The Arabic Text of the L2211 Greek-Arabic Lectionary: Textual and Liturgical Value

This paper presents the first findings of a study aiming at analyzing the various aspects of the Arabic text of the Gospels transmitted in the L2211 Greek-Arabic lectionary. The manuscript goes back to the end of the tenth century and contains unique textual and liturgical features. In addition to these features, the study of this manuscript within the paradigm of Arabic and bilingual lectionaries will shed more light on the community who produced this kind of literature. Accordingly, this contribution aims also at presenting the findings related to the study of the dialectical relation between the formation of lectionary tradition(s) among Eastern Orthodox communities. One among the various deliverables of this study is to identify the relationship between the Greek text and its Arabic translation transmitted in this important manuscript. This contribution will try to answer the following questions: Is the L2211 Arabic text a translation of the Greek one conserved in the same manuscript? If not, what would be the textual identity of the Arabic text and to which network it belongs? A special attention will be given to the potential community who compiled this bilingual lectionary. In order to answer these questions and other related issues, the paper will present and analyze the variants in Mark where L2211 differs from Nestle-Aland. On the other hand, the paper will present the reception in the Arabic tradition(s) during the first millennium of the Greek variants conserved in this manuscript. This work will require a collation with similar Arabic translations from the same period.