Research Seminar in Late Ancient and Byzantine Cultures

The Newman Institute Research Seminar in Late Ancient and Byzantine Cultures*

See schedule for the seminars below

Human culture is never solely fact, nor solely fiction, but includes whatever the human mind and spirit produce, including texts, images, liturgies, manuscripts and material culture. A critical analysis and contextualization of late ancient and medieval arts and literatures should underpin our understanding of the history of Christian traditions, and can provide apt connections to our experience of the present world. Inter-cultural perspectives are encouraged, demonstrating exchanges between classical and biblical worlds, as well as encounters among different faiths in the first millennium.

The Newman Seminar in Late Ancient and Byzantine Cultures aims to create a forum for open discussion about Christian history and cultures by providing an opportunity for informal peer review of articles in preparation, book and thesis chapters, project proposals and conference papers on any topic pertaining to this field, broadly defined. Expertise of core members includes Greek and Latin languages, biblical and patristic studies, ancient philosophy, early church history, art history, palaeography, and Byzantine/Medieval studies. The seminar has a collaboration with the New Testament Studies research seminar at Uppsala University and with the Lund Patristic Seminar. We also welcome the possibility of organizing joint conferences.

The seminar convenes on Wednesdays 4:00-5:30 PM CET (Swedish time) via Zoom.

Papers can be circulated confidentially one week in advance in order to permit a thorough discussion concerning contents, analysis, and formal presentation of the materials. Collegiality and support across traditional subject boundaries are priorities.

To present a paper during the academic year 2021/22, for participation or for any questions concerning the seminar, please contact the chair, Barbara Crostini.

Spring 2022

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89171490250?pwd=Q3Q4RHR1ckFrZDZYckxVVCt2ZDRpZz09

Meeting ID: 891 7149 0250 Passcode: 609731

Schedule as pdf

12 January          

Carl-Johan Berglund (Åbo and Stockholm), Thecla, the Ideal Christian: Discipleship Ideals from the Second Century to the Fourth (Respondent Allison Gray, St Mary’s, Texas)

26 January          

Tord Fornberg (Uppsala), Dionysios the Areopagite and the Bible

9 February            

Miriam Hjälm (Stockholm), An Arabic Introduction to Psalms

23 February 

Witold Witakowski (Uppsala), Apocalyptic paper

9 March        

Ergün Lafli (Izmir), Ancient lamps from southern Turkey

Cancelled: 23 March (a new date will be set further on)      

Ivan Miroshnikov (Helsinki) and Alexandros Tsakos (Bergen), Towards an editio princeps of four hagiographic texts in Fayyumic Coptic

Cancelled: 6 April           

Nicolò Sassi (Indiana), Book of the Holy Hierotheos (Petter Spjut respondent)

Change of date: 27 April         

Dan Vladimir Ivanovici (Università della Svizzera italiana), Martyria and performance

4 May            

Grace Stafford (Oxford), More than a Muse? Learned Women, Education, and Literary Culture in Late Antique

18 May          

Katarina Pålsson (Lund), Asceticizing Paul: Jerome, Galatians, and ascetic superiority 

Tuesday 24 May          

Symeon the New Theologian (1000 year from his death) – Taras Tymo, Barbara Crostini           NOTE, day and time: Tuesday at 3–5:30 PM CET

8 June           

Workshop on the Prophet Elijah in Byzantium