Patristic Studies in the Twenty-first Century: An International Conference to Mark the 50th Anniversary of AIEP/IAPS
Jerusalem, June 25-27, 2013
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of its inception, the International Association of Patristic Studies, in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Christianity in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will convene an international conference in Jerusalem on June 25-27, 2013. The theme of the conference will be the state of patristic studies in the twenty-first century, focusing on the implications of the various settings and interests of patristic studies for the future of the field.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey (Brown University) will deliver the opening plenary lecture on “Patristic Worlds”, and the closing plenary lecture will be given by Jean-Noël Guinot (Sources Chrétiennes) on “Éditer, traduire et commenter les écrits des Pères. Constats, évolutions, perspectives. Retour sur 70 ans d'activité dédiée par ‘Sources Chrétiennes’ à l'édition des textes patristiques”.
The first day will be devoted to an overview of the current state of patristic studies around the world, with presentations from colleagues from Europe (Martin Wallraff, Universität Basel), North America (Dennis Trout, University of Missouri), South America (Francisco García Bazán, CONICET, Argentina), Africa (Michel Libambu, Université catholique du Congo), Asia (Satoshi Toda, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo), and Australia (Bronwen Neil, Australian Catholic University). In addition, two former presidents of AIEP/IAPS, Adolf Martin Ritter (Ruprecht-Karls Universität) and Angelo di Berardino (Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum), will speak on the origins and development of AIEP/IAPS.
The remainder of the conference will be given to sessions on particular themes. Each session will consist of one or more plenary lectures (40 minutes), short presentations (20 minutes each), and a moderated discussion involving all participants.
Conference Themes
The themes and plenary lecturers for the six half-day sessions are the following:
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Patristics and the confluence of Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures: what does patristics mean for scholars in communities with a combination of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim identities?
Aryeh Kofsky (Haifa University), “Studying Patristics as an Outsider: Does it Make a Difference?”
Averil Cameron (University of Oxford), “Patristic Studies and the Emergence of Islam”
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Patristics between Eastern and Western Christian traditions: what does patristics mean in the face of diverse receptions of patristic texts within and between Eastern and Western Christian traditions?
Columba Stewart (St. John's University), “Patristics Beyond ‘East’ and ‘West’”
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Patristics and theology: what can theology contribute to patristics today and what can patristics contribute to theology today?
Christoph Markschies (Humboldt Universität), “Patristics and Theology: What Can Theology Contribute to Patristics Today and What Can Patristics Contribute to Theology Today?”
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Patristics, literature, and histories of the book: what is the meaning for patristics of current thinking and research in literary history and book culture?
Mark Vessey (University of British Columbia), “‘Scribes for the Kingdom of God’: The Fathers of the Church in Writing, Literature and Book Culture (1963-2013)”
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Patristics and art: how can the study of aesthetics and early Christian art forms contribute to the study of patristics?
Robin Jensen (Vanderbilt University), “New and Renewed Approaches to Material and Visual Evidence for Early Christian Studies: The Integration of Texts and Artifacts”
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Patristics and archaeology: what is the meaning for patristics of a broader understanding of ancient culture and Christianity arising from archaeological investigations?
Yoram Tsafrir (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), “Aelia Capitolina and the Holy City: The Roles of Patristic Literature and Archaeological Research in the Study of Late Antique Jerusalem”
For the preliminary programme of the conference, click here.
Registration and Fees
The registration fee for the conference is 50 euros, which includes the cost of refreshments during breaks and the banquet on the first evening of the conference. Invited speakers and students are exempt from the registration fee. All other participants must pay the registration fee.
The registration fee for the walking tour of Jerusalem on Friday, June 28, is 15 euros. This tour is optional.
To register for the conference and pay the fees, click here.
The deadline for registration is May 31.
Travel, accommodation, and visas
Participants must make their own arrangements for travel to the conference and accommodation during the conference. For a list of hotels within walking distance or public transportation to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, click here.
For transport from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem, exit the arrivals hall and look for a taxi shuttle (“Monit Sheirut”) to Jerusalem. (Do not confuse a taxi shuttle with a private taxi, which is very expensive.) A taxi shuttle takes passengers directly to their requested destination in Jerusalem. The cost is 62 NIS.
Participants may need to obtain a visa to enter Israel. For information on visa requirements and procedures, contact the embassy or consulate of Israel in your country or go to http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Consular_affairs/Visas.htm. Please note that visitors must have a travel document (e.g., passport) that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of the stay in Israel.
Questions?
Please address queries concerning registration and other practical matters to:
Daniel Salem at daniel.salem@mail.huji.ac.il
Please address queries concerning academic matters to:
Carol Harrison at Carol.Harrison@durham.ac.uk
Organizing Committee
Theodore de Bruyn
President, AIEP/IAPS
Carol Harrison
Vice-President, AIEP/IAPS
Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony
Director, Center for the Study of Christianity
Department of Comparative Religion
Hebrew University of Jerusalem