When Ephrem Meets the Maya: Defining and Adapting the Syriac Orthodox Tradition in Guatemala

When Ephrem Meets the Maya: Defining and Adapting the Syriac Orthodox Tradition in GuatemalaHugoye: Journal of Syriac StudiesSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference PortalThe National Endowment for the HumanitiesThe International Balzan Prize FoundationDavid A. Michelsoncbsc_adminRecord added to Zotero bycbsc_adminSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference Portalhttp://syriaca.org/cbss/DRD7FWFB/tei

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2024-08-15-04:00

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CREATED: This bibl record was autogenerated from a Zotero record.AnnaHagerWhen Ephrem Meets the Maya: Defining and Adapting the Syriac Orthodox Tradition in Guatemalahttp://syriaca.org/cbss/DRD7FWFBhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/a_comprehensive_bibliography_on_syriac_studies/items/DRD7FWFBhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/4861694/items/DRD7FWFBHugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies23:22020215-262The establishment of a Syriac Orthodox archdiocese in Guatemala and Central America in 2013 marked the appearance of Syriac Christianity in a context that is linguistically, historically, and ethnically radically different from communities in the Middle East and Western diasporas. These “Guatemalan Syriac Orthodox” are predominantly Maya and former Roman Catholics from mostly poor rural areas, displaying Catholic Charismatic-type practices. This article is concerned with Syriac Orthodoxy as a tradition defined by the Church leadership for the Guatemalan context, which was subsequently adapted in Guatemala through negotiation between the local clergy and lay communities. Through this union, the Syriac Orthodox Church has defined what she considers non-negotiable aspects of her tradition (liturgy, Syriac language, etc.) and, more importantly, she has been able to engage in a dynamic of growth outside the Middle East, India, and her diaspora communities and (re)claim a universal scope grounded in the biblical event of Antioch. This article adopts a pluri-disciplinary approach using field work conducted in Los Angeles and Guatemala in late 2018 as well as sources in Spanish, Arabic, English. Hager, Anna. “When Ephrem Meets the Maya: Defining and Adapting the Syriac Orthodox Tradition in Guatemala.” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 23:2 (2020): 215–62. Anna Hager, When Ephrem Meets the Maya: Defining and Adapting the Syriac Orthodox Tradition in Guatemala, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 23:2 (2020): 215–62.AmericaJacobitesXIX-XXI CEXXI CEmission