Animals and Humans: Some Perspectives from an Eastern Christian Tradition

The article looks at the relationship of human beings to animals as seen from the Syriac Christian tradition. In the absence of any detailed discussion of the topic among Syriac authors, the focus of attention is on the general approach of two influential writers, the poet-theologian Ephrem (died AD 373) and the monastic author Isaac the Syrian (7th century), as illustrated above all by their interpretation of the two parts of Gen. 1:26 and the relationship between the “image of God” in which humanity is created and the “dominion/authority” conferred upon it. Also considered is the effect of sanctity upon animals.