Andrew is fascinated by Syriac poetry, the largest body of early Syriac literature. Sung in church worship, it creatively reimagines biblical stories, filling in “gaps” in the text and giving voice to biblical characters for a vivid first-person retelling of their lives. The poetry entertains, and Andrew enjoys studying the way that it functions as a vehicle for theological reflection, exegesis, polemic, and faith formation.
One popular Syriac poetic motif, the Virgin Mary heatedly debating with the archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation, triggered Andrew’s curiosity about the Syriac cult of the Virgin. For his doctorate he is attempting to excavate the historical origins of this devotion, focusing on one of the earliest Assumption/Dormition accounts, The Six Books of the Departure of My Lady Mary from the World. In the process he is acquiring skills in palimpsest reading and editing, delving into liturgical history, grappling with late antique eschatology, and exploring the transmission of apocryphal literature.
Andrew’s research intersects with Islamic and Byzantine Greek literature. He is interested in the formation of the Qur’an, in particular those motifs that it shares with ancient Syriac poetry and apocrypha. He also researches Byzantine hymnography, in particular its formal and thematic connections with Syriac liturgical poetry. He also works on Byzantine monastic rules.
