The Lesser Eastern Churches

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...a Copt, Imperial governor for taxes (Pagarch) in Lower Egypt. The immediate result of the Moslem conquest was to secure for the Copts the position of recognized Christians in Egypt. They had long been persecuted by the Melkites. Now the position was reversed. The conquerors found them the vast majority and preferred them, as being already enemies of the Roman Empire. So they gave them every advantage over the Melkites. The Copts got back many churches out of which they had been driven; their Patriarch could now reside openly at Alexandria, or where he would. The Melkites for a time almost disappear. They are the avowed enemies of the new Government, and are trodden down, almost stamped out. Many of them flee to lands still held by the Emperor, some turn Moslem, some turn Copt. It is the darkest hour of the Orthodox Church in Egypt. We have seen that at this time, after the death of Peter II (c. 655), the Melkite Patriarchate was left vacant for more than seventy years (p. 221). It is not till long afterwards, when all have settled down under the Moslem tyrant, that the Melkites reappear as a small rayah in Egypt, and reclaim their property and rights. 1 Malik ar-rum. They always call the Emperor Malik. 1 Kutldb al mamlakah, " writers of the kingdom." 3 Ahl adDaulah. Of Copts. 'He might say millions. Al-Makrizi: Afybar kibt mi$r (ed. cit. p 20 o£ the Arabic text). 'Ib. p. 21. The Copts then obtain the usual terms of rayahs or dimmis under Moslem rule. At first their condition was not altogether hopeless. They may not serve in the army; they must pay the heavy poll-tax. They may restore their existing churches, not build new ones. Their churches may have no external Christian sign (such as a cross); nor may they ring bells.1 They may not ride a...