Volume 7, issue 1 (summer 1999)
Byz-Niz
Conferenties, Symposia
25th Annual Byzantine Studies Conference
25th Annual Byzantine Studies Conference, University of Maryland, College Park, U.S.A., 4-7 November 1999. Enquiries: Prof. Kathleen Corrigan ([email protected]) or George Majeska ([email protected]),theme: 25 years of the Byzantine Studies Conference.
The Eighth International Congress for Syriac Studies
The University of Sydney, Department of Semitic Studies:The Eighth International Congress for Syriac Studies (Monday 26 June - Friday 30th June 2000), also: The Sixth International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies (Sunday 2nd July - Wednesday 5th July 2000).
For further info:
Prof. R.Y. Ebeid
Dept. of Semitic Studies
The University of Sydney
Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
E-mail:
[email protected]
tel. +61 2 9351 3530 fax. +61 2 9351 6684
Prayer, Magic, and the Stars in the Ancient and Late Antique World
Interdisciplinary symposium on Prayer, Magic, and the Stars in the Ancient and Late Antique World: March 3-5, 2000, University of Washington-Seattle
A desire to tap into the divine (or demonic) powers of the cosmos, especially those powers linked to the heavens, pervades the history of religion in the ancient and late antique world. This symposium examines the manifold techniques and traditions -- both sanctioned and unsanctioned, individual and communal -- by which men and women in the ancient and late antique world sought to gain access to that power. To explore this topic, we have invited a group of speakers whose expertise ranges from ancient Mesopotamian astronomy and astrology to the Christian magical papyri of early Islamic Egypt.
Jonathan Z. Smith of the University of Chicago will deliver the key-note address for the colloquium.
For more information about the symposium, please see our web site at:
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~snoegel/stars.html
Please write: Scott Noegel ([email protected], or Joel Walker ([email protected]). Please send any inquiries via regular US mail to:
Dr. Scott Noegel
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization
Box 353120
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
U.S.A.
Kerknieuws/Church news
In Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, a church of the Byelorussian Autocephalous Church by the name of the Church of the Holy Protection (Eglwys yr Amddiffyniad Sanctaidd) has recently bought a church building which formerly belonged to the Anglican Church. This branch of the Orthodox Church in Wales, which has its own Liturgy in Welsh, has existed for several years, but a major renovation will give to this part of the world a new church.
The Church of the Holy Protection has published some fine postcards of icons painted there, and a cassette with the Divine Liturgy in Welsh. Address:
11, Manod Road,
Blaenau Ffestiniog,
Gwynedd LL41 4DE
North Wales
Ontvangen/Received
Dionysius n.s. Vol. 16 (1998), ISSN 0705-1085
Salsus Books Catalogue 34, containing Liturgy, Biblical Studies, Theology, Church History. Salsus Books, 193 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9AD: postal business only. Fax ++44 121 426 4096.
Peregrina Publishing Co.: Spring 1999 Catalogue, containing translated Lives of Medieval female saints. Address: 17 Woodside Avenue, Toronto, Canada, M6P 1L6
Byzantine Studies in Australia Newsletter, May 1999 (electronic version); ISSN 0155-042x; information: [email protected]
Berichten
Entdeckung neuer syrischer Handschriften im Tur 'Abdin
Nach Informationen des türkisches Fernsehens wurden neue syrische Handschriften im Tur Abdin entdeckt in November 1998.
Bei der Razzia nach PKK-Kämpfern im Bochtan-Gebirge hatte das türkische Militär zufällig mehrere syrische Handschriften entdeckt. Der Ort des Handschriften-schatzes ist das früher von Syrern bewohnte und jetzt verlassene Dorf Dera, oberhalb von Gozarto (türk. Cizre). Allerdings ist noch nicht bekannt, ob es sich um das Obere oder das Untere Dera händelt.
Die gefundenen syrischen Handschriften waren in einem syrischen Kirchengebäude versteckt, möglicherweise um Plünderung und Raub zu verhindern.
Mehr ist über den genauen Inhalt der Handschriften nicht bekannt. Nach den türkischen TV-Nachrichten ging es um "syrische" und "hebräische" Texte. Eine von den vor der Kamera gezeigten Handschriften war im ostsyrischen "Madenhoyo"-Schrifttyp, welchen die Ostsyrer ("Nestorianer") verwenden. Bei den Texten, die die türkischen Journalisten als "hebräische Handschriften" bezeichneten, dürfte es sich eher um den "Estrangelo"-Schriftyp handeln. Estrangelo und Hebräisch können für Nicht-Syrischkenner sehr ähnlich erscheinen.
Wann und warum diese Handschriften versteckt wurden, darüber kann man nur spekulieren. Es ist jedoch eine Reihe von ähnlichen Fällen im Tur 'Abdin und der Umgebung bekannt: während des Massakers durch die Türken am Ende des letzten und am Anfang dieses Jahrhunderts versteckten die Syrer ihre Schätze - vor allem syrische Handschriften - vor Plünderung, Raub oder Vernichtung in den Kirchen, in Ruinen oder einfach in den Bergen.
(Gabriel Rabo, 3 December 1998)
Istanbul Mayor Hosts Meeting with Religious Minority Leaders
January 29, 1999
Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna held an unprecedented breakfast meeting in Istanbul on Thursday, January 28, 1999, with religious leaders of the Greek, Armenian, Jewish minorities and the heads of Catholic and Syrian Orthodox churches. The breakfast meeting, held in honor of the religious leaders, was held at the Malta Kiosk in Yildiz Park. "If we look at differences as nature's mosaic, we will see a great deal," Gurtuna told the religious leaders. Participating at the meeting were Orthodox Church Patriarch Bartholomew, the head of Turkey's 4,000-member Greek community, Armenian Church Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, head of the 60,000-strong Armenian Gregorian community in Turkey, Isak Haleva, acting chief rabbi of the 25,000-member Jewish community; Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox Church and bishop of 15,000 Syrian Orthodox Turks, and Lui Pelatra, head of the holy synod of Catholic communities of Turkey. The country has about 40,000 Catholics of Roman, Greek, Armenian, Syrian and Chaldean rites, which are in union with the Vatican. Patriarch Bartholomew said the meeting was unprecedented. "In truth, we are unaccustomed to such kinds of gestures," the Orthodox Church prelate said.
From: Syrian Orthodox Resources