The Gothic factor in European history is embraced by many countries. Today the province Moesia is part of Bulgaria. It was once the part of the Roman Empire where Bishop Wulfila settled down with his Gothi minores, Christian Visigoths crossing the Danube River to escape persecution in Dacia. Wulfila translated the Bible into Gothic, he constructed the Gothic alphabet and he was a shepherd for his flock, trying to create a Gothic nation based on a learned culture of Christian origin. Today the most important physical remnant of Wulfila's Bible translation is to be found in Uppsala University Library: the Codex Argenteus, a magnificent gospel manuscript from the early 6th century Ravenna Court of Theoderic the Great. The Goths are often portrayed from a dark side. Wulfila and his flock, however, mark the beginning of brighter Gothic impact on European history: learned, ecumenical, peace-loving, and multicultural.
According to tradition, Wulfila was born in 311 AD, although the accuracy of this date has been questioned. Nevertheless we are celebrating his 1700th anniversary in 2011. Uppsala University is arranging an international multidisciplinary symposium on the theme Wulfila and the Goths. The symposium is arranged by the University Library and the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History under the patronage of the Vice Chancellor of the University. The Symposium will be opened by Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of Unesco. Do join us in the main building of Uppsala University in June 2011 for the exchange of ideas, discussions and friendly intercourse with colleagues.
Anders Kaliff (Professor) ; Lars Munkhammar (Senior Librarian).
Preliminary programme
Wednesday June 15
19.00 Welcome reception for early arrivers
Thursday June 16
08.30-09.30 Registration
Venue: University main building
Moderator: Prof. Anders Kaliff
10.00-11.30 Opening of the symposium by Dr. Irina Bokova, Director General of Unesco
Venue: Carolina Rediviva, the University Library
Venue for the remaining day: University Main Building
12.00-12.30 Prof. Herwig Wolfram, Ulfila pontifex et primas Gothorum minorum (Iordanes, Getica 267)
12.30-13.00 Prof. Tore Nyberg, Euseb's Tricennial Oration and Wulfila's Christian Faith
13.00-14.30 Lunch
14.30-15.00 Prof. Jan Paul Strid, Retracing the Goths
15.00-15.30 Monsignore J.M. Ferrer Grenesche, The living traditions of the Hispano-Mozarabic liturgy and its Visigothic roots
15.30-16.00 Coffee break
16.00-16.30 Prof. Andrzej Kokowski, TBA
16.30-17.00 Dr. Svante Fischer, TBA
19.00 Dinner
Venue: Västgöta nation
Friday June 17
Venue: University Main Building
Moderator: Mrs. Svetlana Lazarova
09.30-10.00 Prof. Magnus Snaedal, naiswor
10.00-10.30 Dr. Rossen Milev, Wulfila's cultural heritage in Bulgaria and the Eastern Orthodox Tradition
10.30-11.00 Mrs. Svetlana Lazarova, The Gothic Alphabet of Bishop Wulfila and the Cyrillic Alphabet Culture
11.00-11.45 Coffee break
11.45-12.15 Prof. Carla Falluomini, The Gothic version of the New Testament. Text critical remarks
12.15-12.45 Associate Prof. Antoaneta Granberg, The Gothic and the Cyrillic Alphabets. Typology of Greek-Based Alphabets on the Balkans
12.45-13.00 Short break
13.00-13.30 Prof. Hans Frede Nielsen, The Gothic Language of Bishop Wulfila - Phonology, Typology and Purported Linguistic Purity
13.30-14.00 Prof. Ingmar Söhrman, Wulfila, Arianism and the Gothic Language in Visigothic Spain
14.00-14.20 Concluding discussion
14.20 Luncheon
16.00-20.30 Visit to Gamla Uppsala Museum
Saturday June 18
11.00-16.30 Excursion to Skokloster Castle