Sidney H. Griffith

Sidney H. Griffith (1938 – July 19, 2026) was an American academic who was a professor of Early Christian Studies at the Catholic University of America. The subject of the thesis was Syriac and Medieval Arabic. He immediately assumed teaching duties, and in 1984 rose to director of the university's Graduate Program in Early Christian Studies. During his career, he was a visiting professor or fellow at, among other institutions, The Institute for Advanced Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Georgetown University. He was a president of three separate professional societies: The North American Patristics Society (1986–1988); The Byzantine Studies Conference (1990–1991); and the American Oriental Society (2007–2008). He published prolifically on Syriac Christianity and Christian Arabs.

His main areas of interest were Arabic Christianity, Syriac monasticism, medieval Christian-Muslim encounters and ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. He served on the advisory board of the journal Collectanea Christiana Orientalia, and gave guest lectures at prestigious institutions.

Griffith died on July 19, 2026.

Awards In 2009, Griffith was awarded a Rumi Peace Award for his efforts in interfaith dialogue. The same year, his book The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque: Muslims and Christians in the World of Islam was awarded the Albert C. Outler Prize for the best book on ecumenical church history by the American Society of Church History. The book has been widely and approvingly reviewed.

Works