Typarabic

17/08/2026

At the invitation of Ioana Feodorov, members of the North American Society for Christian Arabic Studies (NASCAS) convened in front of the SymSyr poster in the Parliament Palace in Bucharest on August 7, 2026, to meet in person and take pictures. NASCAS is an email discussion group that connects researchers in Syriac and Christian Arabic studies. It provides a platform for members to seek advice on their work and research sources, and to share their achievements in a collegial environment. Committed to promoting the study of Arabic-speaking Christian communities, their literature, and their history, NASCAS also hosts discussions on Syriac, Coptic, and other Eastern Christian cultures. The TYPARABIC project has greatly benefited from the friendly conversations exchanged via this online medium. Initiated and moderated by Alexander Treiger of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, the group has recently grown to comprise 700 members. Many NASCAS members attended the 2026 SymSyr conference in Bucharest, and some of them are in these two photos, from left to right: (1) Pierre Jabbour, Fr Hareth Ibrahim, Martino Diez, Hanna Kabalan, Rocío Daga Portillo, Ioana Feodorov, Joshua Mugler, Marlene Kanaan, István Perczel, Bishara Ebeid, Radu Mustață, Yeeun Yung (Miss Falafel), Jack Engelmann, Shane Patrick, and Yuhanna Nessim Yusef at the front; and (2) Fabiola and Habib Ibrahim, Ioana Feodorov, Vevian Zaki, Shane Patrick, Jack Engelmann, and Yeeun Yung. We missed the NASCAS members who were absent and hope to see more of you in Tokyo in 2030, where we will be sure to take more pictures!

14/08/2026

Of the side events at the 2026 SymSyr in Bucharest, one was particularly impressive and closely aligned with the participants' areas of expertise: a visit to the St. Thecla settlement ( https://tecla.ro/ ). The St. Thecla Foundation is a private establishment that celebrates the spiritual heritage of this important saint, who is revered by Eastern Christians of various denominations, including the European Orthodox. This charitable foundation's community (and website) celebrates St Thecla as one of the most revered figures of early Christianity, recognised as the first female martyr and considered 'just like the Apostles'. This is a rare place in Bucharest where you can feel closer to the lands trodden by the Apostles. The enchanting buildings evoke the light and colour of Christian Syria. The splendidly endowed paraklis in the church basement and the nearly ready main building promise a great space for prayer and celebratory services. The embracing courtyard invites the faithful to come in and enjoy peace and quiet. The place evokes the long history of St Thecla and her followers. Here, history is both remembered and projected into the future. The SymSyr participants' visit was enriched by music. First, the memorable voices of the Tronos psalm music choir of the National Cathedral in Bucharest filled the air. Their presence reflected the importance of SymSyr and graced the audience with traditional religious chants. Masterfully conducted by Archdeacon Mihail Bucă for almost three decades, Tronos has revived Romanian church music and performed in hundreds of concerts ( https://www.trinitas.tv/category/colinde-vizionati-cele-mai-frumoase-colinde-traditionale-romanesti/page/2/ ). Several Syriacists and hymnology scholars in the audience, including Archbishop Roger Akrass, George and Christine Kiraz, and Professor Ephrem Aboud Ishac, responded by singing Syriac chants never before heard in Bucharest. This was a unique opportunity for everyone present, especially the Romanian participants, to experience the Syriac Church's uplifting vitality. The final event was a concert by the 'Dimitrie Cantemir' ensemble of the National Music University in Bucharest, conducted by Professor Nicolae Gheorghiță. Music from Cantemir's era joyfully brought an evening of discovery, collegial discussion, and soul-enriching music to a close. As members of the TYPARABIC team, we have often come across hagiographic and historical texts about St. Thecla in our research. We greatly enjoyed this wonderful addition to the academic program of SymSyr 2026.

13/08/2026

As the echoes of the 2026 SymSyr conference in Bucharest fade away, we fondly remember the five highly rewarding days of sessions and encounters that brought together scholars, researchers, professors and students from 33 countries. Featuring keynote lectures, speeches by senior church leaders, and panels covering the full spectrum of Syriac and Christian Arabic studies, as well as book presentations at major academic publishers' stands, the event far exceeded the expectations of many participants. It was an opportunity for reunions, collegial exchanges and updates on the progress made in the fields covered by the two conferences. The combination of cultures in dialogue and scholars in their natural environment made it a week to remember. With 78 female speakers (29% of all contributors), SymSyr 2026 demonstrated that women have a voice in Syriac and Christian Arabic studies. Hopefully, this voice will grow stronger at future academic events — a goal that the ERC is also pursuing. Five former TYPARABIC team members, including the PI, found here an excellent opportunity to disseminate the outcomes of their work over the past five years while presenting their contributions, some of which relied on research accomplished for the TYPARABIC project. They came away with praise, offers of cooperation and invitations to future international projects. The same applies to many other participants, who openly expressed their satisfaction with the conference's high scientific level and its interesting side events. We are looking forward to the 2030 Tokyo Symposiums, which will bring the community together on another continent, allowing European scholars of Eastern Christian studies to present their research far away from home. Congratulations to Professor Hidemi Takahashi on his succesful pitch!

11/08/2026

Here is the link to the first episode dedicated to the SymSyr conference by the Romanian national TV channel, broadcast on Sunday morning, August 9, which starts at 7:30. Stay tuned for the following episodes.

Nyd de videoer og den musik, du holder af, upload originalt indhold, og del det hele med venner, familie og verden på YouTube.

08/08/2026

On the last day of the Conference of Christian Arabic Studies in Bucharest, Ioana Feodorov presented the outcomes of the TYPARABIC project and future prospects for the research conducted by the team for five years. The audience was interested in the opportunities presented by ERC funds to promote projects focusing on the connections between Europe and the Middle East and the benefits of Open Access publishing that these generous grants support. The panel convened by Octavian-Adrian Negoiță with Simona Nicolae, David Neagu, Charbel Nassif, and Anna Ohanjanyan rounded up the circle of studies on Eastern Christianity with Greek and Armenian themes that aligned perfectly with the two symposia's main themes. Connecting with the colleagues of NASCAS and getting to know each other in person was a bonus of the event.

06/08/2026

On the 3rd day of the Symposium Syriacum conference in Bucharest, Ioana Feodorov, Octavian-Adrian Negoiță, Archim. Policarp Chițulescu and Yulia Petrova launched the latest two books released in the series Early Arabic Printing in the East at the De Gruyter Brill booth: EAPE-7, the proceedings from the 4th TYPARABIC conference, which took place in Venice, Italy, from May 27 to 29, 2025, focusing on the Italian connection to the development of Arabic printing in 18th-century Europe and the Near East, and EAPE-8, the first comprehensive catalog of the 18th-century books printed for the Arab Christians in Eastern Europe and the Ottoman lands, which allows a deeper understanding of the connections between the Romanian Principalities and Arabic-speaking Christians of the Eastern Mediterranean through printing. We were happy to have Dr. Bishara Ebeid in the audience, whose kind invitation extended to the TYPARABIC team to host their 4th conference at Ca' Foscari University allowed us to enjoy a scholarly and memorable academic reunion.

05/08/2026

04/08/2026

This is a kind reminder to join us tomorrow at the De Gruyter Brill booth from Symposium Syriacum for the book launches of EAPE 7 (at 10:00) and EAPE 8 (at 13:30). Looking forward to see you there!

04/08/2026

The first day of the SymSyr conference at the Parliament Palace, August 3, was a joy in many respects. Meeting colleagues and friends again, learning about brand new research and projects, and getting to know a young generation of researchers of Eastern Christianity made the day memorable - and it was only the first one. The evening ended in a splendid visit to the People's Salvation Cathedral, opened for the conference participants although still under construction. The following days promise more exciting papers and events: colleagues in Bucharest, come to the venue!

03/08/2026