The Correspondence of Musa ¿rabulsi (1732-1787)

The correspondence of Musa ¿rabulsi preserved in the unique MS 300 of the Orthodox Syriac Patriarchate in Homs is a collection of 69 letters received mainly by Musa from various correspondents during his tenure as a secretary of Patriarch Sylvester of Antioch (1724-1766) and his travels in the Patriarch's company. The letters exchanged by Yusuf Mark and Musa ¿rabulsi illustrate the help that Sylvester received in Moldavia and Wallachia and his efforts to secure the printing of Christian Arabic books there in 1745-1747, and in Beirut in 1750-1753. Other letters connect Elias Fakhr and Sofronios of Kilis with this circle of Syrian intellectuals who supported many of Patriarch Sylvester's projects.

The volume contains the Arabic edition of the letters, an English translation, an introduction presenting the biography of Musa ¿rabulsi and key figures in the letters, a codicological study of the manuscript, and indexes. Through various sources, the editor was able to gather new bibliographical material. Thanks to these findings, we now have a deeper knowledge of the Nawfal family members, Musa himself, the books that interested him, and his translation activity. The present edition demonstrates that Musa was an exceptional figure in the history of the Antiochian patriarchate during the challenging period following the 1724 division. Although he did not attain higher ecclesiastical ranks, he was held in special esteem by the clergy of the patriarchate.