Extent of coverage

The widest possible coverage is aimed at, ranging from pre-Christian to modern times and across all parts of the world that have been touched by Syriac culture. The subject matter falls broadly into the following categories:

• people - church leaders, saints, monks, authors, scholars and artists, as well as members of foreign (e.g. Byzantine, Persian, Arab, Mongol) ruling groups to whom Syriac- speaking communities have been subject.

• places - past and present centres of Syriac population, dioceses, monuments, especially monasteries and churches, and important schools.

• works of literature - important writings both religious and secular.

• topics in ecclesiastical history - denominations, hierarchical titles, festivals, liturgical terms, councils and synods, etc.