The Melkite euchologion of Malatios Karamé (†1635)

Abstract

This article presents the history of the first Melkite Arabic euchologion, its content and the circumstances of its impression by the Roman authorities. The issue of printing the Melkite euchologion exceeds that of the edition of an Arabic translation of the Greek text; it joins the great controversy between the Byzantine Orient and the Latin West over the liturgy and sacramental theology; it also acquires a Unionist dimension. The Congregation for the Propaganda Fide then was quite suspicious of the Greek liturgical texts because of the errors suspected in the Greek rituals of the sacraments. At the time, the printing of the liturgical books was not an objective in itself but rather an intermediate but essential step before concluding the union with Rome.