Diversity of Islamic and Christian Cultural Heritage of Jerusalem

The presentation will demonstrate the remarkable diversity of Christian and Islamic written cultural heritage in Jerusalem, a city sacred to billions and a crossroads of civilizations. For centuries, Jerusalem has been a vibrant centre of religious scholarship, where monasteries, mosques, and libraries preserved and produced texts that shaped the spiritual and intellectual life of entire communities.

From ancient Christian manuscripts in Greek, Latin, and Armenian to Islamic works in Arabic on theology, law, and science, the city’s written legacy reflects a profound richness and complexity. Jerusalem has been the core of a protracted Israeli/Palestinian conflict since 1948 war, ever since which Muslims and Christians have stood together to protect their status, identity, history and cultural heritage.

The enlightened role of the Khalidi family and its openness to Christian compatriots under diverse political regimes is well exemplified by the story of Muhammad Ali Khalidi and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch some 200 years ago, and the Khalidi waqf custodianship of the site one of the most important archeological artifacts of early Christianity in Jerusalem.

Language: Arabic

What will you learn?
Participants will learn about the diverse written heritage of Christian and Islamic traditions in Jerusalem, the historical and ongoing efforts to safeguard this heritage amid political conflict, and the role of the Khalidi family in preserving interfaith cultural legacies.

Who is it for?
This is for historians, archivists, scholars of religion and Middle Eastern studies, cultural heritage professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, identity, and the preservation of Jerusalem’s shared past.