CFP: “Shaping the Word: the Form and Use of Biblical Manuscripts in the Early Medieval West” at Durham University in July 2026. We are interested in a wide range of papers exploring ways in which scriptural texts (produced roughly c. 500-1000) were presented and used.

our "signature" session this year is a celebration of the work of elizabeth a. castelli. we're lucky to get some stellar panelists *and* prof. castelli as a respondent. we're sending a special invite to our late ancient besties at NAPS; please join us for all our panels, but this one's for you!

The first two books of our 'Coptic Gospels & Associated Texts' series with @universitypress.cambridge.org are now available to read online. The series provides thematic introductions & new translations to non-canonical gospels. www.cambridge.org/core/series/...

Announcing the launch of the open-access Journal of Christian Apocryphal Literature (JCAL). Sign up if you are interested in being a contributor or reviewer! journals.aperio.press/jcal/submiss...

3 more weeks to apply for this... please continue to share widely.

I will be teaching a Coptic intro course starting 10/27 with The Religion Department. Come for some accessible + fun philology! All materials authored by me and based on my 12+ years of daily reading and expertise. DM for any questions. Sign-up here: www.religiondepartment.com/learning-cop...

We are looking for a one-year full-time Research Associate to work on Coptic manuscripts in Manchester as part of a wonderful project that connects mss with local communities. Requires strong skills in Coptic, English, & Arabic. Deadline 31/10. Please share! www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

A very pleasant couple of days @chesterbeatty.bsky.social for our @researchireland.ie New Foundations project on 'home' and late antiquity. @mbinzurich.bsky.social @sarahparkhouse.bsky.social @kelsbot.bsky.social

Really looking to going to Dublin to think about home in monastic and martyr works soon and hearing all the fab ideas of the others involved.

I’m at the airport en route to #EABSBL, so it feels like the perfect time to send a copy of my book, Reimaging the Magdalene, on a journey too! 💛 like and 🔁 RT and I’ll draw a winner on the feast of Mary Mag (22/07, heathens) Let’s see where it ends up… #Giveaway

Some thoughts on women retelling the gospel story. theconversation.com/cynthia-eriv...

For my sins, I've finally given in and joined instagram. Please give me a follow @drsarahparkhouse. Next up, Tiktok.

An incredibly well preserved 1700 year old sock which was discovered in a Roman period cemetery at Oxyrhynchus (modern day Al-Bahnasa) in Egypt. Part of the collections at Manchester Museum. 📷 My own. #ManchesterMuseum

📣 Booking is now open for our 2025 meeting, hosted by @uomreligion.bsky.social - online and in person options available now. estore.manchester.ac.uk/conferences-...

It's not too late to sign up for this summer Coptic course! www.religiondepartment.com/coptic Begins July 8th. Available Asynch. or Synch. Lectures live Tuesdays at 10:00am Atlanta/EDT (3:00pm London/BST, 4:00pm Amsterdam/Zurich/CEST, 5:00pm Cairo/EEST, and 12:00am July 9th Australia/AEST).

This was fantastic! Would highly recommend anyone working in environmental humanities to apply for the next year.

Peter Oakes and I have written about our Coptic Manuscripts & Community pilot project @thejohnrylands.bsky.social, where we share initial insights on how the manuscripts came to be in Manchester & how we might connect these ancient artefacts with folks today. rylandscollections.com/2025/06/13/f...

$175 for 8-week Coptic course focused on learning to read the Gospel of Thomas. Access to weekly 90-minute lecture (available synchronous or asynch.), learning materials authored by me, and weekly office hours. #Coptic #DigitalPhilology #NagHammadi #Apocrypha #BiblicalStudies

Very interesting new study dating the Dead Sea Scrolls. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Important for US researchers: Norway has committed a large sum of money to attract US scholars to join any of its nationally funded projects with a priority to the projects that won Research Council of Norway FRIPRO grant. I hold this fund for my project starting in 2026 [1/2]

New RFB guest lecture coming this week! Did environmental disasters help bring down the Roman Empire and boost the rise of Christianity? Join us for a deep-dive with friend of the show and scholar of early Christianity Dr. Travis Proctor. Register here: www.religiondepartment.com/offers/o2NGS...

Was the 'Mary' instructed not to touch Jesus in the garden, Mary his friend or Mary his mother? Which Mary was who, and which Mary was where? Were these two Marys separate Marys at all? New linked article on how late-antique gospel retellers used the muddle of the Marys in various and creative ways.

Looks fantastic, congrats Josh!

The online seminar of the GenAut Project is now live – open to all. With @dekayra.bsky.social @angelnarro.bsky.social @chancebonar.bsky.social @janetspittler.bsky.social off Bsky, and others. Do get in touch if you'd like to be added to our email list. genaut.univie.ac.at?page_id=671

If you are in New York next week, you are welcome to attend this conference. I will present on "Manuscript Evidence for Multilingual and Cross-Denominational Research in Medieval Coptic Works: The Case of Ibn al-ʿAssāl’s Tetraevangelion” www.fordham.edu/academics/ce...

Come study with us! Fully-funded Ph.D. scholarship opportunity to work on the Late Antique translation of texts. www.acu.edu.au/research-and...

🎧 If you missed our last Joseph C. Miller Memorial #Lecture by Jeremiah Coogan, you can now find the #recording on #YouTube! Follow the link 👉https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt00d_xhNEk&t=1s @universitaetbonn @dfg__public @santaclarauniversity

A privilege to join the BBC Breakfast team in the studio to talk briefly about Pope Francis this morning. Hoping to write up some thoughts about the art of his papacy soon if I can find a home for it!

Bite marks on York skeleton reveal first evidence of ‘gladiators’ fighting lions | Roman Britain | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Boy Jesus features in the New York Post. nypost.com/2025/04/19/l...

Here some of Coptic Scriptorium’s next steps in the wake of the NEH mass cancellations. It includes ways to give, if you have the capacity blog.copticscriptorium.org

Time for your yearly read of the Acts of Pilate / Descent of Christ to Hell. Here you go: rickbrannan.com/2020/04/10/s...

Many thanks to Eliza Griswold and @newyorker.com for this lovely new Easter feature on Mary Magdalene. (Scroll to the end to read about my research...and song lyrics 😆) www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

Four-year postdoc in Syriac studies in Vienna. Join my team in the FWF START Project "Generative Authority: The Followers of the Apostles as Literary Characters," genaut.univie.ac.at/ Deadline June 1st. Happy to respond to any inquiries! @fwf-at.bsky.social @univie.ac.at

Multifaceted exploration of the fascinating ancient text "Thunder, Perfect Mind." www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwA...

If you'd like to hear/watch my recent chat about the Gospel of Philip with Shirley Paulson on Bible and Beyond (@earlychristiantexts.com), you can find it below. It was a lot of fun! www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dnI...

Dylan Burns on Bible & Beyond podcast! earlychristiantexts.com/what-is-the-...

Exciting addition to the playlist of manuscript presentations from @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social: Dr Péter Tóth, Curator of #Greek #Manuscripts, presents #NewTestament #apocrypha #papyrus #parchment #fragments #codices youtu.be/_tat1NzWXIo

Please sign and share this student-led petition to save Ancient History here at Cardiff University www.change.org/p/save-cardi...

i know i complain about SBL a lot, but inventing christianity is planning some awesome sessions for 2025 and i hope y'all submit to our CFP when it drops.

Does anyone have an example of a narrative CV, preferably in Humanities, and preferably used for UKRI?

Happy Haloea! Today is the winter solstice and that means it is the feast of Poseidon, celebrated across Ancient Greece. To join in the celebrations, you should be aiming for eating, drinking, nudity, giant phalluses and a big bonfire. Have fun!

A lovely event!

Immensely excited to launch MA Arts, Culture and the Environment (MA ACE) at UoM! Our first intake will be in 2025. Details on content and applications are here: www.manchester.ac.uk/study/master... Please share widely with anyone who might be interested! #envhums #envhist #envcrit #ecocrit