ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the situation of the Melkite Church in the first centuries of Islam (634–750). It starts with the presentation of the Melkite Church in the context of Arab conquests (the Melkites as the witnesses of the effective cleansing of the Syria and Egypt of Byzantine troops). Next, it shows new rules of functioning of Melkite Patriarchates, two types of treatment of Melkites, Muslim theological and legal attitudes of Melkite existence in the frame of caliphate, and restrictions of the functioning Melkites in the public space. An important part of this chapter is the condition of the Melkite communities, institutions, monasteries, and theology. Finally, the chapter is concluded by a presentation of the Melkite communities in Persia and Central Asia.
