MIDDLE EAST

MIDDLE EAST. The modern region that includes Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq is also the home of three ancient patriarchates-Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria-as well as two Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Copts and Syrian Jacobites together with the Assyrian Church (qq.v.). For all their ancient roots, however, each of these communities faces an uncertain future in the face of rising Muslim resentment and religious extremism. Orthodox Christians earlier this century attempted to circumvent the omnipresence of Islam (q.v.) in the region by advocating a secular Arab nationalism-e.g., the Ba’ath party in Syria and Iraq-but this initiative now appears to be failing.