Paul (Islands in the Sea)

Paul was a Catholic monk and part of a Roman delegation sent by Pope Constantine in AD 769, to a heathen Bulgar Khan named Telerikh. The purpose was to attempt to convert him and his people to Christianity. The other two emissaries were Fathers Niketas and Theodore.

The evening after their arrival in the Bulgar capital of Pliska, a delegation of Muslims also arrived intending to try to convert Telerikh to Islam. Telerikh had invited both delegations in order for them to present their respective faiths and debate each other. He would then decide which, if any, he and his people would convert to.

At the first meeting, both delegations presented gifts to Telerikh, including a Bible and a Qu'ran. Telerikh idly paged through both holy books and noticed that the Bible had pictures while the Qu'ran did not. Paul explained that they assisted in the instruction of those who could not read while Jalal ad-Din explained it was unlawful to depict either [[Allah] or people. This led to further theological discussions between the two on the differences between their religions.

After considerable time, the Kahn stated that these issues needed thought and dismissed the parties until another meeting three days later. He also warned the Christians and Muslims that they all were his guests and that they were not to fight one another.

At the next meeting, Telerikh asked the two delegations to described their beliefs and how they worshiped their common, one god. Theodore and ad-Din did so, and vigorously took exception to what the other stated until Telerikh said "Wait". He summarised their arguments as calling each other a liar which was not helpful since he could not tell which was truthful. Instead, he asked them to tell him what his people would have to do if they followed one faith or the other. It came out that he would have to give up wine and pork if he became a Muslim or Forty-six of forty-seven wives if he became a Christian. Neither was very appealing.