Investigating the Effective Factors in the Interactions of Melkite Christians and Muslims in Egypt (358-922 AH / 969-1517 AD): A Case Study of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student in History and Civilization of Islamic Nations, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

With the arrival of Muslim Arabs in Egypt, there were extensive social and cultural changes in the region. During this period, Muslim relations with Coptic Christians, who made up the majority of Egyptians, were subject to changes in the power and policies of Muslim rulers. Under such circumstances, the situation of Melkite Christians of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai was somewhat different from that of other Christians living in Egypt. The Melkite Christians living in this monastery always experienced a better situation than their fellow believers and all the time were considered by Muslims, while many Muslim rulers of the region gave a hard time to the other Christians. These relations were never one-sided and the monks of this monastery also had a peaceful attitude towards Muslims. This article seeks to examine the reasons for the interaction of the Melkite Christians of St. Catherine's Monastery with the Muslim rulers of the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk periods.

Keywords


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