Learn more about our organization (description in English and French).
Published regularly and contains lecture transcripts, other articles, and book reviews.
Information about our future and past lectures, conferences, and annual general meeting.
Learn about our different membership tiers and how to contact us.
About
English
The Canadian Society for Syriac Studies is a Toronto-based organization whose mission consists of promoting the study of the Syriac culture, a crossroad between the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Aramean civilizations and Eastern Christendom, and a link between the Semitic and Greek and Roman worlds.
The CSSS focuses on Syriac literature, which is rooted in the same soil from which the ancient Mesopotamian and biblical literatures sprung; on Syriac art that bears Near Eastern characteristics as well as Byzantine influence; and on archaeology which unearths the history of the Syriac-speaking people: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Maronites and Catholic and Orthodox Syriacs.
The CSSS is a not-for-profit organization, with no political or ideological affiliations or functions whatsoever. The Society’s activities include the organization of a series of public lectures given by renowned scholars of Syriac studies worldwide, and one yearly symposium investigating individual topics of interest to Syriac. Other activities of the Society include showing films on Syriac antiquities and modern communities in their native contexts, exposing the public to the Syriac liturgical and hymnal music, and the organization of travels to Syriac sites.
The CSSS was founded in 1999 at the University of Toronto, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, as part of the latter’s academic programme in Aramaic and Syriac languages and literatures. The CSSS was incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act in January 23, 1999.
Français
La Société Canadienne des Études Syriaques, située à Toronto, est une organisation dont l’objet est la promotion de l’étude de la culture Syriaque au croisement des civilisations Sumériennes, Babyloniennes, Assyriennes, et Araméennes ainsi que de la Chrétienté Orientale et en tant que liaison entre les mondes Sémitiques, Grecs, et Romains.
La SCES se concentre sur la littérature Syriaque enracinée dans le sol même d’où les littératures de l’ancienne Mésopotamie et de la Bible tiennent leur origine; sur l’art Syriaque porteur de toutes les caractéristiques du Moyen Orient et des influences Byzantines; et sur l’archéologie qui révèle l’histoire des populations de langue Syriaque: Assyriens, Chaldéens, Maronites, et Chrétiens Catholiques et Orthodoxes Syriaques.
La SCES est une organisation charitable, sans attache ou affiliation politique ou idéologique. Les activités de la Société incluent l’organisation de séries de conférences par des universitaires spécialisés dans les études Syriaques et renommés dans le monde entier, et un colloque annuel concentré sur un thème précis intéressant tout ce qui est Syriaque. Les autres activités comprennent la projection de films sur les antiquités Syriaques et les communautés actuelles dans leur contexte d’origine, dévoilant au public la musique liturgique et les hymnes Syriaques, ainsi que l’organisation de voyages sur les sites Syriaques.
La SCES a été créée en 1999 au département des Études du Moyen Orient de l’Université de Toronto comme complément au programme de littérature Araméenne et Syriaque. La SCES est régie par l’Acte sur les Sociétés du Canada.
Journal
The JCSSS is a refereed journal intended to be published annually, and contains the transcripts of public lectures presented at the Society and possibly other articles and book reviews. NOTE: not all journal volumes are currently available online.
Events
UPDATE: Please note that in an earlier draft mistaken dates were given for both events: the ones below are the correct ones.
Special annual symposium of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies, 23-24 April 2027
Symposium annuel spécial de la société canadienne des études syriaques, 23-24 avril 2027
The CSSS will hold a special annual symposium on Friday-Saturday 23-24 April 2027 in honour of Professor Amir Harrak, the founder and long-serving president of the society, at the University of Toronto; the symposium will be hybrid, both on-line and in-person. The event will honour and commemorate his prolific and wide-ranging work in the field: contributions on all aspects of Syriac studies are welcome. The society plans to publish the proceedings in its journal, the JCSSS (following peer review).
Contributions on all aspects of Syriac studies will be welcome, especially those in which Professor Harrak was active. Speakers will have 20 minutes for their presentation, followed by 10 minutes for questions. Proposals (of no more than 300 words) should be sent to Dr R. Kitchen, robertardellekitchen@gmail.com, by 31 October 2026.
The society will also hold an AGM and one or two lectures on Saturday 28 November 2026 – the regular slot for symposia in past years (although there wasn’t one in 2025). All will be welcome at this event, as usual, which will also be held at the University of Toronto.