- Bob Kitchen is a retired minister living in Saskatchewan, Canada. He began Syriac study at Pacific School of Religio... moreBob Kitchen is a retired minister living in Saskatchewan, Canada. He began Syriac study at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA; continued at Catholic University of America in Washington DC; and concluded under Sebastian Brock at University of Oxford UK.
He is primarily interested in translations - asceticism, monasticism, theological history and conflicts. He has published two long translations - The Book of Steps (Cistercian Publications 2004) with Martien Parmentier; Discourses of Philoxenos of Mabbug (Cistercian Studies 2013); and is currently working on the translation of Dadisho Qatraya, Commentary on the Paradise of the Fathers (Catholic University Press 202?).
He has taught at the Syriac Summer School co-sponsored by HMML/Dumbarton Oaks at St. John's University, Minnesota, and enjoyed not only teaching but discovering the breadth and depth of the Syriac language in the Byzantine Empire and its expansion eastward along the Silk Road into China.edit
"Jacob of Serugh: Selected Metrical Homilies" is the first volume of Syriac Treasures (forthcoming). It includes translations of three metrical homilies by Jacob of Serugh (d. 521): The Fall of the Idols, Love of Money, and The Treasure... more
"Jacob of Serugh: Selected Metrical Homilies" is the first volume of Syriac Treasures (forthcoming). It includes translations of three metrical homilies by Jacob of Serugh (d. 521): The Fall of the Idols, Love of Money, and The Treasure Hidden in a Field.
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Final version of Introduction to the Book of Steps
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" This volume of essays breaks new ground in the study of the Book of Steps, an important Syriac text of the late fourth-century. In brief, the Book of Steps (aka Liber Graduum) is a collection of 30 mēmrē or discourses by an anonymous... more
" This volume of essays breaks new ground in the study of the Book of Steps, an important Syriac text of the late fourth-century. In brief, the Book of Steps (aka Liber Graduum) is a collection of 30 mēmrē or discourses by an anonymous author, who probably lived inside the Persian Empire in what is present-day Iraq. The work is characterized by its description of a Christian community consisting of two levels or steps: the Upright—married Christians, who work and own property, and who perform most of the active acts of charity within the community and region; and the Perfect—celibates, who pointedly do not work and have neither possessions nor permanent home, who teach, pray unceasingly, and mediate conflicts. Though the author treats a wide range of topics, both theological and practical, the focus of the Book of Steps always returns to the description, encouragement, and sometimes chastisement of the Upright and Perfect.
The seventeen papers that make up this collection deal with a similarly wide range of topics: the historical context of Persian-Roman rivalry and conflict, the relationship and influences of Manichaeism and magic upon the structures and conflicts with the Book of Steps, the metaphorical images of food, the discovery of a previously unknown citation of the Book of Steps in another patristic work, a challenge of the traditional view of the anonymous author, an extensive introduction to the methods of Biblical exegesis, studies of how the author interprets Genesis 1-3 and the understanding of sexuality in the community of the Book of Steps.
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The seventeen papers that make up this collection deal with a similarly wide range of topics: the historical context of Persian-Roman rivalry and conflict, the relationship and influences of Manichaeism and magic upon the structures and conflicts with the Book of Steps, the metaphorical images of food, the discovery of a previously unknown citation of the Book of Steps in another patristic work, a challenge of the traditional view of the anonymous author, an extensive introduction to the methods of Biblical exegesis, studies of how the author interprets Genesis 1-3 and the understanding of sexuality in the community of the Book of Steps.
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Bilingual Syriac-English translation of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, with introduction (assistance from Andreas Juckel) as part of the Surath Kthob/Antioch Bible project of Gorgias Press.
... Title: The Syriac Book Of Steps. Authors: Robert Kitchen. Keywords: Christian Life; Monasticism And Religious Orders; Religion / Christian Life / General; Spirituality; Syriac Christians. Issue Date: 2009. Publisher: Gorgias Press,... more
... Title: The Syriac Book Of Steps. Authors: Robert Kitchen. Keywords: Christian Life; Monasticism And Religious Orders; Religion / Christian Life / General; Spirituality; Syriac Christians. Issue Date: 2009. Publisher: Gorgias Press, LLC. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3721. ...
This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
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Jonah Without the Whale: Scribal Re-composition and Correction of Jacob of Serugh Homilies in Vatican Syriac 464
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“Timothy I of Baghdad: A Stranger in His Own Land” in
Sources of the Christian Self: ACultural History of Christian Identity
, edit. James M. Houston & Jens Zimmerman (GrandRapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018) 257-274.
Sources of the Christian Self: ACultural History of Christian Identity
, edit. James M. Houston & Jens Zimmerman (GrandRapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018) 257-274.
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article from Symposium Syriacum, Rome 2016
A study of the content and context of five Syriac Orthodox synodical canons (628-896).
Breaking the Mind: New Studies in the Syriac
Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2014
pp. 205-220
Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2014
pp. 205-220
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Syriac inscriptions recently discovered in Inner Mongolia and presently held in the National Museum in Beijing. Ken Parry then discusses imagery from the Church of the East, highlighting some issues encountered by contemporary scholars... more
Syriac inscriptions recently discovered in Inner Mongolia and presently held in the National Museum in Beijing. Ken Parry then discusses imagery from the Church of the East, highlighting some issues encountered by contemporary scholars from both a textual and art historical perspective, where a lack of systematic records, the lack of "a database of all known finds," and the huge geographic territory encompassed by the Church of the East all continue to challenge contemporary scholars (197). Parry's article features several excellent plates showing the architectural uses of the bema in the Middle East and Central Asia (209-212). Patrick Taveirne finishes the volume with a contextualization of the Ordos "Nestorian bronze crosses," which includes a discussion and plates identifying the various types of cross found (226-227, 232). This edited volume is a strong contribution to furthering the understanding of the Church of the East in China and the Silk Road. It is completely in step with modern scholarship and in several instances advances that scholarship significantly. Given the expertise of the contributors, this is not surprising, and this work can be recommended for any readers with an interest in the history of religions along the Silk Road.
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This monograph is a revision of Jeffrey Wickes's doctoral dissertation at the University of Notre Dame, built upon the foundation of his translation of St. Ephrem the Syrian's Hymns on Faith (Fathers of the Church; Washington, DC:... more
This monograph is a revision of Jeffrey Wickes's doctoral dissertation at the University of Notre Dame, built upon the foundation of his translation of St. Ephrem the Syrian's Hymns on Faith (Fathers of the Church; Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). Ephrem (309-373), the most renowned of Syriac poets and biblical exegetes, composed a large number of metered poems or madrashe, sung or chanted during the liturgy or in other community settings. It is because of their liturgical use that the label "hymn" has generally been applied in translation. Many of these madrashe/hymns were collated into single manuscripts based on common themes (Nativity, Virginity, the Church, Against Heresies, Paradise, Fasting, Carmina Nisibena, On Abraham Kidunaya and Julianus Saba). The Hymns on Faith, the largest of these collations, consists of eighty-seven poems of varying length and with thirteen different syllabic meters. The madrashe do not have individual titles, but each one begins with a melody title, an opening stanza, and then a refrain for the assembly to chant in response. The melodies are no longer identifiable.
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Church History 86.3 (2017) 828-831.
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A fellowship at Göttingen offered Anton Pritula the opportunity to compile, introduce, translate and annotate a volume of The Wardā, a large collection of hymns of the Church of the East from the latter part of the 13 th century, and with... more
A fellowship at Göttingen offered Anton Pritula the opportunity to compile, introduce, translate and annotate a volume of The Wardā, a large collection of hymns of the Church of the East from the latter part of the 13 th century, and with this accomplishment provides a rare view of one of the least understood and chronicled periods in medieval history. The Warda, " The Rose, " contains 120 metrical hymns, compiled during the Syriac Renaissance from the 11 th-14 th centuries, most of which are attributed to Gīwargīs Wardā, or George the Rose. As for many medieval authors, little is known about Gīwargīs, and some scholars question whether he is a historical figure at all. Pritula rehearses all the arguments and perspectives, but opts to remain with the strong likelihood of a real personage and poet behind the collection. The Warda's size is daunting, so Pritula has prepared a critical edition of a selection of 35 hymns, Syriac text with facing English translation, as representative of the major themes of the work. The translation is excellent, capturing the sense and grammar of these remarkable hymns from the last great period of Syriac literature. Pritula does not scrimp on the introduction, which encompasses the entire collection of hymns, their themes, complex literary structures and genres. There is little imaginable that Pritula does not examine and detail by means of well-designed charts and systematic exposition of most poems, their manuscripts and provenance.
On the occasion of the 80 th birthday of Sebastian P. Brock, Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy & Stockholm School of Theology, Sweden, are hosting a major conference on " The Future of Syriac Studies. " Sebastian Brock has agreed to be... more
On the occasion of the 80 th birthday of Sebastian P. Brock, Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy & Stockholm School of Theology, Sweden, are hosting a major conference on " The Future of Syriac Studies. " Sebastian Brock has agreed to be present and participate and it is expected that this will be a significant and memorable event for Syriac studies. Papers are now being invited and solicited from senior and junior scholars for a limited number of spaces in general sessions. Papers should be 20-25 minutes in order to give time for discussion, and may concern any topic in the broad range of Syriac studies. Please keep in mind that the theme of this conference focuses upon new directions and methodologies, as well as to forge new resolutions to traditional issues. The deadline for submittal of a title and abstract (ca. 200 words) is 1 February 2018. The conference committee will notify those whose papers have been accepted by 1 March 2018. During the concluding session, Sebastian Brock will be awarded the Order of Sankt Ignatios for his long and valued contribution to all matters Syriac, along with his mentorship to so many scholars. In addition to the plenary and general sessions, events of Syriac song and poetry are being planned, as well as a round-table discussion of the future of Syriac studies. Housing and meals will be available for all participants at the Sigtuna Conference Centre or in the close vicinity. Sigtuna is one of the oldest settlements in Sweden and is located only 20 minutes from the Stockholm Arlanda Airport. A registration form will be available shortly at www.sanktignatios.org.
Research Interests: Syriac Studies, Syriac (Languages And Linguistics), Syriac Christianity, Syriac literature, Ephrem the Syriac Father of the Church, and 18 moreRabbinic Literature, Syriac Patristic, East Syriac Scholasticism, Syriac, Arabic and Syriac literature, Islamic and Syriac studies, Syriac manuscripts, Syriac Epigraphy, Syriac Philosophy (e.g. Barhebraeus, Hunayn ibn Ishaq), Aramaic/Syriac, Syriac historiography, Classical Syriac, Jacob of Sarug, rhetoric, Syriac Patrology, Syriac Liturgy, Syriac Christianity in India, Syriac Theology, Liber Graduum (Syriac), Translation Greek Into Syriac, East Syriac Liturgical Manuscripts, and Syriac Orthodox Church
Call For Papers: XVIIIth International Patristics Conference, Oxford, 19-24 August 2019
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Narsai († ca. 500) was a founding theologian of the Church of the East. Active first at the School of the Persians in Edessa and later at the School of Nisibis, Narsai creatively synthesized his native Syriac tradition with the newly... more
Narsai († ca. 500) was a founding theologian of the Church of the East. Active first at the School of the Persians in Edessa and later at the School of Nisibis, Narsai creatively synthesized his native Syriac tradition with the newly translated works of Antiochene theology and exegesis. In a time of theological upheaval, his works helped forge a new theological tradition in Syriac. This groundbreaking collection of original essays refocuses attention on this fascinating Late Antique thinker and illustrates his importance for understanding Christianity in Late Antiquity. The essays highlight Narsai’s contributions to exegesis, asceticism and moral formation, Jewish-Christian relations, liturgical theology, and place his work and thought within the cultural and intellectual world of two leading Christian centers in the Roman-Persian frontiers in the fifth century.
Aaron M. Butts, Kristian S. Heal, and Robert A. Kitchen, Narsai: Rethinking his Work and his World (Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity 121; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020).
Aaron M. Butts, Kristian S. Heal, and Robert A. Kitchen, Narsai: Rethinking his Work and his World (Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity 121; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020).