Beth Mardutho News Archive

This page serves as the back log for the "recent news" feed on the homepage.

Announcing the Antioch Bible Text and Translation Series

Beth Mardutho and Gorgias Press are pleased to announce the publication of a fresh new idiomatic translation of the Peshitta Bible to be published in several volumes over the next 2-3 years. The first two volumes, Isaiah and Matthew, are already available with more volumes coming before the end of this year.

To read more about the Antioch Bible, click here.

The GEDSH is now shipping!

We are pleased to announce that we have now received the shipment of the Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage, and we are now in the process of fulfilling all the orders we have already received. If you haven't ordered one yet, remember that you have two options:

1) You can get a complimentary copy for joining the Bnay Beth Mardutho.

Or,

2) You can order a copy here for either an individual or an institution.

A Personal Appeal from Beth Mardutho Director, George Kiraz

The holiday season is typically a season of giving and sharing. Take this opportunity to join Bnay Beth Mardutho in order to support the activities of this non-profit institution that is devoted to Syriac. Beth Mardutho operates almost entirly on donations through membership to the Bnay which is usually not sufficient for its annual expenses. Despite this, Beth Mardutho brings you Hugoye twice a year, the Mardu newsletter twice a year, and carries out important projects such as the encyclopedia of the Syriac heritage that is just coming out. Additionally, Beth Mardutho manages this hugoye-list as well as the dorushe group.

A membership of $100 a year comes to $8.33 per month (two cups of coffee, or one if you are a Starbucks fan)! But this $100 will go a long way in supporting the institute. For example, seven such memberships will cover the heating bill for the Beth Mardutho Research Library which holds 11,000 of books (see catalog on the eBetharké page on the Beth Mardutho web site) for one month--and the cold season is approaching! Five members will support the position of an assistant for a month.

If you are a salaried employee (especially in Europe or North America and other —hpefully!—economically viable countries)... if you make regular use of hugoye-list and the Hugoye journal... and if you believe in what Beth Mardutho is doing for Syriac, then consider taking 5 minutes of your time to joing Bnay Beth Mardutho.

You will get a free copy of the Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Hertage as well as a printed-bound copy of Hugoye (their value is ca. $170). We understand that students and members from distant countries may not be able to support.

To join and to see who else is part of the Bnay, click here.

Have a blessed holiday season.

George A. Kiraz Director of Beth Mardutho (volunteer)

The Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage is now in print!

October 14, 2011 - After several years and a great deal of effort by the authors and especially the editors, the Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage is finally at the printer. You can order your copy here. And don't forget that you can get a complimentary copy for joining the Bnay Beth Mardutho.

The Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage (GEDSH) is the first major encyclopedia-type reference work devoted exclusively to Syriac Christianity, both as a field of scholarly inquiry and as the inheritance of Syriac Christians today. In more than 600 entries it covers the Syriac heritage from its beginnings in the first centuries of the Common Era up to the present day. Special attention is given to authors, literary works, scholars, and locations that are associated with the Classical Syriac tradition. Within this tradition, the diversity of Syriac Christianity is highlighted as well as Syriac Christianity’s broader literary and historical contexts, with major entries devoted to Greek and Arabic authors and more general themes, such as Syriac Christianity’s contacts with Judaism and Islam, and with Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Georgian Christianities. In addition to the literary tradition, inscriptions and objects of art are given due consideration. The entries are accompanied by 131 illustrations, twenty of which are in color. The volume closes with maps, lists of patriarchs of the main Syriac Churches of the Middle East, and elaborate indices.

Hugoye Author Index

October 10, 2011 - Have you ever found yourself searching for an article in Hugoye, but can't remember which volume it is in? Then we have a brand new reference tool for you! Our new Hugoye Author Index page lists all the articles in Hugoye, organized alphabetically by author. And if you are looking for a title, but don't remember the author, you can use your browser's page search function to find keywords.

New Book Review Editor for Hugoye

September 17, 2011 - After ten years of outstanding service, Dr. Kristian Heal has decided to step down as the Book Review Editor for Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies. Many of the hugoye-list members have worked with Kristian through this capacity, and we are sure that you will all join us in thanking him for his excellent work. Hugoye has benefitted greatly from having him on the editorial staff, and we are truly grateful for his many contributions to the quality of Hugoye as a scholarly publication.

We would also like to use this occasion to announce the appointment ofthe new Book Review Editor for Hugoye: Dr. Ute Possekel. Ute is currently an adjunct professor of History at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., and she has published on a wide array of topics in the Syriac tradition. We are happy to have Ute join the Hugoye editorial staff, and we look forward to many more years of high-quality, scholarly book reviews published in Hugoye.

New Assistant Editor for Hugoye

September 12, 2011 - Beth Mardutho is pleased to announce the appointment of James E. Walters to the position of Assistant Editor for Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies. James studied Syriac with J.W. Childers at Abilene Christian University and is now a PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary, studying the early Syriac tradition with Kathleen McVey. James will assist George in the operations of Hugoye in order to provide George with more time to work on his many other projects.

eBethArké is live!

August 29, 2011 - The completely revamped eBethArké project is now live, and can be accessed through the new Beth Mardutho website or through this link. In the coming weeks and months, more and more resources will be added to this digital library for the study of Syriac and ancient Christianity.

Beth Mardutho's Brand New Website

August 27, 2011 - Beth Mardutho has a brand new website that will serve as a hub of resources for the study of Syriac and Eastern Christianity. This website hosts the new and improved eBethArké project and Hugoye: Jouranl of Syriac Studies.