ABSTRACT
Christians were a majority in the East at the dawn of Islam, but later became a religious minority under the custody of a Muslim majority. They soon adopted Arabic, the language of the Qur’ān, as their theological and liturgical language. Their contributions to Arabic culture were tangible outcomes of this rich encounter. Moreover, this attitude of cooperation influenced the political choices of the Christians, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in particular, in being directed towards solidarity and partnership with the Muslims. Such developments are atypical of minority behaviours and are conducive to inclusiveness and active participation. This contribution traces the dynamics of the relationship between Eastern Arab Christianity and Islam as a peculiar minority paradigm.
