The Jacobites
The Jacobites have been referred to historically as members of the “West Christian Church,” also of the “Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East.” Jacobite missionary activity, dating back to the earliest centuries of Christianity, led to the establishment of a branch in the Malabar region of southwestern India. The apostle Saint Thomas is credited with laying the foundation for the Malabar church. The Jacobites came into being under this name as a consequence of the intense Christological controversies that took place during the fourth and fifth centuries,...
Read Moreسيرة مار أفرام السرياني / البطريرك زكا عيواص
مار افرام السرياني سيرته – مؤَلفاته – اقوال مأَثورة له – بعض ما قيل فيه سيرته وُلد مار افرام في مدينة نصيبين في مطلع القرن الرابع للميلاد ، من ابوين مسيحيين ، ويَذكر في احدى كتاباته التي نُقلت الى اليونانية في عهده ثم نقلت الى العربية بعدئذ “انّ اللذين ولداه بالجسد ثقّفاه في الايمان المسيحي وربّياه على مخافة الرب...
Read MoreScience of the Babylonia era
ASTRONOMY Among the sciences, astronomy and astrology occupied a conspicuous place in Babylonian society. Astronomy was of old standing in Babylonia, and the standard work on the subject, written from an astrological point of view, later translated into Greek by Berossus, was believed to date from the age of Sargon of Akkad. The zodiac was a Babylonian invention of great antiquity and eclipses of the sun and moon could be foretold. There are dozens of cuneiform records of original Mesopotamian eclipse observations (see Wikipedia`s `Chronology of Babylonia and Assyria`). Observatories were...
Read Moreالقصارى في نكبات النصارى سليم مطر
القصارى في نكبات النصارى القوى الأوروبية ساهمت في تأجيج العنف ضدّ المسيحيين السريان والأرمن وشجّعت على اضّطهادهم من أهم العوامل التي أدّت إلى ضعف حركاتنا الفكرية والسياسية وفشلنا بتحقيق مشاريعنا الكبرى المعروفة ، أنّنا لم نهتم بدراسة تاريخ بلداننا ، القديم منه والمعاصر والذي تتحمّل مسؤولية هذا التقصير الكبير جميع نخبنا...
Read MoreTHE ARAB PERIOD – De Lacy O’lery
Islam in its earlier form was entirely an Arab religion. The temporal side of the Prophet Muhammad’s mission shows him engaged in an effort to unite the tribes of the Hijaz in a fraternal union, to limit the custom of the razzia (ghazza) or marauding foray, and to form an orderly community. These temporal aims were due to the influence of Madina on the Prophet and to the conviction that it was only in such a community that his religious teaching could obtain a serious attention. In Mecca he had been faced with constant opposition chiefly due to the tribal jealousies and strife which...
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