Giulia Gasparro is professor for the History of Religions at the Department of Late Antiquity and Humanities at the University of Messina (Italy). Her main scholarly work is dedicated to the world of classical and late Antiquity and early Christianity, with particular interests in the mystery cults, oriental and Greek, phenomena of oracles and prophecy, hermetism, as well as Manichean religions and dualistic movements in medieval Christianity.

She has been active with the IAHR as a member of the direction committee and editorial board of Numen (1995-2000). In Tokyo (2005) she has been elected honorary member of IAHR.

Giulia Gasparro has been instrumental in creating the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR) and became its first president. She held this position from 2001 to 2007. In March 2001 Giulia Gasparro organized an International Conference in Messina where the future preoccupations and the perspectives of the EASR were discussed under the title “Themes and problems of the History of Religions in Contemporary Europe”. During her presidency she has continued to convey her thoughts and preoccupations with important historico-religious themes in the framework of the traditions of Europe. Together with the Italian Association she will organize the 9 th meeting of EASR in Messina in 2009 on the theme of European History of Religions.

Giulia Gasparro has spent much time and energy to further the growth and expansion of the EASR, combining her scholarly expertise with a warm and pleasant leadership. In recognition of her contributions and with gratitude, we propose Giulia Gasparro as Honorary Member of EASR.