Early Byzantine mosaics in the Middle East

Eastern Christians have played an important role in the culture of the Orient since the Christianization of the East ( in the 1st century AD). So Christians have, inter alia, important contributions to the standardization of the Arabic language made ​​( Hunayn ibn Ishaq, for example ) but also to other languages ​​such as Armenian, Aramaic, etc. Oriental Christians are as cultural workers in all areas of culture find ( literature, painting, visual and performing arts, music, film, etc.).

Modern Times

Oriental Christians ( creative artists and intellectuals ) of the modern era

Characteristic of the Christian cultural workers in the East is theirs, compared to the other population groups, generally, higher education, their knowledge of foreign languages ​​(even contact with Western cultures, for example, by studying abroad and abroad ), their consciousness as a minority and as Christians in the Islam -dominated countries to live. In their works, they take into consideration both the religious and political feelings of the majority population, but at the same time they try to put a new impetus to promote the development of culture and society.

Many Christian cultural workers act as intellectuals and elite in their countries or in their cultural space and are involved in the public and in politics (eg, for human rights, freedom of speech, civil rights, etc.).

Because of their commitment some of the Christian cultural workers are persecuted or killed (for example, Samir Kassir and Gebran Tueni, etc).

The importance of the Eastern Christians as cultural workers in the East is Saudi Arabian Prince Walid highlighted by Islamic artists and some Islamic rulers, for example. But Islamists and Muslim fundamentalists and the totalitarian ruler in the East and sympathizers of both groups are Eastern Christians very critical to very hostile. Christians are their opinion, both " pro-Western " and " non-system- supporting" when they stand up for justice and democracy. Apart from this there is often a collective compulsion of these groups that known Christians should convert to Islam.

  • Youssef Chahine (1926-2008) Egyptian film director
  • Samir Kassir (1948-2005) Lebanese intellectuals and journalists
  • Gebran Tueni (1957-2005) Lebanese journalist, politician, journalist
  • Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese writer and painter
  • Amin Maalouf (* 1945) Lebanese writer
  • Emily Nasrallah ( born 1931 ), Lebanese writer
  • Albert Cossery (1913-2008) Egyptian writer
  • Edward Said (1935-2003) Palestinian intellectuals and Anglist
  • Joseph -Charles Mardrus (1868-1949) physician and poet
  • Ghassan Tueni Lebanese editor, politician and diplomat
  • Fairuz ( b. 1935 ), Lebanese singer
  • George Wassouf Syro- Lebanese singer
  • Eduard El- Kharrat Egyptian writer
  • Antun Saada (1904-1949) Lebanese journalist, politician and writer
  • Ibrahim Al- Yazigi (1846-1906) Lebanese journalist, scholar and translator

Cultural workers abroad ( selection)

  • George Khoury (1912-1983) Egyptian- American actor
  • Georges Moustaki ( Yussef Mustacchi ) ( 1934-2013 ) Egyptian- Greek- French singer and lyricist
  • Dalida (1933-1987) Franco-Egyptian singer and actress
  • Charles Aznavour (* 1924) Armenian- French singer and actor
  • Rafik Shami (* 1946) Syrian- German writer ( Christian Aramaic minority )
  • Suleman Taufiq * 1953 Syrian- German writer
  • Abed Azrié Syrian- French musician and singer living in Paris
Ibrahim al-Yaziji Rafik Schami Eastern Christianity
187179
de