Sylvester of Antioch - Life and Achievements of an 18th-Century Christian Orthodox Patriarch

In 1724, Sylvester, a native of the island of Cyprus, was elected Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East. For more than four decades, he endeavored to preserve the legacy of one of the earliest Christian Churches in the Levant. He faced major challenges because of the ever changing balance of power between the Latin Church and its missionaries, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the French and English interests in the Levant, and the central and local Ottoman authorities. In his efforts to provide church books for the Arab Orthodox Christians, Sylvester was helped by rulers of the Romanian Principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia. He printed a number of books in Jassy and Bucharest and opened an Arabic press in Beirut. Alongside his patriarchal duties, Sylvester was also an accomplished icon painter. His works, in the Post-Byzantine Greek style of the 18th century, are preserved in Syrian and Lebanese churches, as well as elsewhere. Their study reveals just another aspect of his complex activity. The book presents for the first time in English the biography and achievements of Sylvester of Antioch, based on a wide range of contemporary Greek, Arabic and Romanian historical sources.

About the author

MihaiŢipău, Institute for South East European Studies of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania.

Product details

• Authors: Mihai Tipau, Mihai Ţipău
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 02.12.2024
• EAN: 9783110998894
• ISBN: 978-3-11-099889-4
• No. of pages: 428
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 25 mm x 230 mm
• Weight: 740 g
• Illustrations: 2 b/w and 60 col. ill.
• Series: Early Arabic Printing in the East
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Miscellaneous; Religion, Religionsphilosophie, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, European History, Südosteuropa, Social & cultural history, Christianity, Religion & beliefs, auseinandersetzen, Middle Eastern history, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, Church history, Printing, HIS037030 HISTORY / Modern / General, HIS026000 HISTORY / Middle East / General, REL015000 RELIGION / Christianity / History, HIS010010 HISTORY / Europe / Eastern, Ägypten: Frühneuzeitliche Periode (ca. 1517 bis ca. 1914), HIS037050 HISTORY / Modern / 18th Century, REL049000 RELIGION / Christianity / Orthodox, HIS055000 HISTORY / Middle East / Turkey & Ottoman Empire, icon painting, Arabic-speaking Orthodox Christians, REL024000 RELIGION / Eastern, Sylvester of Antioch