Ministries of Song

"This rich and compelling book offers the first focused history of Syriac women's choirs in late antiquity and beyond. Piecing together portraits of female characters in liturgical poetry, and reflecting with creativity and sophistication on the relationship between liturgy, theology, and social history, this book gives humane voice to an institution--the Syriac Christian women's choir--that has been overlooked for too long."--Jeffrey Wickes, Associate Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame "An enthralling guide to the vitality of women's choirs and their unique portrayals of storied biblical women in ancient Syriac Christian worship. Through her unparalleled gifts as a storyteller and historian, Susan Ashbrook Harvey reveals how drama and devotion intertwine in these dynamic ritual settings. A seismic achievement!"--Georgia Frank, Professor of Religious Pluralism, Colgate University