14t> 



de Reisendes Opmærksomhed, som i nyere Tid have besogt de 

 Christne i Osten *). Grant har imidlertid Ret i at fremhæve 

 netop hos de ommeldte Stammer saavel hiin Ejendommelighed 

 som de Fortrin, hvorved de osterlandske Christne overhovedet 

 udmærke sig fremfor den romersk -kalholske Kirkes Tilhæn- 

 gere. Jo mere den sidstnævnte Kirke allerede i meget lang 

 Tid har bestræbt sig for at drage Ostens Christne over i sit 

 Skjod, og jo heldigere den har været, ofte ved temmelig hen- 

 synslos Anvendelse af alle Midler til delte Oiemeds Opnaaelse, 

 desto mere naturligt er det, at kun de ved deres fjerne og af- 

 sluttede Opholdssted mere beskyttede Bjergboere have kunnet 

 bevare deres religiose og kirkelige Ejendommelighed mod de 

 Forandringer**), som romersk- katholske Missionairer med mere 

 eller mindre Held have bevirket andensteds i disse Egne. 



Der er al Sandsynlighed for, at Christendommen allerede 

 i de forsle Tider af dens Udbredelse er bleven prædiket ved 

 selve Apostle og Apostcldisciple for Joderne Osten for Euphrat. 



*) „The first impression tb at the inquirer into the state of Eastcrn Chrislcti- 

 dom, would probably en'.crtain, wlten he caine to reflect on the objects of his 

 sur'véy, wonld be tliat ihe services, rites and liturgies of the Oricntals were, 

 ra their construction , the models of a pure llcbrew type. The form of 

 their edifices and the aspect, dress, and general appearancc of their 

 pricsts would almost recall the days of the templc worship, and the 

 strangcr vvho inhaled the odours of the incensc, listened to Ihe Chaldean 

 or Syriac tones, and marked the sacrificial bearing of the whole service, 

 might almost iinagine hiniself an assistant at one of the symbolical obla- 

 tions of the Levitical law. As his eiujniries penetrated still (leeper, he 

 would mcet vvitli slrongcr trails of rcsemblancn." 



Fletcher, Noles from Nineveh, I p. 351. 



**) „Their ignorance of the superstitions of the church of Ronie, and their 

 more simple observances and ceremonies may be clearly Iraced to a pri- 

 mitive for hi of Christianity rcceived by them before its corruptions. Iso- 

 laled amongst the rcmote vallcys of Kurdistan and cut olf from all in- 

 tercourse with olhcr Christian communitics, they have preserved, almost 

 in ils original purity, their ancient faith Corruptions may have crept in, 

 and ignorance may have led lo the neglect of doclrines and ceremonies; 

 but on the whole, it is a matter of wondcr, that afler the lapse of nearly 

 seventeen centnries, the Chaldæans should be what they are. 



Layrtrd l, 268. 



