Professor Alison G. Salvesen (University of Oxford, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies) is a leading scholar in Early Judaism and Christianity, affiliated with the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Mansfield College. Her work bridges textual criticism, translation history, and reception studies. Current Projects: Hexapla Institute Executive Committee (electronic database of Origen's Old Testament), monograph on Jacob of Edessa (d. 708 CE) Teaching: Septuagint studies, Patristic texts, Textual criticism, Syriac literature Specializing in ancient Hebrew Bible interpretations, she examines Greek (Septuagint), Aramaic (Targums), Syriac (Peshitta), and Latin (Vulgate) traditions. Her research spans rabbinic Judaism and early Christian exegesis. Scientific leadership includes co-editing major reference works and directing the Polonsky Fellowship. Current DPhil students include Joel Bell, Yael Krämer, and Paul Ulishney. Key grants/awards: Polonsky Fellow in Early Judaism and Christianity
Professor Alberto Rigolio is a scholar of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, specializing in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Roman and Late Antique periods. He focuses on Syriac literature, Greco-Roman intellectual traditions, and the reception of classical texts in early Christian and Islamic contexts. Rigolio holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University and has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard, Princeton, and All Souls College, Oxford. He serves as Chair of the Board of Examiners at Durham and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research explores the transformation of classical dialogue forms in late antiquity, the transmission of Greek texts into Syriac and Arabic, and the cultural intersections between Greco-Roman, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Key works include Christians in Conversation (Oxford UP, 2019), which examines late antique dialogue literature, and a forthcoming book on the emergence of Syriac literature supported by British Academy and Princeton IAS fellowships. Education: BA/Milan, D.Phil./Oxford, Postdoctoral Fellowships at Harvard and Princeton Affiliations: Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Durham Rigolio's articles analyze Syriac translations of Aristotelian works, Plutarch, and Themistius, revealing how Greco-Roman thought was adapted to meet religious and cultural needs. His projects include studies on Syriac rhetoric, the Roman household in late antique conflicts, and para-biblical narratives. He supervises postdoctoral researchers and PhD students on topics ranging from Syriac literary culture to late antique religious identity. Awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2024), All Souls College Visiting Fellowship (2024) Grants: Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, American Philosophical Society He directs research labs examining Syriac intellectual culture and co-ordinates interdisciplinary projects on late antique translation movements. Rigolio is actively involved in public outreach, offering talks on Roman religion, Palmyrene military identity, and the Graeco-Syro-Arabic textual tradition.
Annette Yoshiko Reed is the Krister Stendahl Professor of Divinity and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School (HDS). She joined HDS in 2022 after roles at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and McMaster University. Her expertise spans Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, and Jewish-Christian relations, with a focus on how ancient texts shape identity and difference. Key research areas include apocalypses, demonology, and the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. She has authored or co-authored books such as Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity and Demons, Angels, and Writing in Ancient Judaism . Education: BA from McGill University, MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and MA/PhD from Princeton University. Her work integrates Biblical Studies, Patristics, Jewish Studies, and Classics. She serves on the editorial boards of Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism and Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha , and chairs the Society of Biblical Literature’s “Jewish Christianity/Christian Judaism” section. A Fellow of the American Academy of Jewish Research, her current project explores the cultural power of forgetting in ancient Jewish history. Her research highlights marginalized writings like 1 Enoch and Pseudo-Clementine literature to bridge Jewish and Christian histories. Recent publications include studies on Enochic reception, rabbinic historiography, and demonology in ancient texts. She teaches at both HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Charles M. Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought at Harvard Divinity School and Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions, positions he has held since joining the faculty in 2008 and becoming director in 2017 respectively. His academic home is firmly within Harvard University's religious studies ecosystem, where he has established himself as a leading scholar in ancient Christian thought and Mediterranean religious history. His educational background includes an AB from Harvard College, an MDiv from the University of Chicago, and a ThD from Harvard Divinity School. This rigorous training across prestigious institutions has equipped him with interdisciplinary perspectives that inform his boundary-crossing scholarship. Stang's research interrogates the intersections of early Christian thought with broader Mediterranean philosophical traditions, with particular emphasis on apophatic theology, Gnosticism, and Syriac Christianity. His work consistently challenges reductionist approaches to religious studies, advocating instead for what he terms an 'expansive anthropology, ontology and epistemology' that recognizes religion's capacity to transcend mundane frameworks. He has developed a distinctive theoretical framework around 'transcendence and transformation'—concepts he argues should form the core of religious studies in the contemporary academy. His publications reveal a trajectory from focused historical studies of early Christian texts toward more expansive theoretical interventions in religious studies methodology. While his early work centered on figures like Dionysius the Areopagite and Evagrius Ponticus, his recent scholarship increasingly engages with contemporary questions about religion's role in the humanities and the urgent need for what he calls 'superhumanities' that acknowledge dimensions of reality beyond conventional academic frameworks. Manfred Lautenschläger Award for Theological Promise (2013) for Apophasis and Pseudonymity in Dionysius the Areopagite As Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions, Stang has launched the 'Transcendence and Transformation' initiative, positioning the center as both a scholarly hub and a conceptual beacon for reimagining religious studies. His vision frames religious studies not as a marginal discipline but as essential to revitalizing the humanities through its unique capacity to engage with dimensions of reality that conventional academic frameworks often overlook. The Center functions as what Stang describes as 'a beacon, a harbour, and a record' for this reconceptualization of religious inquiry.
Professor Alberto Rigolio is a leading scholar of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, specializing in the cultural and intellectual history of the Eastern Mediterranean during the Roman and late antique periods. He holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University and has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard Dumbarton Oaks, Princeton Society of Fellows, and All Souls College Oxford. His research focuses on Syriac literature, Greco-Syro-Arabic translation movements, and religious debates in late antiquity. Rigolio has published extensively, including his award-winning monograph Christians in Conversation (2019), and currently leads projects supported by the British Academy and the Institute for Advanced Study. He supervises PhD students across multiple institutions and mentors postdoctoral researchers like Dr. Karl Heiner Dahm and Dr. Mara Nicosia. His work bridges classical antiquity with early Christian and Islamic intellectual traditions, emphasizing literary and educational exchanges in late antique societies. Educations: D.Phil., University of Oxford (2014) MPhil/BA, University of Milan and Oxford Research Interests: Syriac literary emergence, Greek-Syriac-Arabic translation networks, late antique dialogues, early Christian theology, and the cultural history of the Roman Near East. Rigolio's current projects investigate how Syriac became a major literary language and its role in transmitting Graeco-Roman thought to early medieval cultures. Grants & Awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2024) All Souls College Visiting Fellowship (2024) Princeton IAS Membership (2023) Advising & Mentoring: Supervised 9 PhD students, including Cédrik Michel (Lancaster University Lecturer) and Lila Knight (awarded 2024). Mentors postdoctoral scholars in areas like Syriac rhetoric and late antique religious conflict. Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary research groups at Durham and collaborates with institutions like the Institute for Advanced Study, focusing on textual analysis and cultural history.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey is the Willard Prescott and Annie McClelland Smith Professor of History and Religion at Brown University. Her research focuses on late antique and Byzantine Christianity, particularly Syriac studies, with expertise in asceticism, hagiography, women's roles, hymnography, and liturgical practices. She holds affiliations with the American Academy of Religion, Society of Biblical Literature, and the North American Patristic Society. Her research interests include the intersection of religion and the senses, women in ancient Christianity, and liturgical lament. Notable publications include Scenting Salvation (2006) and Knowing Bodies, Passionate Souls (2017). She has received prestigious awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and honorary doctorates from Lund University, the University of Bern, and Grinnell College. Harvey teaches courses like 'Sacred Stories' and 'Women and Gender in Ancient Religions.' Her work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary theological discourse, emphasizing marginalized voices in early Christian traditions.
Professor Martin Heimgartner is an Adjunct Professor of Church History at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg's Faculty of Theology, where he has served as a private lecturer since 2007 and as adjunct professor since 2014. He also works as a research associate at the Theological Seminary of the University of Zurich since 2009. His academic career spans multiple institutions including the Universities of Zurich and Basel where he completed his doctoral and habilitation work. Heimgartner's research focuses on Syriac Christianity, particularly the works of the East Syrian Patriarch Timotheus I (780-823), Christian-Muslim relations in early Islam, philosophy and theology of Syrian Christians, John Chrysostom, Greek and Syrian florilegia literature, and 2nd century Christian apologists. His scholarly work demonstrates deep engagement with primary sources through critical editions and translations of Syriac texts. His publication record shows consistent scholarly output with emphasis on Timotheus I's writings, with multiple monographs published through prestigious series like Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (CSCO). His work bridges historical theology, textual criticism, and interreligious studies, particularly examining early Christian-Muslim dialogue. The articles reveal a progression from textual editions toward more thematic studies on theological concepts like Trinitarian doctrine in interreligious contexts. His scholarly contributions include numerous encyclopedia entries in major reference works such as Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart (RGG) and Der Neue Pauly, covering figures from early Christianity. He has also collaborated on editorial projects including a volume on Apollinarius. Notably, Heimgartner maintains a dual scholarly identity, combining theological research with musicology. His musicological editions, particularly for Cecilia Bartoli's Malibran project, demonstrate expertise in historical musical works from the 19th century, showing his interdisciplinary approach to historical scholarship across different cultural domains.
Nils Arne Pedersen is an Associate Professor in Church History at Aarhus University's Faculty of Theology/Arts since 2004. His academic career includes roles as a Full-time scholar supported by the Carlsberg Foundation (1990–1995) and Danish Research Council grants. He specializes in Manichaeism, Patristics, and the historical reception of biblical texts. His research focuses on early Christian and Manichaean theological texts, especially Coptic and Syriac manuscripts. Research Interests : Pedersen’s work explores Manichaean literature, Patristic theology, and the interplay between biblical sources and early religious movements. He has edited critical editions of Manichaean texts and studies their transmission across languages like Syriac, Coptic, and Persian. Key Projects : Biblia Manichaica (Old and New Testament studies in Manichaean contexts), textual editions of Manichaean homilies, and analyses of anti-Manichaean polemics. Awards & Leadership : Honorary member of the International Association of Manichaean Studies (2022), former President (2017–2022). He has received significant grants, including €887k for the Biblia Manichaica project (2012–2015) and €233k from the Carlsberg Foundation (1990–1995). Grants & Funding : Danish Council for Independent Research, Danish Research Council for the Humanities, and Carlsberg Foundation grants have supported his work on Manichaean textual traditions and comparative religious studies.
Konrad Zawadzki is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Latin Philology, Institute of Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in Poland. He also holds the position of Associate Professor at the University of Salzburg, Austria. His academic career spans multiple European institutions, with significant research experience at the Faculty of Theology in Trier, Germany. His educational background includes: 2024: Habilitation at KUL (Poland) 2020: Habilitation at University of Salzburg (Austria) 2013: PhD at Faculty of Theology in Trier (Germany) 2011: Master's Degree in Classical Philology at University of Trier (Germany) 2007: Diploma in Catholic Theology at Faculty of Theology in Trier (Germany) Zawadzki's research focuses on early Christian literature and textual criticism, with particular expertise in the works of Cyril of Alexandria and other Church Fathers. His scholarly interests encompass: Early Christian interpretations of the Bible Editions of ancient Christian texts Syntax of Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Armenian languages Latinitas viva (living Latin) Byzantine catenae (biblical commentaries) History of ancient Christian oriental communities (Syria and Armenia) His research output demonstrates a consistent focus on recovering and analyzing fragments of early Christian commentaries, particularly those of Cyril of Alexandria on the Pauline epistles. Zawadzki has made significant contributions to the field through his critical editions and analyses of previously unknown or under-studied texts across multiple ancient languages. His scholarly recognition includes: Inner Reward Award for the best-scoring publication in 2024 Inner Reward Award for the best-scoring publication in 2022 Zawadzki has received substantial research funding, including a €256,000 grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for his project on Cyril of Alexandria's commentary on 2 Corinthians. He has also participated in international research collaborations, notably the "Nouvelle histoire de la littérature grecque chrétienne" project at Université Paris-Sorbonne (2015-2021) and the "Anathema in lateinischen Inschriften" project at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (2018-2019). He serves as a peer reviewer for several prestigious journals including Biblica, Commentaria Classica, Religions, Sacris Erudiri, Vox Patrum, and Zeitschrift für antikes Christentum, demonstrating his standing in multiple academic communities. Zawadzki is an active member of the International Association of Patristic Studies (IAPS) and the German Arbeitskreis Patristik.
Valentina Calzolari Bouvier is Full Professor of Armenian Studies at the University of Geneva , holding the first and only Armenian Studies chair in Switzerland. She directs Bachelor's and Master's programs in Armenian Studies (ancient and modern) and doctoral training, while serving as President of the International Association for Armenian Studies and a corresponding member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres . Key affiliations: Pembroke College (Oxford), Hebrew University, École Pratique des Hautes Études Current research: Christian apocrypha in Armenian, Greco-Armenian philosophical transmission, Soviet-era Armenian literature Her recent publications focus on Armenian apocryphal texts (2022's The Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles in Armenian ), medieval Armenian historiography, and Armenian diaspora literature. She co-directs the LABEAC research laboratory on Central Europe-Orient and Central Asia, and has received the Movses Khorenatsi Medal (2023) and honorary doctorate from Armenia (2007). Scientific distinctions include: Movses Khorenatsi Medal (2023) Accademia Ambrosiana membership (2010) Honorary Diploma from Republic of Armenia (2012) Leverhulme Visiting Professor (Oxford, 2021-2023)
Kyle Smith serves as Professor in the History of Religions program within Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), with cross-appointments to the Department for the Study of Religion, Centre for Medieval Studies, and Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the St. George campus. His academic credentials include a PhD from Duke University and MA/BA degrees from the University of Notre Dame, reflecting specialized training in early Christian history and Syriac studies. Smith's research centers on fourth-to-sixth century Christianity in Roman Mesopotamia and Sasanian Persia, with particular expertise in Syriac martyrdom narratives, ascetic practices, and gender dynamics. His work bridges textual analysis of Syriac sources with broader cultural history, notably examining how devotion to death shaped Christian identity across two millennia and tracing Saint Nick's evolution from ancient protector to Christmas icon. His publications reveal consistent focus on martyrdom's role in religious identity formation, monastic development in late antique Iraq, and the transmission of Christian traditions through Syriac literature. The 2022 monograph Cult of the Dead synthesizes these threads into a comprehensive narrative of Christianity's relationship with death and memory. His scholarly recognition includes: University of Toronto Early Career Teaching Award (inaugural recipient) Smith actively mentors graduate students through seminars on early Christian martyrdom and Mesopotamian Christianity, while securing research support for Syriac text translations and historical analyses. His teaching excellence award underscores effective pedagogy in undergraduate courses on ancient martyrdom, gender in early Christianity, and Christmas cultural history.
George Karamanolis is a Professor at the Department of Philosophy , University of Vienna, and currently serves as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Education. His research focuses on Ancient Philosophy, particularly Platonism, Neoplatonism, and their intersections with early Christian thought. Email: george.karamanolis@univie.ac.at Office Hours: Tuesday 12:00-13:30 His recent publications analyze Neoplatonic metaphysics, Syriac philosophical traditions, and the reception of Aristotle in late antiquity. Teaching includes courses on Greek terminology, Aristotle's ethics, and the history of philosophy from antiquity to late antiquity.
Arianna ROTONDO is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at the University of Catania, specializing in the History of Christianity and Churches (HIST-04/B). She is currently a Visiting Professor at Ghent University, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy – Department of Literary Studies, from November 2024 to April 2025. Her research spans early Christian history, gender in religious contexts, patristics, late antique Christianity, and the reception of biblical texts. She has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects, including PRIN, FIRB, and ANR-DFG collaborations. Her research interests include: History of Christianity Gender and Religion in Antiquity Patristic Literature Religious Authority and Canon Formation Reception of the Septuagint Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics Religion and Cultural History Her recent publications and projects reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach, merging theology, history, literature, and cultural studies. Key themes include the semantics of violence and healing in sacred texts, religious responses to emergencies, and the role of women in early Christian communities. Her work often explores the intersection of religion with politics, identity, and narrative. She has supervised numerous theses on topics ranging from feminist theology and queer Christianity to the history of religious movements, saints, and biblical interpretation. Her academic service includes leadership roles in research units and collaboration with institutions across Europe and North America. Her scientific contributions are recognized through active participation in major research consortia such as THEOPOESIE and Jenseits des Kanons. She is also deeply engaged in public scholarship, examining contemporary religious phenomena such as online liturgies during the pandemic and religious coexistence in the Mediterranean. She advises a wide range of students and leads research on: Feminist and queer theologies Christianity in Sicilian culture Patristic and medieval religious thought Religion and media Historiography of Christian movements
Silvia Castelli is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Religion and Theology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She specializes in New Testament studies and Early Judaism, with a focus on textual criticism and Jewish-Greek literature. Her affiliations include the research teams 'New Testament and Christian Origins' and 'Contextual Biblical Interpretation.' She holds a dual PhD in Jewish Studies (University of Turin) and a second PhD on NT textual criticism (VU Amsterdam, 2020). Education includes MA and PhD studies in Classical Studies and Jewish Studies, with fellowships at the Leibniz Institute (Mainz), Hebrew University (Jerusalem), and Yale. She has taught at institutions like the University of Trento and Leiden University, coordinating Greek language courses at VU. Research interests span NT textual criticism methodologies, Josephus' biblical interpretations, and intersections between biblical hermeneutics and spiritual care. Recent work explores 'patientia' (patience) in antiquity and collaborates on projects about imperial responses in Roman historiography. Awards include the Aurelio Bernardi Prize (1997), Lady Davies Fellowship (2001), and the 2020 Brill publication of her second PhD. She supervises three PhD students and chairs the SBL unit on 'Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care.'
Mathieu Tillier is a Professor of Medieval Islamic History at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Sorbonne University. He specializes in early Islamic judicial systems, papyrology, and interfaith legal dynamics in the Middle East. Tillier holds a PhD from Université Lumière-Lyon 2 (2004) and has held academic positions at Aix-Marseille Université and Oxford University, supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship. His research explores the evolution of Islamic legal institutions, particularly focusing on the role of qadis and the integration of religious minorities. Notably, he received the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (2023) for his groundbreaking work The Invention of the Qadi , which examines judicial pluralism in 8th-century Egypt. His research extends to Fatimid legal practices, early Quranic codices, and material culture analysis through papyrus and silk documents. Tillier collaborates extensively with institutions like the Institut français du Proche-Orient and co-authored studies on devotional texts and legal anthropology. His work bridges historical analysis with interdisciplinary methods, emphasizing textual and material evidence to reconstruct social dynamics in early Islamic empires. Education: PhD in History, Université Lumière-Lyon 2 (2004) Aggregation in Arab Studies (1999) Accreditation to Supervise Research (2013) Research Focus: Tillier’s work centers on the judicial reforms under Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, papyrus-based legal records, and the coexistence of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian legal frameworks. He has pioneered studies on Fatimid marriage contracts, Quranic codices, and the socio-political role of qadis in medieval Egypt. His methodologies integrate textual analysis, material science, and comparative legal history. Grants & Collaborations: Supported by European Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants, Tillier has collaborated with Oxford University and the Institut français du Proche-Orient. His recent projects include co-authoring analyses on devotional texts with Naïm Vanthieghem and examining ink composition in early Quranic manuscripts. Awards: The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (2023) recognizes his monumental contribution to understanding early Islamic judicial systems. His work has been translated into multiple languages, influencing global scholarship on medieval Islamic studies.
