Gerasimus, a Little-known Melkite Apologist

Abstract

Gerasimus, abbot of the Monastery of St. Simeon the Stylite, located twenty kilometers from Antioch, is among the Arab Christian authors who have been unfairly overlooked by scholars. He remains a completely unknown figure in Russian scholarship. In this article, which should be considered an introduction to Gerasimus’ theology, the author aims to provide a general characterization of Gerasimus as an Arab Christian apologist. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to establish the time of Gerasimus’ literary activity, present his apologetic strategy, examine Gerasimus’ apologetics in the context of the Melkite theological-apologetic tradition, identify the features of his apologetics that distinguish him from previous authors, and, where possible, determine his patristic foundation. An analysis of Gerasimus’ main work, «The Complete Book of Healing Meaning» («Apology»), allows us to assume with a high degree of probability that this work was composed in the last third of the 13^th century. Gerasimus’ apologetic strategy consists of creating a coherent system of Christian apologetics that allows for a rational justification of the truth of Christianity and its superiority over other religions. To achieve this goal, the Antiochene apologist develops a clear algorithm for defining the true religion; formulates criteria for identifying messengers who come preaching the true religion; and seeks out additional arguments in favor of the truth of the Christian faith. Being essentially the last writer in the line of medieval Melkite theologians and apologists, Gerasimus is closely connected to the preceding Melkite tradition. Thus, the apologetic strategy he developed reveals an undeniable dependence on the works of Theodore Abu Qurrah (d. c. 830). Gerasimus’ «Apology» share certain characteristics common to most Melkite theologians: he favors rational argumentation over biblical and patristic evidence, and makes no reference to the holy fathers. The influence of Muslim theology and Islamic culture in general on Gerasimus is undeniable. At the same time, his apologetics possesses a number of distinctive features that distinguish him from Orthodox Arabic-language authors and allow allow us to consider him a highly original thinker. «The Complete Book of Healing Meaning» is rightfully considered the finest theological and apologetic work of all Melkite authors of the 8^th–13^th centuries.