Christian Arabic Texts
January 6 – 15, 2026 | Cambridge, UK
Learn to Read and Analyse Early Christian Arabic Texts
From the early Middle Ages, Christian Arabs have made profound contributions to biblical scholarship, theology, poetry, and history. This winter school invites you to begin reading these remarkable texts for yourself — many of which remain unpublished and underexplored.
Designed for those with at least one year of Arabic study (Classical or Modern Standard), this course offers a gateway into a world of forgotten manuscripts and fresh scholarly discovery.
What You’ll Learn
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Early Bible Quotations – Engage with some of the earliest biblical quotations in Arabic.
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Translation Comparisons – Examine how key biblical stories were rendered into Arabic.
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Foundations of Scholarship – Discover the roots of biblical interpretation and theology in Arabic Christian texts.
Why Join This Winter School?
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Gain access to a rarely taught but deeply significant tradition
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Build on your Arabic skills in a specialised scholarly setting
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Explore unpublished texts and new areas of biblical and historical study
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Join a growing international community of Christian Arabic scholarship
Meet Your Tutor
Dr Krisztina Szilágyi
Dr Szilágyi is a Research Associate at Westminster College. She received her PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. She studied Arabic in Budapest, Damascus, and Jerusalem, and has taught Classical and Christian Arabic for over twenty years.
Her research explores medieval Christian Arabic literature and Jewish-Christian-Muslim interactions in the premodern Middle East. She has held research posts at Trinity College and the Department of Middle Eastern Studies in Cambridge.
Course Schedule
Arrivals: Tuesday, January 6 (between 11:00am–1:00pm)
Departures: Thursday, January 15 (after lunch)
Daily Timetable (January 7–14)*
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:00 | Class 1 |
| 10:00–11:00 | Guided independent study |
| 11:00–11:30 | Coffee break |
| 11:30–12:30 | Class 2 |
| 12:30–13:00 | Guided independent study |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00–15:00 | Class 3 |
| 15:00–16:30 | Guided independent study |
*Note: There will be a half-day of teaching on January 6 and 15. No classes on Sunday, January 11.
Key Information
Accommodation:
Cambridge offers a wide range of accommodation options. Limited on-suite accommodation is available at Westminster College and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To check availability and pricing, please contact our accommodation team and mention the Ancient & Biblical Languages Winter School in your inquiry.
Cost
Fees include all teaching materials, weekday lunches, refreshments, and optional activities.
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Early Bird Rate (until July 31 2025): £550
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Standard Rate (from August 1 2025): £750
Cheshunt Bursaries
50% off for registered students or those on a low income
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Early Bird with Bursary: £275
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Standard Rate with Bursary: £375
Bursaries are limited and offered on a first-come first-served basis. Please select the relevant ticket at checkout using your student email if applying as student.
Refunds:
- Full refunds will be provided on request up to and including the 31st August 2025.
- 50% refunds will be provided on request up to and including 31st October 2025.
- We regret that we are unable to offer refunds after and including the 1st November 2025.
Study Hours:
- 24 hours of live instruction
- 24 hours of guided independent study
Travel & Parking:
Parking charges apply. Please see website — click here.
How to Book
Please book via Ticket Tailor by following this link.
Spaces are limited, and early booking is highly recommended. Once you have booked onto your desired course via Ticket Tailor, you will have 7 days to pay the course fee by bank transfer and confirm your place.