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‘From Beit Abhe to Angamali: Connections, Functions and Roles of the Church of the East’s Monasteries in Ninth Century Christian-Muslim Relations’ Steve Cochrane OCMS, Ph.D ABSTRACT An important yet often neglected and largely unknown story in Christian-Muslim relations is the connections, functions and roles of Church of the East monasteries in the early Abbasid period of the ninth century. These monasteries had already existed in pre-Islam Arabia and were written about by Muslims in the following centuries. The thesis argues that monastic mission activities took place in the early and middle ninth century under Muslim rule with a similarity to prior centuries. It also argues that these activities focused on the Muslim context around them in Mesopotamia, differing from other scholarly work on the subject. One of these works is by William G Young, who describes his perception of the lack of witness to Muslims as a ‘puzzle’ that still needs more evidence. Contributing four more pieces to the 'puzzle' in this thesis, a more nuanced and comprehensive picture emerges. An original contribution of the thesis is in its investigation from primary sources of both faith perspectives whether mission activities were able to be sustained both in Mesopotamia and to the east in the early Abbasid context. What this mission may have meant and involved for both the Church of the East and Muslims will also be explored from these sources. Occurring both in Christian and Muslim imaginations as well as in reality, these encounters centred in the monasteries were written about in both Christian and Muslim sources providing resources for sustenance of Church activities in the early Abbasid period. The thesis also investigates the importance of monasteries like Beit Abhe and the leadership of Patriarch Timothy for those activities, including the nature of an expansion east to places like Angamali in Malabar as well as China. The interaction between the involvement in Mesopotamia and to the east will be examined more closely than in other studies. Involvement to the east will be reflected on in how that affected the 'image' of the Church in its homeland and relationship with the Abbasids as well. Whether these monastic activities were sustained in the early ninth century is important because it offers the story of a period when the Church in Asia lived without political power yet had a history of previous involvement in witness. A similar context is still relevant in several ‘contact zones’ of the world today, where Christians struggle to understand what mission means in their context of living as minorities under Muslim role and at times are i facing existential issues of survival. Through this examination of the sources a further way of engagement is reflected on based in the nature of mission while living in difficult environments. The role of a Church subject to Muslim rule yet engaged in mission and learning activities within and beyond the regions of that rule provides a different historical paradigm than usually envisioned. The Church of the East monastery in its presence and encounter is analyzed in this thesis as a blend of a ‘contact zone’ and ‘conflict zone’ in Christian-Muslim relations of the early ninth century. Mission in this thesis is defined in these two dimensions of presence and encounter for a purpose of witness to the Christian faith, particularly from a monastic framework. Training for mission of the monks will be explored as part of the dimension of presence, focused in the monastic context. ii ‘From Beit Abhe to Angamali: Connections, Functions and Roles of the Church of the East’s Monasteries in Ninth Century Christian-Muslim Relations’ by Steve Cochrane Diploma in Biblical Studies (Genesis Training Centre) MDiv. (Union Biblical Seminary) Mission Studies Director of Studies: Prof. David Thomas Second Supervisor: Dr. David Singh House Tutor: Dr. Tim Keene A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Middlesex March 2014 Oxford Centre for Mission Studies iii iv DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed …………………………………………………………… Date …5 March, 2014…………………………………………………………… STATEMENT ONE This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated.Where correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote. Other sources are acknowledged by midnotes or footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ……………………………………………………………... Date ……5 March, 2014………………………………………………………….. STATEMENT TWO This copy has been supplied in the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I hereby give consent for my thesis, if approved, to be available for photocopying by the British Library and for Inter-Library Loan, for open access to the Electronic Theses Online Service (EthoS) linked to the British Library, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organizations. Signed ………………………………………………………………. Date …………5 March, 2014……………………………………………… v vi DEDICATED TO THE IMPERISHABLE MEMORY OF THE INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF MARTYRS OF THE CHURCH OF THE EAST WHO LIVED AND DIED IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY The above dedication appears at the beginning of John Stewart’s 1928 book on the Church of the East, written and published in South India. In including it here, I would like to add to it by honouring the memory of the martyrs of the Church of the East who have died particularly in Iraq in the last ten years. We honour the past of the Church of the East and look forward to a continued future in faith. vii viii Acknowledgements This research and thesis writing process has been a multi-year journey, at times like a marathon with its own twists and turns and detours. At other times it was like climbing a mountain, with mists covering the summit, or a false summit giving false hope that the end of the climb was closer than it really was. But whatever the metaphor and the challenges involved, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and learning, especially with hindsight! What has enabled me to continue has been the strong support of several people. For my supervisors, the support and assistance rendered has been received with deep gratefulness. Thanks to Prof. David Thomas and Dr. David Singh. They are both extremely busy, but gave me all the time I needed and were always willing for more. I’m also grateful for the faculty of the Oxford Centrefor Mission Studies and the grace-filled community of scholars there. Being a part of this global family, even though it was in tantalizingly short segments of actual residence each year, was such a privilege. Librarians have been of course crucial to this effort. I’ve been especially blessed with three of the best: Ralph Bates at the Oxford Centre, who not only guided me to sources but was unflinching in his interest in my topic. He attended all of my research seminars and had very helpful comments each time. At the Bodleian Library, for the first few years of my research an entertaining and accomplished librarian, Miss Vera Ryhajlo, was always helpful. Sadly, in my last year of research she died of cancer, and many will miss her life of joy. Thanks also to Adam Jackman, my local librarian at the Pierce County Library in Washington State, who quickly and efficiently located books for me from all over the USA. His constant help has been vital to this research. ix And for my family: I am deeply grateful for the unflinching support of my wife, Elisabeth, and my two daughters, Carin and Annalisa. All three of them lived with their husband and father spending huge amounts of time immersed in the ninth century, and for the girls that was most of their teenage years. Thanks for everything!!! Finally, in the last two years of this project several people important to me and this research have died, including Vera as mentioned above. Another was the late Brenda Hoddinott of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, who throughout my studies was a wonderful encouragement. Also in the past two years, both my parents have passed away, and I hope that somehow they were aware of these last steps in the journey. x Table of Contents Abstract i Title page iii Declaration v Dedication vii Acknowledgements ix Table of Contents xi Language Abbreviations xiv Glossary xiv Map xvi Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Alternative Story in Early Abbasid Period and its Importance 1 1.2 Relationship of this Thesis to Recent Scholarship 4 1.3 Earlier Secondary Sources 12 1.4 Methodology 14 1.5 Primary Sources 19 1.6 Outline of Chapters 22 Chapter 2: Foundations and Activities of Church of the East Monasteries until Early Ninth Century 2.1 Introduction 24 2.2 Theological Foundations for Monastic Mission 24 2.3 Monastic Mission among Arabs in the Seventh-Eighth Centuries 34 2.4 Mesopotamian Links across Indian Ocean to the Ninth Century 44 2.5 Conclusion 56 Chapter 3: Monastic Presence and Encounter in Mission: Mesopotamia and the East in Early Ninth Century 3.1 Introduction 58 3.2 Beit Abhe and Monastic Mission Activities in theEarly Ninth Century 58 xi 3.3 Beit Abhe and Monastic Presence and Encounter Among Muslims 71 3.4 Mesopotamia to the East in the Early Ninth Century and the ‘Image’ of the Church 83 3.5 Conclusion 89 Chapter 4: Training for Monastic Mission Activities in the Early Abbasid Period