5 Traces of Russian (Church) History in the Writings of Makarios ibn al-Zaʿīm
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Abstract
Makarios III ibn al-Zaʿīm (1647–1672) was the most prolific Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox writer in early modern times. His oeuvre owes much to the several journeys he made to the Balkans, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. It was there that he found the time and inspiration for his literary work, which mainly exploited Greek texts—be it by full translations or through borrowings. Makarios showed considerable interest in the history and state of the countries that he visited, as reflected in his Chronicle of Wallachia and Accounts of the Country of the Georgians, regarded by modern scholarship as valuable sources. Makarios went to Russia twice. While the first sojourn (1655–1657) was described in detail by his son and travel-companion Paul († 1669), the second visit (1666–1669) was not captured in a similar matter. This chapter explores the traces of Russian (church) history in the writings of Makarios by analyzing four unpublished texts, editions of which are added in an Appendix: a) the story of the conversion of the Russians told by Paisios Ligarides in his “Book of Signs” and translated by Makarios; b) two notes on the religious controversies in Russia during the times of Makarios’s visits; c) a Notitia Episcopatuum of the Muscovite Patriarchate, part of a work on the seven ecumenical councils. What Makarios recounts about Russia does not have the same value and importance as his reports about Romania or Georgia. It is possible, however, to outline how Makarios saw Russia and the Russians. For him, Russia was a mighty political power and a provider of material support, but not an entity that could match—religiously, historically, and culturally—the Eastern Patriarchates, with their Apostolic origins and rich traditions.