The 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies (Symposium Syriacum)
and
The 12th Conference on Christian Arabic Studies
Bucharest, Romania, August 3rd – 7th, 2026
Press Release
We are proud to announce that two prestigious academic events, the 14th edition of the World Congress of Syriac Studies (Symposium Syriacum) and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arab Studies will, for the first time in South-Eastern Europe, take place in Bucharest from August 3rd – 7th, 2026. Our team was entrusted the mandate to organize these events during the 2022 World Congress of Syriac Studies in Paris, with unanimous approval from the international scholarly community. This edition represents a remarkable opportunity to reinforce intercultural dialogue and intensify efforts dedicated to the preservation of Syriac and Arab Christian heritage, eloquently reflected in the congress' theme of "Peace and Dialogue – Prerequisites for the Protection of Literary and Material Heritage."
Syriac and Arab Christian studies are essential for understanding the literary and cultural heritage of the Middle East. Recent conflicts in the region have highlighted the vulnerability of priceless church manuscripts and artifacts, reflecting the plight of Syriac and Arab Christian communities. Preserving this heritage is essential for maintaining a continuous understanding of the region's cultural past and for highlighting its contributions to universal history and culture.
The Congress aims to strengthen intercultural dialogue, drawing on Western academic expertise, on Orthodox schools of thought and on Christian traditions in the Middle East. In a period marked by deep division, Syriac and Arab Christianity deserve renewed attention for their profound importance for global cultural history. Moreover, Syriac Christian culture represents one of the most valuable strands of Eastern literature, holding particular significance in having preserved the language spoken by Christ Himself.
The Congress' proposed theme aims to facilitate dialogue between cultures and historical Christian traditions. In keeping with previous editions, the scientific papers presented will address a broad range of themes concerning the Syriac and Arab Christian traditions, including the transmission and preservation of manuscripts containing texts on biblical exegesis, asceticism, philokalia, important sources for philology, manuscripts on traditional medicine from religious communities, sources of canon and civil law adopted by schools of thought within the two linguistic traditions, theological treatises, broad interreligious and interdenominational perspectives, as well as texts on rhetoric, philosophy and related sciences in a Syriac and Arab Christian context.
Contributions investigating the interconnections between the Syriac and Arab Christian traditions and other Eastern religious traditions are also encouraged, with a special emphasis on the dialogue cultivated around common sources, shared social values, educational principles, and Eastern liturgical practices developed over centuries.
A History of the Congress and its Academic Tradition
The World Congress of Syriac Studies is a prestigious academic event held every four years since 1972, bringing together leading international specialists in Syriac and Arab Christian history, language, culture, theology, and church life. Previous editions were held in Rome (1972 and 2016), Chantilly (1976), Göttingen (1980), Groningen (1984), Louvain (1988), Cambridge (1992), Uppsala and Lund (1996), Sydney (2000), Beirut (2004), Granada (2008), Valletta (2012), Paris (2022), and, for the first time in Romania, in Bucharest (2026). Since the 1980 edition in Göttingen, the Conference on Christian Arabic Studies has been held in parallel with the Symposium Syriacum.
A Necessary and Urgent Academic Voice
In the context of ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the preservation of Syriac and Arab Christian culture has become more critical than ever. Researchers have a duty to counteract destructive influences, protecting the historical and cultural identity of Eastern communities. Beyond the physical destruction of churches, libraries, and manuscripts, these communities also face the risk of erasure from global cultural memory. The Congress aims to highlight the heritage of these ancient ecclesiastical centers and reaffirm the importance of preserving and promoting academic study of the interconnected Christian traditions of the Middle East, which have played an essential role in the global transmission of knowledge. Furthermore, the event will challenge the growing tendency to marginalize the relevance of this Christian heritage, and of its ancestral roots, for contemporary society.
Boasting some of the most prolific Christian manuscript traditions, Syriac and Arab Christian communities distinguished themselves by playing a fundamental role in the preservation and transmission of Aristotelian philosophy, as well as in the development of medicine, astronomy and other sciences during the medieval period. Alongside their liturgical and literary contributions, these communities carried out an essential transfer of knowledge by translating Greek texts into Syriac and Arabic, thereby facilitating their reintroduction into the European and, later, global intellectual consciousness.
By way of this process of translation, adaptation, and dissemination, these communities have preserved and perpetuated fundamental intellectual traditions that would otherwise have been doomed to oblivion.
Romania 2026: a Platform for Christian Cultural Dialogue
The 2026 edition of Congress will serve as a premier platform for academic exchange dedicated to Syriac and Arabic Christian heritage, strengthening scholarly ties between Romania, the Middle East and the international Western research community. By promoting a polyphony of Eastern Christian traditions in dialogue, the event will contribute to contemporary efforts to recover and capitalize upon Eastern cultural heritage. Given that Romania possesses a distinct Byzantine cultural memory – as the successor to the model formulated by Nicolae Iorga of a "Byzance apres Byzance" – and aims to ewassert its historical role as a bridge between the Near East and the West, the World Congress of Syriac Studies will highlight the importance of inter-Christian dialogue and support academic initiatives to protect Eastern literary and cultural heritage which is currently facing tremendous pressure from global crises and transformations.
Respect for History: A Commitment to Protecting Christian Values and Cultural Resilience
The congress will also draw attention to the difficulties faced by Syriac and Arab Christians, a plight apparent today in conflict zones both near and far from Romania itself. The current crises in the Middle East as well as at Europe's borders call for a careful reflection on recent history and on the fundamental role the academic community has to play in shaping a stable future in which historical Christian values can assert their importance and potential for promoting social cohesion, understanding and peace. As Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako and Assyrian Catholicos Mar Awa III have frequently highlighted, Christians of the Syriac tradition have endured persecution, displacement, and the destruction of their inherited heritage – harrowing experiences that also reflect the suffering of communities affected by conflicts worldwide.
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August 7
Bucharest Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Syriac and Christian Arabic Heritage
adopted at the
14th World Congress of Syriac Studies (Symposium Syriacum) and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies
Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, August 7 2026
read more »»»August 7
For the past five days, Romania has been the global hub for scientific research on Syriac Christianity and the Christian traditions of the Middle East. The 2030 edition will take place in Tokyo
The final day of the Symposium Syriacum offered a representative overview of the vitality of Syriac studies and of the communities and faiths that sustain this field of scientific inquiry.
Following five days of intense academic dialogue, the World Congress of Syriac Studies and International Conference of Christian Arab Studies conference reaffirmed their status as the most important international scholarly forum dedicated to Syriac studies and Eastern Christianity, bringing together scholars from around the world to explore a cultural and spiritual heritage of exceptional value.
August 7
Sustainable development and the culture of peace, topics of discussion at the World Congress of Syriac Studies
Leading experts in the fields of cultural and religious diplomacy, history, anthropology and public policy gathered for this plenary debate which echoed the central theme of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Christian Arab Studies (Palace of Parliament, August 3rd – 7th, 2026): 'Protecting Christian cultural heritage in the Middle East: towards sustainable development and a culture of peace'.
read more »»»August 7
USB-ACT, partner of the Levant Institute in organizing the World Congress of Syriac Studies, officially joins the "Culture of Peace through Education" initiative
At the closing ceremony of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies, Emilia Iovan, Director General of the Union of Students of Bucharest – ACT, announced the organization's accession to the "Culture of Peace through Education" initiative, promoted by Professor Emeritus Emil Constantinescu, President of the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in the Culture of Peace.
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August 6
An unforgettable cultural evening at the St Tecla Complex for the participants of the World Congress of Syriac Studies
On the fourth day of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies (Palace of Parliament, August 3rd – 7th, 2026), in the presence of Emeritus Professor Emil Constantinescu, President of the Levant Institute of Advanced Studies for the Culture of Peace, and of His Holiness, Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, the 400 participants from 33 countries and 176 renowned global universities were treated to a moving evening at the Saint Thecla Complex – an impressive religious, social and community complex finalized only this spring in Bucharest.
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August 6
Day 4
The fourth day of the Symposium Syriacum continued the fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue established during the previous sessions, while also allowing for the exploration of new research methodologies in the field of Syriac studies.
The day's first plenary session was led by independent researcher Valentina Duca, who analyzed how the mystical language of Isaac of Nineveh took shape at the confluence of the Greek and Syriac traditions, offering insight into the circulation and transformation of spiritual concepts across Eastern Christianity.
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August 5
Day 3
The third day of the Symposium Syriacum confirmed the breadth and diversity of contemporary research dedicated to Syriac heritage, highlighting once again the profoundly interdisciplinary nature of Syriac studies and their relevance to understanding the late Antique and medieval worlds.
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August 4
Day 2
Four parallel sessions, 67 speakers from 51 universities and research centers around the world, grouped into 11 thematic panels: this was the summary of the second day of proceedings for the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies, organized by the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in the Culture of Peace, together with its national and international partners – demonstrating the richness and vitality of Syriac heritage, which continues to generate new topics and directions for scientific research.
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August 3
Day 1
Scholars from the world's most prestigious research centres (Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong) are transforming the halls of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest into a space for dialogue where centuries-old manuscripts, nearly forgotten languages, and cutting-edge research tell a cohesive story about people, heritage, and civilizations.
The Congress's first plenary lecture was delivered by Professor Kevin van Bladel (Yale University) on the topic of "Demystifying Syriac," an analysis of how both the tradition and the history of this ancient Levantine culture are interpreted in contemporary research. The programme for the first day of proceedings continued with four parallel sessions and fifty presenters, grouped into eleven panels dedicated to "Manuscript Culture," "Biblical Philology and Translation," "New Methodologies in Syriac Studies," "Monastic Tradition," as well as the works of Narsai and Isaac of Antioch. The manuscripts from Turfan, the oasis city in China located on the ancient Silk Road, also received special attention today.
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August 3
The official opening of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Christian Arab Studies returns Romania to the ongoing dialogue among the great academic and spiritual traditions of the Christian East
Our shared responsibility in edifying a culture of peace in our communities, with global implications, is not merely an option – but an urgent duty to ensure that peace no longer only means a respite achieved in the absence of war.
In today's society, where differences are used as pretexts for division, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue – together with accurate and clear information disseminated by the academic milieu – represent two complementary pillars we require in order to remind ourselves of the true meaning of humanity. Dialogue is no longer a theological or academic luxury, but a shield for all of civil society against radicalization and division. Violence and hatred invoked in the name of God are, in fact, the greatest denial of His Divine Grace.
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August 3
Opening Remarks of President Emil Constantinescu at the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies
”Our shared responsibility in edifying a culture of peace in our communities, with global implications, is not merely an option – but an urgent duty to ensure that peace no longer only means a respite achieved in the absence of war.
In today’s society, where differences are used as pretexts for division, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue – together with accurate and clear information disseminated by the academic milieu – represent two complementary pillars we require in order to remind ourselves of the true meaning of humanity. Dialogue is no longer a theological or academic luxury, but a shield for all of civil society against radicalization and division. Violence and hatred invoked in the name of God are, in fact, the greatest denial of His Divine Grace”.
read more »»»
August 3
Bartholomeu I and Emil Constantinescu: a dialogue continued through a Message sent by the Patriarch to the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference of Christian Arab Studies, currently taking place in Bucharest
read more »»»August 3
The legacy of a two-thousand-year-old Church and the suffering of Christian communities in the Middle East, presented to the Romanian Parliament by the Patriarch of Antioch
The message of His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Primate of the Syriac Orthodox Church to the official opening ceremony of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies, organized by the Levant Institute and the Romanian Academy, brought the voice of one of the world's oldest Christian traditions to the participants' attention.
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August 3
The Message of His Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel, to the World Congress of Syriac Studies
On Monday, His Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel, delivered a message to the opening session of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference of Christian Arabic Studies, which is taking place between August 3rd and 7th at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.
The message was read out by His Eminence Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, Honorary Metropolitan and Patriarchal Exarch. In his address, the Patriarch of Romania highlighted the historical ties between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch, recalling the decisive contribution of the Romanian Principalities to the development of Orthodox printing in the Arabic language.
Our thanks go out to the Basilica News Agency for allowing us to reproduce this message in its entirety.
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August 3
Message from His Excellency Aurel Percă, Archbishop-Metropolitan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest, addressed to the World Congress of Syriac Studies
The welcome message was delivered during the official opening ceremony of the Congress by Fr. Daniel Bulai, Episcopal Vicar of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest and Head of the Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest for its support in organizing this unique event and for granting permission to reproduce this message in its entirety.
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August 3
Acad. Wilhelm Dancă, Vice-president of Romanian Academy: A Few Remarks on the Connection Between Romanian Culture and Syrian and Arab Christianity
”I am deeply honored to address you on behalf of the Romanian Academy with a few words of welcome. My congratulations and feelings of satisfaction—which are shared by my colleagues of the Romanian Academy—are not merely formal. I will now present three pieces of evidence that demonstrate the connections between Romanian culture and Syrian and Arab Christianity, on the one hand, and explain, on the other, why we are truly delighted that these scholarly events are taking place in Romania’s capital.”
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August 3
László Borbély, Coordinator of the Department of Sustainable Development, Government of Romania: ”The 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals, yet none of them is specifically dedicated to culture”
”Romania is a wonderful country with five distinct ecosystems, something unique in Europe. We have the Pontic region, the Steppe, the Continental zone, the Pannonian region, and the Alpine region, all of them remarkable natural areas. We are also proud that all 19 national minorities are represented in the Romanian Parliament. I belong to the Hungarian minority, and I believe it is a remarkable example that every minority has a voice in Parliament. Different cultures, different religions, and different regions of Romania form an extraordinary heritage. We should make the best possible use of this diversity”.
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August 3
Ioan Vulpescu, President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy: ”East and West constitute a twofold, interdependent paradigm through which we may live our faith while remaining true to ourselves”
”As President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, I welcome with gratitude and profound emotion the World Congress of Syriac Studies, hosted for the first time in 54 years in Eastern Europe and, more specifically, in Romania. You may regard this as a hallmark of our institutional and spiritual maturity. We share a common history of martyrs and heroes, of historical witnesses and agents; common, unromanticised perspectives on cosmology and metaphysics; and a shared experience of navigating the centres and peripheries of global power through ecumenical engagement, spiritual union and patristic heritage.”
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July 28
Interview with His Holiness, Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, conducted by Cătălin-Ștefan Popa, director-general of the Levant Institute of Advanced Studies for the Culture of Peace, chair of the 14th Symposium Syriacum and the 12th Conference of Christian Arabic Studies
read more »»»July 28
The Patriarch of one of the world’s oldest Christian Churches visits Romania for the first time: The Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Awa III, addresses the World Congress of Syriac Studies, organised by the Levant Institute and the Romanian Academy
As part of the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies (Symposium Syriacum) and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies (Palace of Parliament, August 3rd – 7th, 2026), the Romanian capital is hosting a visit from His All-Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
read more »»»July 17
Dr. Cătălin-Ștefan Popa, a laureate of the Distinction for Excellence of the 2026 Regal Literar Awards
Dr. Cătălin-Ștefan Popa, Director-general of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, was chosen as the recipient of the Distinction for Excellence during the 7th (2026) edition of the Regal Literar Awards, following the jury's deliberations and upon the nomination of Academician Ioan-Aurel Pop.
The Regal Literar Awards, conferred by the Regal Literar Magazine, aim to honour individuals who, through their effort and activity, have made outstanding contributions to the development of Romanian literature, culture, and spiritual life. The Distinction for Excellence was conferred to Dr. Cătălin-Ștefan Popa owing to the erudition and perseverance with which he has brought Syriac heritage and the complexity of the Oriental religious experience back into the spotlight of the Romanian academic world, integrating it into the discourse of major contemporary debates on issues of memory, identity, and spirituality.
July 2
Brepols Publishers at the 2026 Symposium Syriacum
Another internationally renowned academic publisher, Brepols, joins the proceedings of the 14th The World Congress of Syriac Studies, organized under the auspices of the Romanian Parliament by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization in partnership with the Romanian Academy and the Romanian Foundation for Democracy from August 3rd–7th, 2026 at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.
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June 31
Harrassowitz Verlag at Symposium Syriacum 2026
With approximately 4,000 volumes, around 150 book series, more than 30 journals and yearbooks, and roughly 250 new publications annually, Harrassowitz Verlag is unquestionably among the most important scholarly publishers worldwide. Its participation in the proceedings of the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies will allow participants to become familiar with key works published under its imprint at a dedicated exhibition stand, organized throughout the entire duration of the congress in Bucharest.
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June 29
The Journeys of the Apostle Paul and the Spread of Christianity from the Levant to the Roman Empire
The cartographic material we present on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, created by our colleague, Dr. Daniel Iosif, illustrates the process of geographical expansion that transformed a local religious movement that emerged in first-century Palestine into a universal religion that came to dominate the Mediterranean basin.
Christianity emerged after the execution of Jesus of Nazareth around A.D. 30 under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. While its first communities formed in Jerusalem, its actual expansion began with local persecutions and the dispersal of believers who carried the message further into Syria, Cilicia and beyond.
June 26
Peeters Publishers at the 2026 Symposium Syriacum
Another leading European publisher of scholarly books and journals, Peeters Publishers, joins the prestigious international publishing houses that have confirmed their participation in the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies for the Culture and Civilization of the Levant, in partnership with the Romanian Academy and the Romanian Parliament, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest between August 3rd and 7th, 2026.
read more »»»June 22
Gorgias Press, a leading name among international academic publishers attending the “2026 Symposium Syriacum”
The Gorgias Press booth at the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies will allow participants to the event arriving from outside the field of academic Christian studies to familiarize themselves with the Congress's main themes, exemplified by the selection of volumes from Gorgias Press's extensive catalogue present at the Symposium Syriacum 2026 in Bucharest.
read more »»»June 17
De Gruyter Brill, among the international publishing houses attending the “2026 Symposium Syriacum”
One of the most prestigious international publishers of academic literature, De Gruyter Brill, has confirmed its participation in the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies that the Institute of Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, in partnership with the Romanian Academy and the Romanian Parliament, is organizing at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest from August 3rd to 7th, 2026.
read more »»»April 24
An Exceptional Discovery in Syriac Studies
Aramaic, the language spoken in the Near East in Antiquity and traditionally associated with the time of Jesus Christ, underpinned the development of the Syriac language—a literary dialect in which some of the earliest Christian texts were written.
It is in this highly specialized field that Cătălin-Ștefan Popa, an expert in Syriac Christianity and Christian communities in the Middle East, whose contribution has drawn the attention of the international scientific community through his study of a manuscript belonging to the Harklean tradition of the New Testament, has focused his efforts.
read more »»»April 18
International Heritage Day
Protecting Middle Eastern heritage – the theme of the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference of Christian Arabic Studies, organized by the Levant Institute in partnership with the Romanian Academy and the Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodox Christianity, under the auspices of the Romanian Parliament
Since 1982, International Day for Monuments and Sites has been observed on April 18th, under UNESCO’s aegis. The theme chosen by UNESCO for 2026 is “Rapid response for safeguarding living heritage in conflict and disaster contexts”.
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