Arab Christianity – A Brief History

Arab Christianity already existed centuries before the appearance of Islam. With the Muslim invasion of Middle Eastern countries, the invaders changed the culture of the local people and imposed Islamic legal system (Sharia) on the local inhabitants. Christians and Jews were considered Zhimmis (Ahl Alzemma), i.e. second class citizen required to pay a poll tax if they did not want to convert to Islam or be killed. This is the covenant of Omar under which they are protected. The development of the Sharia over time did not allow Christians to have a say in the court neither were they allowed equal rights in worship. A limitation of Christian worship places was also in effect – no new churches could be built without the governor’s or Sultan’s approval. However, persecution of Christians was limited and intermittent compared to that of European Christians against Jews in the Middle Ages.
In modern times, European colonialists reformed the education and legal systems in the Middle East. Muslim reformers started to appear in the 19th century but also did Muslim extremists in Arabia and Egypt of the 20th century. The Muslim Brotherhood founded in 1928 gained wide support in the 2nd half of the 20th century and soon Islamic fundamentalist movements in almost all Arab countries appeared under their influence. From 1979 a Shia Islamic revolution in Iran exported their ideas to many Islamic movements all over the world. The so-called Terrorist organizations operate in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. Their objective is to regain control of their lands from Non-Arab/Non-Muslim or “pseudo-Muslim” rule.

Notes
1. At Pentecost: Acts 2:11 - Arabs are in the list of people who became Christian.
2. Paul refers to his visit to Arabia in his letter to Galatians
3. Eusabius in 3rd century mentions Arab bishop of Hauran
4. By 4th century Christians are in South Arabian coast and Eastern region of Arabia
5. In 5th century 20 Episcopal Sees are found in Roman province of Arabia
6. Christian Arab tribes : Ghassanids in north Arabia (Monophysites) Lakhmids at Hira - Iraq (Assyrians)
7. 4th and 5th century doctrinal disputes include a heresy that the deity is a triad not a trinity in one God –Mohammed criticizes this heresy in the Qura'n
8. At the same time political imperialism of Byzantium governs the Middle East.
9. 5th-6th century Arab Christians use Greek, Syriac and influence Islamic text - most Arab Christians express faith orally - not in Arabic language
10. Mohammed in Kaaba covers a picture of Mary and Christ.
11. When Islamic forces invade Syria, Palestine and Egypt, the local people welcome them for 2 reasons:
 i. Consider them as a heretical Christian group
 ii. Get rid of the imperialist Byzantium
12. Islam considered people of the Book to be Dhimmis : pay poll tax and keep low social profile according to the covenant of Omar with Christians
13. 8th century: Ommayad Khaliph Abdel Malik starts islamization and arabization of invaded territories.
14. 8th century on: Apologetics are written in Arabic by Christian theologians (e.g. St. John of Damascus, Jacobites and Nestorians)
15. Under Islamic government, Christians are tolerated and still majority until the 9th century
16. By 10th century Coptic is gradually replaced with Arabic in liturgy of Coptic Church.
17. In 1054, the Great Schism between the Western and Eastern Churches (Catholic vs. Orthodox) – Two later Ecumenical Councils in Lyons (1274) and Florence (1439) attempt Christian unity but it does not last. 18. 11th-12 century Intermittent persecution of Arab Christians by Fatimide Muslim Khaliphs (e.g. Alhakim Bi Amr Allah)
19. 12th-13 century: Crusaders start with good intention to liberate Holy Land from Muslim control but end up with bloody battles with both Muslims and local Christians of the Holy Land. The 4th crusade diverts to Constantinople and sacks it.
20. Meanwhile, the Apostolic See of Antioch seeks moderation and cooperation with the Latins (Rome) thus preserving its Orthodox communion and inclination to Catholic communion.
21. 1453: The Byzantine Christian empire falls to the attacking Muslim Ottomans, The Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople is given administrative power over all Christian denominations in the Middle East.
22. 17th-18th century: Latin missionaries in the Middle East convert some Christians to the Catholic communion. Melkite Church is born in1724 with a schism among the Antiochine Orthodox bishops. Other Eastern Catholic Churches are established except for the Maronites who were already in communion with Rome since the 10th century. The Chaldean Catholic Church is also established since the 16th century.
23. Since 18th century Mamluks are weakened by the French and English colonialists
24. Colonialists help Arab Christians and introduce European laws and education
25. The Wahabis Islamic movement gains control in Arabia
26. 20th century: First half: Arab Christians are leaders in nationalist movements after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Second half: Israel is established and Palestinians become refugees (1948); Islamic revival and more recently extremism. Islamic Fundamentalism especially after the Revolution in Iran (1979) has established an Islamic state. Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries control oil production since 1973. Islamic fundamentalism is exported from Iran and Arabia to the rest of the Arab world thus weakening the presence of Arab Christians. Many Christians flee the Middle East to North America and Australia
27. 21st century: 2nd Iraqi war culminates the fundamentalist movement and splits Muslims among Sunni and Shia. More persecution of Christians in Iraq.
28. Hamas Islamic movement is elected to govern Palestinians and imposes extreme Islamic rule in Palestine. Hizbollah supported by Iran reigns in Southern Lebanon and demands more control in Lebanese government with threats of uprising.
 References:
1. The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity (1998)
2. The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity (2007)
3. Arab Christians, An Endangered Species, by Anglican Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, 1999 - http://www.jerusalemites.org/jerusalem/christianity/2.htm
4. Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III Laham, Address to Pope Benedict XVI, May 8, 2008, http://www.byzcath.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2403&Itemid=49