Russia and the Melkites of Syria: Attempts at Reconverting into Orthodoxy in the 1850-s and 1860-s
Author: Lora Gerd
Publisher/Publication: Scrinium
Volume/Issue: 17(1)
DOI/ISBN: 10.1163/18177565-BJA10038
The attempts at Latinization of the Melkite Arab community of Syria in the mid-19th century brought a split in the community and provoked a diplomatic effort by Russia to bring the Melkites back to Eastern Orthodoxy. The article argues that Russian church policy in 19th century Middle East, strongly bounded by the limits of Orthodox canon law was largely ineffective. The Melkite affair was the last attempt to integrate the Arab Christians in the traditional system of the “Greek” Patriarchates.
