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.
The proceedings of the first day of the World Congress of Syriac Studies concluded with a second plenary lecture delivered by Professor Jack Tannous (Princeton University), titled "On the History of Maronite and Melkite Syriac," in which he highlighted some of the most significant moments in the long history of these ancient, universal religious traditions.
