CEDRAC is a research center within the USJ Faculty of Religious Studies, dedicated to preserving and promoting Arab Christian heritage in both religious and cultural domains through scholarly activities, including conferences, seminars, congresses, and publications. Arab Christian literature is often overlooked among the literatures of the Christian East. From the eighth century onward, Christian Arab thought (theological, philosophical, exegetical, spiritual, etc.) emerged in dialogue with Muslim thought. This tradition remains largely accessible to modern Arab audiences. It is inherently ecumenical, with contributions from all Christian communities and texts frequently circulating across them. Arab Christians have made significant contributions to Arab civilization, particularly in medicine, pharmacy, science, and philosophy. CEDRAC advances its mission by training researchers, providing opportunities for scholarly work, and publishing their findings to build a comprehensive Arab Christian library. Highlighting the cultural dimension of this heritage also supports a shared contemporary vision of Muslim-Christian societal engagement.

Research Areas

Produce critical editions of major Arab Christian manuscripts.
Study the Uniate period (16th–18th centuries) to track the spread of anti-Latin and anti-Western attitudes and highlight the intellectual awakening stimulated by Latin missionaries.
Make foundational works by Georg Graf (GCAL), Joseph Nasrallah, and Rachid Haddad (HMLEM) more accessible for scientific research.

Established in
01/01/1991

Address
Jesuit Quarter

Telephone : +961 (1) 200457/8 ext. 1341
Email : directeur.cedrac@usj.edu.lb

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