The magazine, published since 1901, is dedicated to the Christian Orient in a narrower sense; that is, it excludes Greek and Slavic Christianity. Geographically, its scope extends from Ethiopia to Georgia and from the Middle East to India and China. In accordance with the program of its founder, Anton Baumstark, not only contributions on religious topics are published, but also those related to the entire intellectual and material culture of the Oriental Christians. Oriens Christianus thus covers a subfield of Oriental studies as well as Eastern Church studies. In addition to essays and book reviews, sources in various languages and writings of the Christian Orient are published. The journal, which appears with international participation, is the only one of its kind in the German-speaking world.

From the content:

• A. Palmer, Interpolated stanzas in Ephraim's Madroshe 111-VII on Faith
• F. Jullien, Monastic networks in Mesopotamia. Regarding the pact of Bar Qai i
• P. Bruns, Intersection points between Christianity and medicine in the late antique Sasanian Empire
• A. M. Butts, The Biography of the Lexicographer Isho bar Ali (s b. Al)
• M. Penn, Addressing Muslim Rulers and Muslim Rule
• J. P. Monferrer-Sala, A Greek text in Arabic. 'James' martyrdom' according to Eusebius of Caesarea's 'Historia ecclesiastica' (Sin. Ar. 535)
• Y. N. Youssef, The Festal Letter of Pope Matthew the Poor
• G. Haile, The 'K brä Nägäst' Revisited.