Can the Qur’ān be read in the Light of Christ? Reflections on some Melkite authors and their use of the Holy Book of Islam

The first Scripture for Christians was the Old Testament, which, however, they read in the light of Christ. For them, in disagreement with the Jews themselves, the prophecies of the OT regarding the Messiah were realized in Jesus Christ. In this case, Christians read the OT differently than did Jews, who continued to read the OT according to their tradition while refusing to accept Christ as the Messiah. The Qur’ān, however, accepts that Jesus Christ was al-Masīḥ, but rejects the doctrines of the Trinity and of Christ as the incarnate Son of God the Father. This was, in fact, one of the main differences between the two religions. For their part, Christians, although they did not recognize prophecy in Muḥammad, used the Holy Book of Muslims in their different writings, especially as proof-texting for apologetic purposes

Christology and deification in the Church of the East Mar Gewargis I, his Synod and his letter to mina as a polemic Against Martyrius-Sahdona

We should like, with our paper, to highlight another aspect of the Christological controversy that took place immediately after the 'nestorianization' of the Church of the East in 612 AD. We mean the controversy of Martyrius-Sahdona and the reaction of the catholicos Gewargis I. In Martyrius' Christology, the 'divinization' of the mystic is seen as a consequence of the 'divinization' of the human nature in Christ because of the union of the two natures that occurred in the one hypostasis and person of the Word, refuting in this way, the official doctrine of his Church, i.e. the two natures and hypostases united in the one person of Christ. Against this Christology, the catholicos Gewargis I attempted to intervene on two levels: canonical, through a synod convoked in Qatar in 676, and doctrinal, through a letter written in 679/680 and sent to Mina, a Corepiscope in Persia. In the synod, there was a controversy against certain 'false monks' and a focus on the importance of the Orthodox faith to counteract heretics; his letter, on the other hand, expressed a true controversy against those who taught the hypostatic union, i.e., Martyrius and his followers. In the letter, moreover, the catholicos proposes a doctrine of 'divinization', based, however, on the official Christological doctrine of his Church. Their Christologies will be studied and compared so we can illustrate better this important period of the history of this church. We will see also how the catholicos developed the Christology of the two-qnomē so that the doctrine of 'divinization' could be applicable in its metaphysical system

Conference Report: “The Bible and Arab Christianity: Translation, Interpretation, and Context” (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 28-29 April 2023)

Conference repor

Transformation of Architectural Qualities in Old Cities in Oman over a Decade

Cities have been expanding over the years, transforming and evolving with all the new technologies being introduced, and this has affected the layout of the city physically, culturally, and environmentally. In certain regions, such as the Sultanate of Oman, this has resulted in the creation of urban sprawl, abandoning some buildings, neighborhoods, and villages, and losing the urban and architectural qualities that represent the original identity of the place. Research has shown that multiple initiatives by the community have been made to rehabilitate some of those structures. This study aims to examine two case studies in the Sultanate of Oman and show the transformation in the urban and architectural context of the existing structures over the past decade. A combination of qualitative data collection methodology was used, including on-site observations, analysis of primary and secondary data, and interviews with locals experiencing the changes over the years. The results showed that there was a strong interrelation between the desire of living in a high-tech environment and rooting for their origins. Also, the built structures and their uses reflected the awareness of the different generations about the quality of space. Further research would help identify the factors that could create the right balance between a contemporary living quality and the original character of the place

Transformation of Architectural Qualities in Old Cities in Oman over a Decade

Cities have been expanding over the years, transforming and evolving with all the new technologies being introduced, and this has affected the layout of the city physically, culturally, and environmentally. In certain regions, such as the Sultanate of Oman, this has resulted in the creation of urban sprawl, abandoning some buildings, neighborhoods, and villages, and losing the urban and architectural qualities that represent the original identity of the place. Research has shown that multiple initiatives by the community have been made to rehabilitate some of those structures. This study aims to examine two case studies in the Sultanate of Oman and show the transformation in the urban and architectural context of the existing structures over the past decade. A combination of qualitative data collection methodology was used, including on-site observations, analysis of primary and secondary data, and interviews with locals experiencing the changes over the years. The results showed that there was a strong interrelation between the desire of living in a high-tech environment and rooting for their origins. Also, the built structures and their uses reflected the awareness of the different generations about the quality of space. Further research would help identify the factors that could create the right balance between a contemporary living quality and the original character of the place

Elections in Egypt: Rumblings for Change

The first and second issue of four volumes, this volume addresses elections in the Middle East. Contributors include: Assia Boutaleb, Judith Harik, Mona Markram-Ebeid, Christopher Parker, Curtis Francis Doebbler, Maye Kassem, Baskin Oran, Sami Zemni.https://fount.aucegypt.edu/faculty_book_chapters/2022/thumbnail.jp