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The Syriac World: In Search of a Forgotten Christianity
A comprehensive survey of Syriac Christianity over three thousand years
Syriac is often referred to as the third main language of Christianity, along with Latin and Greek, and it remains a foundational classical, literary, and religious language throughout the world. Originating in Mesopotamia along the Roman and Parthian frontiers, it was never the language of a powerful state or ethnic group, but with the coming of Christianity it developed into a rich religious and cultural tradition. At the same time that Christianity was making its way through Europe, Syriac missionaries were founding churches from the Mediterranean coast to Persia, converting the Turkic tribes of Central Asia, and building communities in India and China.
This comprehensive work tells the underexplored story of the Syriac world over three thousand years, from its pre-Christian roots in the Aramaic tribes and the ancient Near East to its vibrant expressions in modern diaspora churches. Enhanced with images, songs, poems, and important primary texts, this book shows the importance of Syriac history, theology, and literature in the twenty-first century.
Syriac is often referred to as the third main language of Christianity, along with Latin and Greek, and it remains a foundational classical, literary, and religious language throughout the world. Originating in Mesopotamia along the Roman and Parthian frontiers, it was never the language of a powerful state or ethnic group, but with the coming of Christianity it developed into a rich religious and cultural tradition. At the same time that Christianity was making its way through Europe, Syriac missionaries were founding churches from the Mediterranean coast to Persia, converting the Turkic tribes of Central Asia, and building communities in India and China.
This comprehensive work tells the underexplored story of the Syriac world over three thousand years, from its pre-Christian roots in the Aramaic tribes and the ancient Near East to its vibrant expressions in modern diaspora churches. Enhanced with images, songs, poems, and important primary texts, this book shows the importance of Syriac history, theology, and literature in the twenty-first century.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 10, 2025
Fills a gap
The Syriac World shows us a side of the Christian Church most forget. I found it very detailed regarding church history as far east as the Caspian Sea, but only mentioning Christianity in Central Asia & China with little detail. Still a worthwhile read!
The Syriac World shows us a side of the Christian Church most forget. I found it very detailed regarding church history as far east as the Caspian Sea, but only mentioning Christianity in Central Asia & China with little detail. Still a worthwhile read!
October 26, 2023
An interesting but incomplete look at an often overlooked portion of the Christian tradition. To be clear, these religionists would be considered heretics by the rest of the Christian world--Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant. Syriacs reject Chalcedon and its formulation of the person/natures of Christ. So they are considered outside the pale, though this book does a poor job of making this point.
In fact, the book does a poor job of highlighting distinctives in general. It relates a very long train of persons, writings, overlords, etc. without really getting into theology much at all. It speaks a bit about splits in the last 200 years (when some Syriacs in fact became orthodox). But otherwise the book is more like an almanac than I would have preferred.
However, the entries, if you will, are well done and interspersed with dozens of translations of primary documents, which was an inspired move. The work spews lots of facts and materials without always offering a coherent narrative. So perhaps the "search" of the subtitle is still in process.
In fact, the book does a poor job of highlighting distinctives in general. It relates a very long train of persons, writings, overlords, etc. without really getting into theology much at all. It speaks a bit about splits in the last 200 years (when some Syriacs in fact became orthodox). But otherwise the book is more like an almanac than I would have preferred.
However, the entries, if you will, are well done and interspersed with dozens of translations of primary documents, which was an inspired move. The work spews lots of facts and materials without always offering a coherent narrative. So perhaps the "search" of the subtitle is still in process.
April 24, 2025
Excellent and easy read for a popular level introduction to the Syriac world. Provides the context of the language and thereof the people called “Syriac,” and trances their history from the coming of Christianity, rise of Islam and up to today.
August 30, 2023
What a fantastic introduction and resource this work is. I have mine thoroughly marked up and tabbed for reference. I will be coming back to this book time and time again.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews