Inauguration of Hong Kong Institute of Jingjiao Studies
The morning of Saturday, October 18, 2025, marked a defining moment in the history of the study of ancient Chinese Christianity with the Commemoration of the Jingjiao Stele and the Inauguration of the Hong Kong Institute of Jingjiao Studies (HKIJS).
Following the blessing ceremony, an academic symposium brought together leading scholars to explore the historical, theological, and linguistic dimensions of Jingjiao.
The event took place at the new HKIJS headquarters in Taipo, gathering ecclesiastical leaders, scholars, and representatives from multiple institutions to celebrate the enduring witness of the Church of the East in China.
Blessing of the Stele and the HKIJS Plaque
The proceedings began with a solemn ceremony of blessing, presided over by His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.
His Holiness first blessed a rubbing of the Jingjiao Stele, ceremonially installed at the HKIJS headquarters, followed by the dedicatory blessing of the HKIJS plaque, marking the formal establishment of the Institute.
In his opening remarks, His Holiness reflected on the Stele as a monument not merely of history but of living faith—an enduring record of the Church’s first encounter with the Chinese world. He also noted that the founding of the Hong Kong Institute of Jingjiao Studies (HKIJS) signifies a new chapter in that same living tradition, providing a scholarly foundation for continued exploration of the historical, linguistic, and theological legacy of the Church of the East in China.
Academic Symposium
Speakers included:
- Glen Thompson — opened the session by situating Jingjiao within the broader framework of early Christian history and the transmission of the Rule of Faith into Tang-era China.
- David Wilmshurst — examined newly available Syriac sources, shedding light on the development of East Syriac Christianity along the Silk Road.
- Alexis Balmont — analyzed the cultural translation and adaptation of theological language within Jingjiao texts.
- Yuan Tianyi — discussed literary classification and the interplay between Chinese genres and Christian content in Jingjiao manuscripts.
- David Tam — concluded with a study of the epigraphical and textual characteristics of the Jingjiao Stele, emphasizing its distinctive place within China’s stele culture and the theological insights encoded in its structure and terminology.
Inaugural Remarks and Closing
The morning concluded with inaugural remarks from His Holiness Mar Awa III and invited scholars, dedicating HKIJS to the continued study of the cultural, linguistic, and theological encounters between Christianity and China.
Participants expressed gratitude for the collaboration and support that made the Institute’s founding possible, affirming HKIJS as a lasting platform for research and dialogue on the legacy of Jingjiao.
Visit to the Hong Kong Christian Council
In the afternoon of October 18, His Holiness Mar Awa III and his delegation visited the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC) at the Christian Ecumenical Building, Tsimshatsui. They were warmly received by Rev. Wong Ka-fai (Chairperson), Rev. Lam Chun (First Vice-Chairperson), Mr. Peter Ho, and Rev. Dr. Jukka Helle.
The meeting, held in a spirit of cordial dialogue, focused on themes of Christian unity and the shared witness of the Church in Asia. His Holiness expressed heartfelt appreciation for HKCC’s gracious hospitality, and the gathering concluded with warm fellowship over light local refreshments, reflecting the friendship and mutual respect between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Hong Kong Christian Council.