From the Holy Mountain: A Journey Among the Christians of the Middle East
'From the Holy Mountain: A Journey Among the Christians of the Middle East' by William Dalrymple is a travelogue that follows the author's exploration of the Middle East in the mid-1990s, tracing the path of a 6th-century monk through Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. Dalrymple delves into the lives of ordinary people, particularly monks and Christians, comparing their situations in the 1990s to those of Christians who resided in the region 1,500 years prior. The book offers insights into the history of Christianity in the Middle East, shedding light on the challenges faced by Christian communities in the region over centuries.
Dalrymple's narrative skillfully intertwines vivid touristic descriptions with historical accounts of Christianity under various empires and modern rule, providing a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East. The author's journey uncovers the decline of native Christian populations in the Holy Lands, accentuating the complexities of religious coexistence amidst geopolitical conflicts and societal changes in the region.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains elements of violence, persecution, and discussions of trauma related to religious minorities.
From The Publisher:
In 587 a.d., two monks set off on an extraordinary journey that would take them in an arc across the entire Byzantine world, from the shores of the Bosphorus to the sand dunes of Egypt. On the way John Moschos and his pupil Sophronius the Sophist stayed in caves, monasteries, and remote hermitages, collecting the wisdom of the stylites and the desert fathers before their fragile world finally shattered under the great eruption of Islam. More than a thousand years later, using Moschos's writings as his guide, William Dalrymple sets off to retrace their footsteps and composes "an evensong for a dying civilization" -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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