When I came across the announcement of Tala Jarjour’s study of the chanting in Saint George’s parish of the Syriac Orthodox in Aleppo, I hoped that it would provide me with the tools to better understand Syriac Orthodox ecclesiastical music. I had been listening – in churches and monasteries as well as via YouTube –… Continue reading #32 Sense and Sadness: Syriac Chant in Aleppo – Tala Jarjour, Oxford 2018
#31 Teaching Theology in the Middle East
‘La Théologie a-t-elle encore un avenir ?’ Recently (26-28 April, 2018) I participated in a small symposium on the teaching of theology in the Middle East, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), co-organized by the Faculté Pontificale de Théologie and the Aachen-based Missio, directed by Prof. dr. Harald Suermann. Most of the contributors… Continue reading #31 Teaching Theology in the Middle East
#30 The Arabic Bible in The Journal of Eastern Christian Studies 70, 2018, 1-2
Proud to announce the first issue of the 70th volume of The Journal of Eastern Christian Studies. This issue includes five highly interesting and timely articles on the history of the Arabic Bible in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions of the Middle East, written by Arik Sadan, Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala, David Thomas, Ute… Continue reading #30 The Arabic Bible in The Journal of Eastern Christian Studies 70, 2018, 1-2
#29 Steen op tafel
In de kerstvakantie bezocht ik de tentoonstelling ‘Jerusalem Stone’ van fotograaf Ad van Denderen in Huis Marseille in Amsterdam. Sommige foto’s lijken vooral documentair, registrerend wat er gebeurt, aan de Israëlisch-Joodse kant en aan de Palestijnse kant van het conflict. Anderen worden abstracte kunstwerken, waarbij nog af te bouwen of alweer verlaten huizen in de… Continue reading #29 Steen op tafel
#28 Armenians in Jerusalem
One of the highlights of a student trip to Jerusalem last summer was a tour through the Armenian compound. I’d been visiting the Armenian St. James Church a number of times, usually when the vespers were sung and the church is open for the general public. This time, with the help of someone within the… Continue reading #28 Armenians in Jerusalem
#27 ‘Voelt u zich meer of minder schuldig?’
Dat was een van de vragen die een studente van de UvA me voorlegde toen ik de tentoonstelling ‘Heden van het slavernijverleden’ in het Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam achter me liet. De vraag bleef aan me knagen, ook nadat ik er in het snelle invullen een ‘niet zo erg’ op had geantwoord. De goed uitgewerkte maar… Continue reading #27 ‘Voelt u zich meer of minder schuldig?’
#26 Heather Sharkey: A History of Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the Middle East
These days I was catching up on writing reviews. One book in particular stood out. If there was such a thing as the Middle Eastern minorities book of the year 2017, this would definitely be it. Heather Sharkey (University of Pennsylvania) succeeded in adding an indispensable volume to the many books that have been written… Continue reading #26 Heather Sharkey: A History of Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the Middle East
#25 Georgia’s lived (and often political) religion
One of the most striking aspects of Georgia today is the omnipresence of the Georgian Orthodox Church and orthodox religious practice, a fully fledged revival characteristic of the post-Soviet period. New churches are being built in every place that is considered meaningful (mostly obviously so where religion and (identity)politics intersect) while old ones are being… Continue reading #25 Georgia’s lived (and often political) religion
#24 A Postscript from Anjar to Werfel’s Musa Dagh
Not long ago I was the guest of Hagop and Nanor Akbasharian, a young Protestant pastor and his wife in the Lebanese town of Anjar. In addition to serving the local Armenian Evangelical community, they also are in charge of a day school with classes starting from kindergarten up to secondary school and a boarding… Continue reading #24 A Postscript from Anjar to Werfel’s Musa Dagh
#23 Franz Werfel’s Musa Dagh (1933) and the Christians of the Middle East
Introduction[i] In March 1930, the poet and novelist Franz Werfel made a long trip to the Middle East. It was the second visit time he and his wife Alma Mahler visited the region. This time the trip included stays at Alexandria, Cairo and Jerusalem. In Damascus they were invited to a tour a carpet factory… Continue reading #23 Franz Werfel’s Musa Dagh (1933) and the Christians of the Middle East
Globalization, Christianity and the Middle East 