Theodore Khoury

rdf:langString Theodore Khoury

rdf:langString Adel Theodor Khoury (Arabic: عادل خوري) (born March 26, 1930 in Tebnine, Lebanon) is a Catholic theologian and historian of Christianity and Islam. After theological studies Khoury entered priesthood in 1953. He also pursued philosophy and Oriental studies in Beirut before receiving a doctoral degree in Lyon. From 1970 until his retirement in 1993 Khoury was professor of general religious studies (Allgemeine Religionswissenschaft) in the Catholic-Theological Department of Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany, where he twice served as head of the department. Khoury is notable for his publications on Islam and his efforts toward interfaith understanding. In 1985 he was named advisor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. In 1997 he was awarded the Austrian distinction "Grand Decoration of Honour" for his efforts to promote Christian-Muslim dialogue. His 12-volume commentary of the Quran (1990-2001) also won recognition in the Muslim world. His thematic concordance and German translation of the Quran was selected in Iran as "book of the year" in 2009. Khoury is also known for his comprehensive surveys of Byzantine anti-Islamic polemics. His edition of dialogues of the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos with an "educated Persian" gained wider attention when it was cited in a 2006 speech of Pope Benedict XVI which sparked worldwide controversy. A Festschrift in honor of Khoury's 60th birthday was published in 1990. In 2004, Khoury is said to have witnessed a miracle in , where had stigmata. [1]