Journal of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies 19

JCSSS is a refereed journal published annually by the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies Inc. (CSSS), located at the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. JCSSS contains the transcripts of public lectures presented at the CSSS and possibly other articles and book reviews. JCSSS focuses on the vast 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 and Islamic influences; and on archaeology, unearthing in the Middle East and the rest of Asia and China the history of the Syriac-speaking people: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Maronites and Catholic and Orthodox Syriacs. Modern Syriac Christianity and contemporary vernacular Aramaic dialects are also the focus of JCSSS. The languages of the Journal are English, French and German, and quotations from ancient sources are given in the original languages and in translation. The articles are interdisciplinary and scholarly; the Editorial Committee brings together scholars from four American, Canadian, and European universities. The CSSS that publishes JCSSS 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. It was incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act in January 23, 1999. This volume includes articles by Alain Desreumaux, Alexander Treiger, Reagan Patrick, Narmin Muhammad Amin 'Ali, Amir Harrak, and Sihaam Khan. 000_Masthead 001_Table of Contents 002_FROM THE EDITOR 003_RECENT DISCOVERIES AT EDESSA_ ROMAN PERIOD TOMBS A 004_EAST-SYRIAC MESSALIANISM IN JEWISH AND MUSLIM HERE 005_SEARCHING FOR CAIN’S LAND_ SYRIAC’S ROLE IN SHAPIN 006_DISCOVERY OF TWO NEW CHURCHES IN THE NORTH OF IRAQ 007_FORGED SYRIAC MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BLACK MARKET 008_PARTHIAN ASHUR AS A POSSIBLE PILGRIM HUB IN LIGHT 009_THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES