Dr. Abraham Terian is Professor of Armenian Patristics and Academic Dean at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle,
New York, and editor of the St. Nersess Theological Review.
He grew up in the Armenian compound of St. James in Jerusalem, where he received his early education. For six years
he was a professional tour-guide throughout the Holy Land. In addition to a Bachelor's degree in history and ancient languages
and a Master's degree in archaeology and history of antiquity, he holds a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Basel,
Switzerland, specializing in Early Christianity and its Jewish and Hellenistic backgrounds.
Before coming to St. Nersess in 1997, he was Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures for twenty
years at various universities in the US and abroad, and for four years a recurring Visiting Professor for both Classical
Armenian and Hellenistic Judaism at the University of Chicago. Dr. Terian is an internationally recognized scholar in these
fields.
His publications include three books on the first-century Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (whose voluminous
works survive in part in an old Armenian translation only): (1) Philonis Alexandrini de Animalibus: The Armenian Text with
an Introduction, Translation, and Commentary; (2) Alexander, e versione armeniaca; and (3) Quaestiones et Solutiones in Exodum,
e versione armeniaca et fragmenta graeca. (The first was published by Scholars Press [Chico, CA 1981], and the latter two by Éditions du Cerf in the series Les ?uvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, vols. 36 and 34c [Paris 1988 and 1992]). His subsequent
research in Philonic studies has resolved the long-standing problem of the chronology of Philo's voluminous works and has
provided a viable methodology for distinguishing between tradition and originality in Philo.
He has more than fifty articles in historical, philological, and literary periodicals and monographs. Most of these
studies will shortly appear in separate volumes: (1) Hellenistic Elements in Early Armenian Literature; (2) Studies in Medieval
Armenian Literature; and (3) From Biblical Exposition to Apologetic: Literary Tendencies in Philo of Alexandrias. Another book,
to be published in anticipation of the 17th Centennary of the Christianization of Armenia, is entitled Patriotism and Piety in
Armenian Christianity: The Medieval Panegyrics on St. Gregory the Illuminator.
He was Chairman of the Hellenistic Judaism Group of the Society of Biblical Literature (1983-85) and President of the
Society's Midwest Region (1990-92). He has also served as Secretary of the Society for Armenian Studies (1993).
PUBLISHED WORKS:
Books:
Philonis Alexandrini De Animalibus:
The Armenian Text with an Introduction, Translation, and Commentary. Studies in Hellenistic Judaism: Supplements to
Studia Philonica 1. Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1981.
Philon d'Alexandrie: Alexander vel de ratione quam habere etiam bruta animalia (e versione armeniaca):
Introduction, traduction et notes. Les ?uvres de Philon d'Alexandrie 36. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1988. (Adapted
from the preceding)
Philon d'Alexandrie: Quaestiones et solutiones in Exodum I et II (e versione armeniaca et fragmenta graeca):
Introduction, traduction et notes. Les ?uvres de Philon d'Alexandrie 34C. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1992.
Patriotism and Piety in Armenian Christianity:
A Commentary on the Early Panegyrics on St. Gregory the Illuminator. St. Nersess Armenian Texts and Studies 3. New
Rochelle, New York: St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, 2000 (forthcoming).
Articles:
"Coins from the 1968 Excavations at Heshbon." Andrews University Seminary Studies 9 (1971) 147-160.
"Coins from the 1971 Excavations at Heshbon." Andrews University Seminary Studies 12 (1974) 35-46.
"Coins from the 1973 and 1974 Excavations at Heshbon." Andrews University Seminary Studies 14 (1976) 133-41.
(with John Dillon) "Philo and the Stoic Doctrine of Eupatheiai: A Note on Quaes Gen 2.57." Studia Philonica 4 (1976-1977) 17-24.
"The Implications of Philo's Dialogues for His Exegetical Works." In Paul J. Achtemeier, ed., Society of Biblical Literature 1978 Seminar Papers, 2 vols., Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers Series 13. Missoula, Montana: Scholars Press, 1978, 1:181-190.
"Coins from the 1976 Excavations at Heshbon." Andrews University Seminary Studies 18 (1980) 173-180.
"Syntactical Peculiarities in the Translations of the Hellenizing School." In John A. C. Greppin, ed., First International Conference on Armenian Linguistics: Proceedings (The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, July 11-14, 1979). Delmar, N. Y.: Caravan Books, 1980, pp. 197-207.
(with W. Harold Mare, C. J. Lenzen, M. J. Fuller, and M. A. Mare) "The Decapolis Survey Project: Abila, 1980. Background and Analytical Description of Abila of the Decapolis." Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 26 (1982) 37-65.
"Idumea" and "Iturea." In G. W. Bromiley et al., eds., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982, 2:800, 939-940.
"The Hellenizing School: Its Time, Place, and Scope of Activities Reconsidered." In Nina G. Garsoïan, Thomas F. Mathews, and Robert W. Thomson, eds., East of Byzantium: Syria and Armenia in the Formative Period (Dumbarton Oaks Symposium, 1980). Washington, D. C.: Dumbarton Oaks, 1982, pp. 175-186.
"A Critical Introduction to Philo's Dialogues." In W. Haase, ed., Hellenistisches Judentum in römischer Zeit: Philon und Josephus, Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, II Principat vol. 21.1- 2. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1984, 1:272-294.
"A Philonic Fragment on the Decad." In Frederick E. Greenspahn, Earle Hilgert, and Burton L. Mack, eds., Nourished with Peace: Studies in Hellenistic Judaism in Memory of Samuel Sandmel, Scholars Press Homage Series 9. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1984, pp. 173- 182.
"A Response to Professor [Pheme] Perkins." In Lawrence T. Geraty, ed., A Symposium on the Relationship between Bible, Oriental Studies, and Archaeology, Occasional Papers of the Horn Archaeological Museum 3. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Siegfried H. Horn Archaeological Museum / Andrews University, 1984, pp. 11-15.
"A Medieval Armenian Glossary of Philosophical Terms and Concepts." In G. B. Djahukian, et al., eds., International Symposium on Armenian Linguistics, Yerevan, September 21-25, 1982: Reports. Yerevan: Publications of the Armenian SSR, 1984, pp. 557-583.
"Some Stock Arguments for the Magnanimity of the Law in Hellenistic Jewish Apologetics." In B. S. Jackson, ed., Jewish Law Association Studies I: The Touro Conference Volume. Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1985, pp. 141-149.
(with Avedis K. Sanjian) "An Enigmatic Letter of Gregory Magistros." Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies 2 (1985-1986) 85-95.
"Plato in David's Prolegomena Philosophiae." In Avedis K. Sanjian, ed., David Anhaght' , The 'Invincible' Philosopher, Studies in Near Eastern Culture and Society 7. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1986, pp. 27-35.
"Koriwn's Life of Mashtots' as an Encomium." Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies 3 (1987-1988) 1-14.
"Xrimean Hayriki Hogewor Keank'e" (The Spiritual Life of Xrimean Hayrik). Varak 36 / 112 (July-December 1988) 13-15 (in Armenian).
"Strange Interpolations in the Text of Philo: The Case of the Quaestiones in Exodum." In D. T. Runia, D. M. Hay, and D. Winston, eds., Heirs of the Septuagint: Philo, Hellenistic Judaism and Early Christianity; Festschrift for Earle Hilgert. Brown Judaic Studies 230. Atlanta: Scolars Press, 1991 [=The Studia Philonica Annual 3 (1991)] 320-327.
"The Priority of the Quaestiones among Philo's Exegetical Commentaries." In David M. Hay, ed., Both Literal and Allegorical: Studies in Philo of Alexandria's Questions and Answers on Genesis and Exodus. Brown Judaic Studies 232. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991, pp. 29-46.
"The Hunting Imagery in Isaiah LI 20a." Vetus Testamentum 41 (1991) 462-471.
"A History of Armenian Grammatical Activity: An Account by Hovhannes Yerznkats'i." In John A. C. Greppin, ed., Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Armenian Linguistics (Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, September 14-18, 1991). Anatolian and Caucasian Studies. Delmar, N. Y.: Caravan Books, 1992, pp. 261-270.
"Armenian Writers in Medieval Jerusalem." Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies 6 (1992-1993) 11-31; reprinted in Sion 70 (1996) 82-102.
"The Bible in Verse by Gregory Magistros." In Christoph Burchard, ed., Armenia and the Bible: Papers Presented to the International Symposium Held at Heidelberg, July 16-19, 1990. University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies 12. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993, pp. 213-219.
"Two Unusual Uses of Ar%n in the Armenian Version of Philo's Quaestiones." Annual of Armenian Linguistics 14 (1993) 49-53.
"Creation in Johannine Theology." In Ed. L. Miller, ed., Good News in History: Essays in Honor of Bo Reicke. Scholars Press Homage Series 17. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993, pp. 45-61.
"Notes on the Transmission of the Philonic Corpus." The Studia Philonica Annual: Studies in Hellenistic Judaism 6 (1994) 91-95.
"Had the Works of Philo Been Newly Discovered." Biblical Archaeologist 57 (1994) 86-97.
"Inspiration and Originality: Philo's Distinctive Exclamations." The Studia Philonica Annual: Studies in Hellenistic Judaism 7 (1995) 56-84.
"The Armenian Translation of Philo." In Constantine Zuckerman, A Repertory of Published Armenian Translations of Classical Texts, rev. by Michael E. Stone. Jerusalem: Institute of African and Asian Studies of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1995, pp. 36-44.
"Armenian Community of Jerusalem." In Richard W. Bulliet, Philip Matar, and Reeva Simon, eds., Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East, 4 vols. London and New York: Macmillan, 1996, 1:218-219.
"Armenian [Language]." In Eric M. Meyers et al., eds., The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, 5 vols. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, 1:207-211.
"Surpassing the Biblical Worthies: An Early Motif in Armenian Religious Literature." St. Nersess Theological Review 1 (1996) 117-144.
"Back to Creation: The Beginning of Philo's Third Grand Commentary." In David T. Runia and Gregory E. Sterling, eds., Wisdom and Logos: Studies in Jewish Thought in Honor of David Winston. Brown Judaic Studies 312. Atlanta: Scolars Press, 1991 [=The Studia Philonica Annual 9 (1997)] 19-36.
"Biblical Interpretation in the Epic Poetry of Grigor Magistros," St. Nersess Theological Review 2 (1997) 77-93.
"The Holy Spirit in the Liturgy of the Armenian Church: The Significance of the Hymns of Pentecost," Sion 72 (1998) 247-261.
TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAY for the faculty, students and alumni of St.Nersess Armenian Seminary, that they may remain firm in their calling, preaching the gospel and doing the will of God.
Dr. Abraham Terian is Professor of Armenian Patristics and Academic Dean at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle,
New York, and editor of the St. Nersess Theological Review.
