collected papers from the Christianity of Iraq I-V Seminar Days (Gorgias Eastern Christian Studies)

Description

Iraq has been a centre of Syriac Christianity for almost two thousand years. From its beginnings in the second century CE until the twenty-first century, Christianity has had a significant religious profile in Iraq, variously enriching the culture of Mesopotamia from where its influence extended into adjacent and more distant regions. This volume of collected papers from the Christianity in Iraq I-V Seminar Days (2004-2008) explores the heritage and contribution of Syriac Christianity to Iraq, highlighting its innate ability to transcend barriers of language, culture, ethnicity and religion. Papers are organized into four major sections. The first probes exchanges with the Muslim world in the Ummayid and Abbasid era. The second section investigates the legacy of monasticism that continues, albeit tenaciously, to the present day. The remarkable outreach programme of The Church of the East in Central Asia that, amongst other things, introduced the Syriac Bible is the subject of the third section. Finally, the volume examines post-medieval responses following the ravages of the fourteenth century, which essentially confined Syriac Christianity to northern Mesopotamia. Growth and innovation are charted in various ways: in literary production as well as architecture. However, in the vernacular domain, traditional forms were maintained: particularly Neo-Aramaic dialects and the use of amulets. The entrepreneurial spirit also saw the establishment of private schools in the twentieth century; a remarkable response in view of the tragedies suffered by so many of the Christians. Today Christianity in Iraq is still confronted by many formidable challenges. Table of Contents Foreword Preface Abbreviations List of Contributors Listing of Plates The Patriarch Išo‘yahb III and the Christians of Qaṭar in the first Islamic Century Greek Philosophy and Syriac Culture in Early ‘Abbasid Iraq Patriarch Timothy and an Aristotelian at the Caliph’s court The Great Monastery at Mount Izla and the Defence of the East Syriac Identity The Cultural Contribution of Monasticism in Iraq Der Mār Behnam - The Monastery of Saint Behnam The Syriac Bible in Central Asia Prester John’s Realm: New Light on Christianity between Merv and Turfan Syriac inscriptions from Tokmak and Biškek, Kirghizstan Chaldæans and Assyrians: the Church of the East in the Ottoman Period Commemorating Church History in the Ottoman Era: Monumental Inscriptions and Art Magic and Medicine amongst the Christians of Kurdistan World War I and the Assyrians The Syriac Bible in the Private Assyrian Schools in Iraq The Neo-Aramaic Dialects of Iraq Christianity in Iraq: Modern History, Theology, Dialogue and Politics (until 2003) Plates