The Relations between the Greek Orthodox of Syria and Cyprus in the 17th and Early 18th Centuries

Abstract

Although Syria and Cyprus belonged through most of the Middle Ages to different, even enemy political entities and although there were significant differences in ethnicity, language and religion between the majority of their populations, the two had a lot in common and were parts of a wider Eastern Mediterranean culture. Especially close were the contacts between those who shared ethnicity and/or religion, i. e. the Christian denominations. Most of the Cypriots belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church, as did the majority of the Syrian Christians although under another ecclesiastical authority. Furthermore there were Maronites living in Cyprus who had originally come from the part of Syria now known as Lebanon. Since the Middle Ages they have been in union with the Roman Catholic Church, under a patriarch residing in the Maronites' heartland, Lebanon. And there were other Eastern Churches present in Cyprus, like the Jacobites, Nestorians or Armenians, who had followers in Syria too but played a comparatively insignificant role in Cypriot-Syrian relations. With the Ottoman conquest Islam appeared as a new element in the religious diversity of Cyprus. As these Cypriot Muslims were either part of the conquering and occupation forces or Greek converts from the island itself, no relations of any special significance developed between the Muslims of Cyprus and those of Syria, who were mostly of Arab background.