CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
[1] The
department for the Study of Religions, School of Oriental and
African Studies, University of London in conjunction with The
British School of Archaeology in Iraq and The Anglican and
Eastern Churches Association is organizing a seminar on
"Christianity in Iraq" investigating the Christian heritage of
Iraq on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at The Brunei Gallery Lecture
Theatre, Thornhaugh St., Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG.
Christianity in Iraq: Synopsis
[2] The
origins of Christianity in Iraq are shrouded in the mists of
time, but groups of Christians were settled by the second
century C.E. During the Sassanid period (241 - 632 C.E.) the
'Church of the East' and the 'Syrian Orthodox Churches' emerged
as distinct entities. Christians contributed to the
intellectual environment of Islam, particularly during the
Abbassid period. At this time the dioceses of the Church of the
East extended to the Gulf and Arabia and as far as China. In
Central Asia, conversions were made amongst the Kerait and
other Altaic tribes.
[3] When
Hulugu Khan led his forces into Iraq in the thirteenth century,
Christian princesses were counted amongst the members of the
Mongol royal family. The vigour of Christianity under the
Il-Khanate is epitomised by the writings of Gregory Bar
Hebraeus. A century later, the arrival of Tamerlane ushered in
a period of terror and instability for Christianity. Many
communities fled northward to the Mosul plain and the Hakkari
region of Turkey where they remained until the 1920's.
[4] The
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw the arrival of
Europeans and increased contact with the Christian communities
of Iraq. Roman Catholic missionaries brought elements of the
'Church of the East' and the 'Syrian Orthodox Church' under the
aegis of Rome, as Uniate churches. Today the the 'Chaldaean'
church is the largest Christian denomination in Iraq. But the
rich fabric of Christianity still includes adherants of the
traditional Syriac churches, as well as relative newcomers
including the Protestant churches.
Programme (Provisional)
Morning Session: History and Archaeology
[10.00 A.M. - 12.30 P.M.]
[5] The
morning session will consist of a series of papers exploring
aspects of the history and archaeology of Christianity in Iraq
down the centuries. Speakers include:
Prof. John Healey (Manchester)
The early history of the Church of the East, and its mission in
the Gulf.
Dr. Erica C.D. Hunter
(SOAS/Cambridge)
Christian communities of Hira and southern Iraq.
Dr. Suha Rassam (SOAS)
The Christian contribution to the Abbassids.
Prof. Amir Harrak (Toronto)
The Christian archaeology of Tekrit and Mosul.
Afternoon Session: Sociological and Linguistic
[2.00 - 4.30 P.M.]
[6] The
afternoon session will investigate the modern presence of
Christianity in Iraq. Representatives of the various Syriac
Churches [including the Assyrians, Chaldaeans, Syrian Orthodox]
will profile the current situations of their communities.
[7]
Prof. Geoffrey Khan FBA (Cambridge) will
conclude the day with a talk about his AHRB-funded project that
is mapping the Neo-Syriac dialects that are still spoken today
by the Christian communities in northern Iraq as well as in the
diaspora.
[7] For
further details, please contact:
e-mail: ecdh1@cus.cam.ac.uk
Fax: 01223-566493