Bucharest hosts the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies
This August, the Syriac scholarly community got together in Bucharest for a very important event: the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies, also called the Symposium Syriacum. The congress was held in Romania for the first time, and it brought together over 400 scholars from 33 countries and 176 universities. This shows how lively Syriac studies are today.
The symposium was held at the Palace of Parliament from 3–7 August 2026. It explored the history, languages, theology and cultural heritage of Syriac Christianity. The theme for this years’ event was “Peace and Dialogue — Prerequisites for the Protection of Literary and Material Heritage”, emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard Syriac manuscripts, liturgical traditions, and intellectual legacies that have shaped the Middle East for nearly two millennia.
Across five days, attendees engaged with a rich program of plenary lectures, thematic panels, and manuscript-focused sessions.
The symposium marked a symbolic moment: a renewed commitment to international collaboration in protecting Syriac cultural heritage at a time when many communities connected to this tradition face ongoing challenges. The event strengthened networks, inspired new research directions, and reaffirmed the global value of Syriac studies.
Now it is time to look forward to our next meeting.
The next Syriac Symposium will be held in Tokyo (Japan), in four years!