M
mpeacock
Guest
I see one of the corespondents uses the term ‘Melkite’ and has a quote from them. I’ve heard the name, but who, are these folks historically ? 
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D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
The Melkites are one of the Eastern Catholic Churches following the Byzantine Rite. They find their historical origins in Antioch (where followers of Christ were first called Christians). In the 18th century they split from the Antiochian Orthodox Church and came into communion with Rome. Melkites are Middle Eastern (Arabs) and the liturgical language is Arabic, although the vernacular of the location where they are found will also be used in the Liturgy (as will a smattering of Greek).
The Patriarch of the Melkites (Gregory III) is the Patriarch of Antioch, Jerusalem and All the East. His people come from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Syria and Jordan (primarily).
Is there more you’d like to know?
Deacon Ed
The Patriarch of the Melkites (Gregory III) is the Patriarch of Antioch, Jerusalem and All the East. His people come from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Syria and Jordan (primarily).
Is there more you’d like to know?
Deacon Ed
T
Timidity
Guest
Deacon Ed:
How about an etymology of the word “Melkite”?
Can I ask a question, too?
How about an etymology of the word “Melkite”?
H
Hesychios
Guest
It has to do with the “King’s party” or “Royal party” or something like that. Malik means ruler or king.
Basically the four eastern Patriarchates were all part of the East Roman Empire (Byzantine). Rome was the only other Patriarchate and it was situated in the West Roman Empire.
BTW The “Fall of the Roman Empire” was really the fall of the West Empire, and Rome was in or on the Byzantine frontier for a long time, and just beyond the borders for a long time as well.
The map below shows the furthest extent of the Byzantine (East Roman) empire under Justinian. It is important to remember that the western borders fluctuated for several hundred years so no map can be fullly representative.
http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/aencmed/targets/maps/mhi/T013258A.gif
It became Roman (Byzantine) policy encourage, influence, coerce or otherwise force (there is no way to put it delicately) the three Patriarchates to follow the theology, practices and liturgy of Constantinople. I believe the idea from the governments perspective was to knit the country together into stronger unified state.
Those Christians who supported this policy were the Melkites, or king’s party, they were mostly Greek speaking at the time.
There were theological issues as well of course, not to mention regional hostility to the empire and the Greek culture of the capital city.
The Aramaic/Syriac speakers in Syria-Palestine opposed the changes. In Egypt the Copts generally opposed the changes and the Greek minority there generally supported them. It seems from this that the Greek speaking population was generally more patriotic toward the empire, the non-Greeks were more patriotic toward their ancient homelands.
Thus the liturgy
When the Muslim conquest swept through the middle east this kind of factionalism weakened the Byzantine empire. This event froze the process, with part of the population following the Byzantine liturgical tradition and part of the population following the older local liturgical traditions.
The Melkite tradition (Byzantine) is followed by two churches from the Arabic world, the Greek Orthodox (Patriarchs of Alexandria, of Antioch and of Jerusalem) and the Greek Catholics (one Patriarch responsible for all three, resides in Damascus). Today the term Melkite is usually still used to designate the Greek Catholics, it seems to have fallen from use with the Orthodox.
One other point, Arabic displaced Greek long ago, it’s sort of ironic.
+T+
Michael
J
JOHNYJ
Guest
Deacon Ed:
They push the envelope as it were.They were the first of the Eastern churches to ordain married men in America,without asking Rome.They would push Re-union much faster than Rome would.They are good people.
The Melkites are the bad boys of our Eastern churches.Thery love giving Rome grief,usualy deserved. They had a Patriarch who when writting the Pope did it this way. From Maximo Successor of Saint Peter at Antioch to Paul succerssor of Saint Peter at Rome.
They push the envelope as it were.They were the first of the Eastern churches to ordain married men in America,without asking Rome.They would push Re-union much faster than Rome would.They are good people.
D
Digitonomy
Guest
Further on this point, it is my understanding that in what is now Lebanon, the more rural and mountainous areas resisted and in time became Maronite, while the Melkites prevailed in the lowland coastal region which extended down to into Palestine.
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Deacon_Ed
Guest
Sort of correct. The Maronites were in the mountain regions – but after the Latin missionaries found them there they spread back down into Lebanon. The are the primary Christian group in Lebanon while the Melkites make up a couple of small regions.
Deacon Ed
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Digitonomy
Guest
Yes, I should have pointed out that it was centuries ago that this occurred, and since then as you say the Maronites have spread back to the coast.
In the US, are there more Palestinian or Lebanese Melkites?
In the US, are there more Palestinian or Lebanese Melkites?
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Cockney_Clive
Guest
I quote this from a document I picked up at the Greek Catholic Melkite Church, Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem. My visit was this last Christmas; the document dates from 2000.
The Melkites have an 86 bed Pilgrim hostel on site, which is quite reasonably priced and centrally located (by the Jaffa Gate).
The Church at Jerusalem has a very good museum of the oriental churches in Jerusalem, and a library specialising in the oriental church histories, liturgies, saints, and so forth.
The Mass Liturgy is in Arabic. There has been a change and the Melkite Mass is now more in order like the Roman Rite; near all the Orthodox trappings have gone now. If you ever find yourself in Jerusalem, do go see. The church itself is so beautiful. Renovated in 1976, it was built in 1341; wall paintings (frescoes) by two Romanian Monks and Icons of such amazing beauty and devotion. I found the custodians to be a most friendly bunch and very helpful. French appears to be the language most useful. They were most touched that Roman Catholics would want to take such an interest in them. The late Pope John Paul II offered a Mass there during his pilgrimage in 2000.
The Melkites have an 86 bed Pilgrim hostel on site, which is quite reasonably priced and centrally located (by the Jaffa Gate).
The Church at Jerusalem has a very good museum of the oriental churches in Jerusalem, and a library specialising in the oriental church histories, liturgies, saints, and so forth.
M
mpeacock
Guest
As I asked what I thought would be a rather simple question, I am really grateful for the learned replies you have given. My husband is a recent scholar of biblical and church history and he is STOKED! Can anyone suggest good reading (reference) works for us to read on this and related subjects?
Love you all.
Love you all.
D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
It depends upon the area. Here in my parish (Southern California) we have more Lebanese, but there are large numbers of Jordanians as well.
Deacon Ed
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Irish_Melkite
Guest
Cockney Clive:
I’m not sure by what measure you judge this, but the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in no way resembles the Mass of the Latin Rite. Were you to participate in our Liturgy and immediately afterwards that of our Sister Church, the Antiochian Orthodox, you would observe few if any differences other than the diptychs or commemorations and, possibly, the festal calendar.
Except that the temple you reference is indeed ours, I’d suspect that you had been in attendance at the Service of the Divine Mysteries in a Maronite church; then, your statement would be pretty accurate.
I’m guessing that would be me
since I think I’m the only poster using the term in my nick, although not the only Melkite here (you’ve already met my brother and friend, Deacon Ed, another of us 
)
mpeacock:
) over there.
For openers, let me suggest that your husband might enjoy Father Ron Roberson’s work - The Eastern Christian Churches - at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association’s site. The entire text is online and Father Roberson does an excellent job of briefly and objectively discussing the historical origins and current situation of each of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches of the East and Orient.
As a further primer, he might like to read the **Reference Thread on the Eastern & Oriental Catholic Churches sui iuris at the EC forum. It discusses the concepts of Rite versus Church, enumerates both and provides some info about each of the Rites and Churches in the Catholic communion.
I’ll be happy to offer some additional suggestions, as I’m certain my brothers and sisters will.
Many years,
Neil**
Clive,
I’m not sure by what measure you judge this, but the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in no way resembles the Mass of the Latin Rite. Were you to participate in our Liturgy and immediately afterwards that of our Sister Church, the Antiochian Orthodox, you would observe few if any differences other than the diptychs or commemorations and, possibly, the festal calendar.
Except that the temple you reference is indeed ours, I’d suspect that you had been in attendance at the Service of the Divine Mysteries in a Maronite church; then, your statement would be pretty accurate.
Ms. Peacock,
I’m guessing that would be me
since I think I’m the only poster using the term in my nick, although not the only Melkite here (you’ve already met my brother and friend, Deacon Ed, another of us )
You might want to pursue this further in the Eastern Christianity Forum. While this thread caught my attention and that of my brothers, Michael, Deacon Ed, and Johny, there are more of us (Melkites and our spiritual relatives - those “related subjects” as it were
) over there.For openers, let me suggest that your husband might enjoy Father Ron Roberson’s work - The Eastern Christian Churches - at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association’s site. The entire text is online and Father Roberson does an excellent job of briefly and objectively discussing the historical origins and current situation of each of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches of the East and Orient.
As a further primer, he might like to read the **Reference Thread on the Eastern & Oriental Catholic Churches sui iuris at the EC forum. It discusses the concepts of Rite versus Church, enumerates both and provides some info about each of the Rites and Churches in the Catholic communion.
I’ll be happy to offer some additional suggestions, as I’m certain my brothers and sisters will.
Many years,
Neil**
J
Jakub
Guest
Brother Neil,
Have not seen you post in a while…thought you had entered a monastery…
james
Have not seen you post in a while…thought you had entered a monastery…
james
J
Joe_Monahan
Guest
James, my friend and brother,
Not quite
Have been a tad tied up, but I try to at least read every couple of days - besides responding to the occasional “get in here now, please” msg from our friendly EC Mod
Many years,
Neil
Not quite
Have been a tad tied up, but I try to at least read every couple of days - besides responding to the occasional “get in here now, please” msg from our friendly EC Mod
Many years,
Neil
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