Curriculum vitae


*June 22,1955
1975–81: Study of Protestant Theology, Philosophy and Oriental Studies at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
1981: First Theological Examination
1978–81:Research Assistant at the Collaborative Research Centre 13 of the DFG (German Research Foundation): History of Religion and Culture at the Near and Middle East - Research of Syncretism with Professors Hage, Strothmann and Wießner
1981–84: Assistant Lecturer in the History of Eastern Churches at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
1984–89: Lecturer in the History of Eastern Churches at the Faculty of Theology at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
1985: Doctorate (Dr. theol.) at Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany)
1993: Habilitation at Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany)
1993: Privatdozent (Associate Professor) in the Department of the History of Eastern Churches at Philipps-Universität Marburg
1994–99: Reader in Church and Mission History in Hermannsburg (Seminary of the Evangelical-Lutheran Mission in Lower Saxony)
since 1999: Professor for Ecumenical Theology and Oriental Church and Mission History at the Faculty of Theology at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
2009: Honorary Doctorate conferred by the Faculty of Theology of Joensuu University / Finland
2014: Honorary Doctorate conferred by the Åbo Akademi University, Turku / Finland
2017: Honorary Doctorate conferred by the Lucian-Blaga-Universität, Sibiu (Hermannstadt) / Rumania
2018: Honorary Doctorate conferred by the Mahatma-Gandhi-Universität Kottayam / India


Professional Activities


  • Board of Consultation of the EKD (Evangelical Church of Germany) with the Oriental Churches
  • Member of the Working Committee "Orthodoxy" of the EKD
  • Member of the International Advisory Committee / Council of the World Congress of Middle Eastern Studies
  • Member of the Chamber of Worldwide Ecumenism of the EKD
  • Member of the Middle East Committee (EMOK) of the EKD


2001–2006: President of Gesellschaft für das Studium des christlichen Ostens (GSCO) (Society for Study of Eastern Christianity)
Since 1998: Chairman of Deutscher Syrologentag (Conference of German speaking Syriac scholars)
1999–2003: External Examiner at the School of Historical Studies, University of Birmingham
Since 2003: First Chairman of the Finnish-German Makarios Symposium
Since 2004: Member of the Committee for the Dialogue of the EKD with the Russian Orthodox Church
2007–2009: Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen


Focus in Research and Teaching

The focus of Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. Tamckes research lies on the christian cultures of the Near and Middle East with special emphasis on interreligious coexistence and oriental-occidental relations. He has published numerous monographs, papers, and articles on this topic.

Prof. Tamcke serves as Visiting Professor at universities in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He also teaches at Orthodox and Islamic Faculties abroad on a regular basis. Additionally, he is member of several academic societies and is appointed to different functions for the Evangelical Church of Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland).

Prof. Tamcke is connected in a well developed network of international and inter-confessional contacts to leading personalities in religion, politics, and culture. He maintains relations to approx. 40 universities worldwide. Thus, the department offers a lively international exchange for students and scholars.

Futhermore, Prof. Tamcke is Director of Studies both in the international “Intercultural Theology” M.A. programme and in the Erasmus-Mundus “Euroculture” M.A. programme. Both programmes of study were co-founded by him. He is Assistant Director of KEMA (Centre for the Study of the Cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean in Antiquity).