Every four years, scholars and students in North American join across institutions to discuss the study of Syriac language and culture. The North American Syriac Symposium, held since 1991, brings together the brightest in the field to discuss topics related to the language, literature and cultural history of Syriac Christianity, extending chronologically from the first centuries C.E. to the present day.
Syriac is an ancient dialect of Aramaic. Syriac texts comprise the third largest surviving corpus of literature from the Late Antiquity (circa 4th through 7th centuries C.E.) period. These texts span political and geographical boundaries from the Middle East to South India, China and the worldwide diaspora.
“This symposium is an opportunity for scholars to share cutting-edge discoveries on a growing area of research into the history of human civilization,” explained David Michelson, associate professor of the history of Christianity and lead organizer of the 2027 Symposium.
The 2027 Symposium will be held in Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. The Divinity School regularly brings together scholars and students from across theological traditions, creating a fitting landscape for scholars to examine Syriac Christianity today.
This year’s theme, The Teaching and Study of Syriac, specifically showcases the history of Syriac language pedagogy and the development of the field of Syriac studies.
“I am particularly pleased that the Divinity School can host this conference since it marks the growth we have had in student and faculty interest in the ancient and medieval Mediterranean and Middle East over the last 15 years,” said Michelson.
More details on submitting proposals and registration information for NASS 2027 can be found on the Symposium website.