Classical Syriac (on campus)

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected (individually and collectively) to be able to:

Level 1

• write and pronounce the letters of the Syriac alphabet correctly and explain how different communities pronounce them;
• use everyday greetings and simple expressions to connect with other participants;
• create simple sentences that include examples from their own cultural and social background;
• explain basic grammatical rules and compare them with languages and dialects they already know;
• read and write simple texts as well as improve them through collaboration with other participants;
• find and share good resources in Syrian Arabic that help different types of learners; and
• reflect on one's development in learning Syrian, including how group discussions have contributed to their understanding and how the Syrian language connects to their personal identity and community life.

Level 2

• participate in conversations on topics that are important to the group;
• answer questions about everyday situations by using what they have learnt and their own experiences;
• understand texts of moderate difficulty by drawing on both individual skills and group discussions;
• write short pieces that link the language to personal stories and shared experiences;
• use more words and phrases in contexts that are meaningful to the group;
• discuss grammatical patterns and work together with other participants to understand how they work;
• listen carefully to conversations in Classical Syrian and understand different perspectives;
• explain Syrian customs and traditions and compare them with one's own social and cultural experiences; and
• take part in cultural activities that demonstrate that their understanding goes beyond simply learning from books; and
• compare what they knew about Classical Syrian at the start of the course with what they know now, and reflect on how group work has helped them to link the language to their personal values and everyday lives.

Level 3

• take part in and lead more in-depth discussions that incorporate different perspectives and experiences;
• express their views clearly and respectfully in discussions where there are differing opinions;
• understand more challenging texts through personal analysis and ideas from group discussions;
• write longer pieces of writing that are improved through feedback from other participants;
• use specialised vocabulary and explain how the words relate to different social and cultural contexts;
• explain complex grammatical patterns and how they create meaning in language;
• take part in complex discussions and listen carefully to different ways of communicating;
• analyse texts from various cultural, social and historical perspectives; and
• reflect deeply on how their relationship with Classical Syrian has changed over time and how group study has helped them to discover links between the language and their personal values, beliefs and cultural identity.

Level 4

• facilitate discussions in which everyone can have their say on important issues;
• adapt one's language according to different situations and cultural contexts;
• help others to understand difficult texts and their cultural and historical context;
• produce well-structured texts that are improved through group feedback;
• use precise words that reflect their cultural significance and importance;
• explain complex grammar to others and demonstrate how linguistic patterns create meaning;
• recognise different dialects and adapt one’s pronunciation to reflect regional differences;
• understand complex information by combining personal knowledge with group discussions;
• read old manuscripts and discuss various possible interpretations with other participants;
• help others to learn in ways that respect their learning style and prior knowledge;
• analyse texts together to identify cultural assumptions and social relationships;
• present their views whilst respecting other perspectives and demonstrating how discussions enhance understanding;
• reflect on their language-learning journey and explain specific ways in which collaboration has influenced both their language skills and their personal perspectives, as well as their sense of belonging to a community;
• analyse complex syntactic structures in unannotated Syrian texts with a high degree of precision;
• describe the historical and literary context of the selected texts and explain how this context influences their linguistic interpretation; and
• independently translate and analyse a wider range of texts, focusing on stylistic features.

Biblical studies

This module gives you the opportunity to study and develop your language skills in Classical Syriac, focusing on biblical texts and the exegesis of the Syriac Orthodox Fathers. Classical Syriac is the language of the early translation of the Syriac Bible, also known as the simple translation, or the Peshitta. We will use the Syriac biblical text and compare it with translations, as well as study the specific characteristics of the Syriac language in comparison with Swedish and English. You can participate in the course regardless of your previous knowledge of Syriac, as the texts used are adapted to your level of proficiency.

The course also provides an introduction to the other Syriac translations of Holy Scripture produced during the fifth and sixth centuries, namely the Philoxenian and the Harklean versions. The course also includes a brief introduction to the Diatessaron, a Syriac attempt to harmonise the four Gospels into a continuous narrative.

Western Syriac pronunciation is used throughout the course, but participants are welcome to use other pronunciation traditions. From the beginning, participants are expected to use their linguistic skills in the social and liturgical community that forms the natural environment for their learning.

Patristic texts

This module gives you the opportunity to study Classical Syriac, Kthobonoyo, through reading texts by the Syriac fathers. Kthobonoyo is the primary language of the Syriac Orthodox fathers and teachers, and in this course we will delve deeper into the writings of the fathers in Syriac.

Depending on your level of knowledge, we will read works by different Fathers, who wrote at varying linguistic levels. Fathers such as Aphrahat the Wise Persian wrote relatively simple texts, while others, such as Bar-Hebraeus and Saint Ephrem the Syrian, are known for more advanced texts. The writings of the Fathers will also serve as an introduction to the grammar and syntax of the Syriac language.

Furthermore, we will study each author's life and historical context to gain a deeper understanding of their writings. West Syriac pronunciation is used throughout the course, but participants are welcome to use other pronunciation traditions. From the beginning, participants are expected to use their language skills in the social and liturgical community that forms the natural environment for their learning.

Hymnology and liturgics

This module gives you the opportunity to study Classical Syriac, Kthobonoyo, with a particular focus on Syriac hymnology and liturgical recitation. Depending on your prior knowledge, you will learn to recite hymns and liturgical chants from the Syriac Orthodox tradition and use the hymn tradition as a path to in-depth knowledge of Syriac.

The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch has a long tradition of hymnology and poetry. Many of the Church's great fathers wrote and taught the faithful through music and poetry. Saint Ephrem the Syrian and Saint James of Sarug are two of the most prominent hymnographers in the Syriac tradition.

Language learning through song often offers an effective way to memorise lyrics, as multiple parts of the brain are activated simultaneously when singing. The course aims to give participants both a practical and theoretical introduction to the hymnological tradition within the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and invites them to actively take part in this rich heritage.

At Sankt Ignatios College, the overarching principle guiding learning is that all knowledge is intersubjective.

Knowledge is a dialogue that requires humility and empathy.

The course is based on collaborative and dialogic learning, where participants actively shape both their shared learning journey and the course itself. Content, materials, and methods are adapted in real-time based on the participants' needs, interests, and contributions. In addition to mastering the subject matter, a central goal is for each participant to become aware of how shared learning experiences and dialogue transform their thinking, practice, and identity. Through dialogue, storytelling, group discussions, joint reflection, creative expression, and collective exploration, participants develop an awareness of their own development while simultaneously supporting others. The learning community becomes a space where everyone's experiences and questions not only enrich understanding but also actively guide the course's direction, helping each individual integrate learning into their own life context in a meaningful and personally transformative way.

All students at the Syriac seminary are expected to participate in 4 joint campus activities during the academic year: Syriac symposium; Post-Christmas liturgy; Easter activity; and End-of-school closing ceremony.

Attendance is compulsory. Participants are expected to take part in all course activities, both by attending and actively participating in scheduled sessions and by completing assignments outside scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may need to complete additional assignments to meet the course’s learning objectives. To be considered as having completed the course, 80% attendance and active participation are required.

See the syllabus for further information.