Ottoman Berats (charters 1 1 The authors prefer to use the term Berat, a Turkish expression which is also used extensively in the literature. The term ‘charter’ has more institutional meaning and since each Patriarch received its own specific Berat so the word charter does not give the full meaning. ) were official documents issued by Sultans delineating the tasks, powers, exemptions and concessions granted to Greek Orthodox Patriarchs to be the applicable within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchs. The Berat also showed that the Patriarch was elected by the Synod and approved by the Sultan. A Patriarch who did not have Berat could not perform his duties or exercise executive authority. This article critically examines the Berats of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem in the period 1873–1931. These Berats are analysed in terms of their contents as well as in connection to the way non-Muslims were subject to rules which applied to the domestic relations of the Greek Orthodox community and to public law areas which came within the scope of Sharia law.
