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So I was surfing and came across this interior picture of a Syriac Jacobite church. I was surprised on how much it resembled traditional Roman Catholic sanctuaries (minus the palm trees ) - is this common?

http://www.stmaryssharjah.com/images/DSC00193.JPG

My miniscule experience -- and the reports I've had from others -- suggest it is fairly common.

Although Roman Catholic art and architecture has influenced Orthodox ecclesiastical art and architecture in India to greater or lesser degrees (e.g., Portuguese influences), it actually is not the case in that photo. That's a typical church arranged according to the Syriac tradition. The resemblance to traditional Roman Catholic churches is coincidental.

Funny thing - I've been to that parish!!

What is the meaning of that fountain?

That isn't a fountain. Its a lamp for burning oil (Indian style).

Manoli

"typical Church in Syrian style" - does that apply to the light bulbs on top of the fake candlesticks?

On the plus side, it would clearly be impossible to serve the Luturgy "facing the people" at this altar.

Fr. Serge

Any insight as to why Middle Eastern Churches are so commonly "simple" in comparison with the Byzantine or Latin churches?

Is this, per chance, a reflection of existence within Islamic culture, and not wanting to be offensive to Muslim majorities that take issue with imagery?

I have noticed that even in many (Byzantine) Antiochian and Melkite parishes, the iconography seems downright minimal compared to their European counterparts in Greece, Slavic Countries, etc.

Of course, I did worship in a parish appointed floor to cieling by Mila Mina... so a lot seems more "subdued" to me after those years! (Technicolor icnonography that will wake you up better than strong coffee!)

I doubt that it has anything to do with being offensive to Muslim culture. I remember a documentary which mentioned of a Muslim village in Lebanon. At the archway of the village stood a statue of Our Lady of Lebanon. It was not even hidden but stood out gloriously, as a "testament" of the questionably close-knitness between Muslims and Christians. Of course, that was many years ago so I don't know if such rapport still exists.

However, perhaps the minimalist architecture is just simply an Arab trait. Could it be? Haha.

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

The reason that so much of our Churches are so minialistic is that within the Antiochene-Edessan Tradion (from which the Melkites do come) is monastic, and therefore everything within our communities reflect this.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

I'd not call the iconography in the vast majority of Melkite parishes minimalistic

Many years,

Neil

How kind, Father.

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Western Orthodoxy Blog [westernorthodox.blogspot.com]

Trying out that new thing called sarcasm? I will have to try some myself.

Is there any evidence of the way the Melkites worshipped prior to the adoption of the Byzantine rite 1,000 years ago? Was it similar to the way the Syriac Miaphysites worship?

The Melkites used to be Syriac in worship, but changed aboout a thounsand years (give or take 300 years) ago to conform with Constantinople (the Orthodox in Egypt did the same thing - switched from Coptic worship to Byzantine).