Eulogia and the Blessing Word: A Comparative Study of the Holy Bread in Byzantine Theology and Baraka in Islamic Mysticism
Subject Areas :
1 - Islamic Studies Department, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. t.fahiminajm@iau.ac.ir
Keywords: Keywords: Eulogia, Logos, Baraka, Ibn ʿArabī, Churc,
Abstract :
This article adopts a comparative approach to examine the concept of the holy bread in Byzantine theology, known as Eulogia, and the notion of Baraka in Islamic mysticism, particularly in the works of Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between matter and the Word within these two religious traditions and to explain their role in shaping the religious understanding of the world. In both traditions, bread is regarded not merely as physical nourishment but as a vessel for the manifestation of the divine Word and the transmission of sacred grace. In the Eucharistic rite, Eulogia serves as the bearer of the Logos and a sign of the real presence of Christ in material existence, reinforcing the idea of divine indwelling in the world. In Islamic mysticism, bread symbolizes divine mercy (al-Raḥma) and the Breath of the Merciful (Nafas al-Raḥmānī), from which blessing, meaning, and spiritual life emanate. This research, based on an analysis of primary Byzantine and Islamic texts and theological, exegetical, and mystical sources, seeks to propose a shared model for understanding the sanctification of matter through the divine Word. The study employs conceptual analysis, hermeneutical interpretation, and comparative methodology to deepen the comprehension of the matter-Word connection in religious traditions.
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