|
Muslim Arab armies invaded the area occupied by Syriac speaking Christians from the early 7th century AD onwards. According to an ancient account by Michael the Syrian, the Christians had been oppressed so hard by the Persians in the East and the Byzantines in the West that they welcomed the Muslims! |
[22] |
|
|
c. 645 AD |
`Anan Isho`of Ḥedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene), (later called Shenna dheBheth Remman) was a distinguished scholar who studied in Niṣibis. He became an East Syrian monk when he entered the Great Monastery of mount Izla. Afterwards, according to Wright [24], `Anan Isho` travelled to Egypt and Palestine gathering information about ascetic life in those regions. According to Thomas, bishop of Marga, (Ed. Budge, [63]) `Anan Isho` then returned to Izla, only to leave again because of the dissensions which had broken out there, [63]. Leaving Izla, `Anan Isho` came to the convent of Beth `Abhe whilst his natural brother Isho`yahb was still Metropolitan of Arbela, that is to say, before Isho`yahb became the Catholicos, Isho`yahb III. When `Anan Isho` came to the convent of Beth `Abhe he assembled his version of 'The Paradise of the Fathers' from the sources which he had collected during his travels in Scete, (Egypt) and in Jerusalem. `Anan Isho`'s recension of the 'Paradise' is a large work in two volumes. These volumes contain around 80 scattered quotations taken from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript. The Paradise has been published by Budge in 1904, (see reference opposite). He wrote (Ibid p. viii) that the Ms he used was copied from another undated Ms, but perhaps dating from the 12th century which he found in the possession of the Chaldeans at Moṣul. The manuscripts of the paradise are as follows: Moṣul Mss
94: Addai Scher who catalogued the Chaldean Ms in Moṣul
(Scher 1907) describes two Mss of the Paradise, [74] including
Moṣul 94 which is dated AG 1105 = 793 or 794 AD and another
copy Moṣul Ms 95, (see below). According to [38], `Anan Isho`'s name was Enanisho and he worked for a later Catholicos, Gewargis I. However, according to Thomas bishop of Marga, `Anan Isho` came to Beth `Abhe before Isho`yahb III became Catholicos. Therefore, it is most probable that `Anan Isho` edited the Paradise whilst the information which he had gathered during his travels was still fresh in his mind. Therefore, `Anan Isho` probably completed his recension of the Paradise in around AD 645, soon after he came to the convent of Beth `Abhe rather than 15 years later during the patriarchate of Giwargis I. |
[24], pp. 174 –
175 |
|
647 AD |
Isho`yabh III of Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene) who had formerly been Metropolitan of Arbela, (a place also known as Hazza) and bishop of Nuhadraye was elected Catholicos of the East, [24], p. 172. This Isho`yabh ordered the (re-)arrangement of the Hudhra, (or order of service), [24], p. 174. For various reasons, Isho`yabh seems to have experienced widespread dissent from his bishops. Also attributed to this Isho`yabh are a large number of letters and a theological and liturgical series of questions and answers which includes historical details, see for example Ms Mingana Syriac 566. Further details of Mar Isho`yabh's historically important letters, including details of Christianity in India can be found in a separate article. The actual work on the Hudhra was done by Isho`yabh's natural brother, the distinguished scholar `Anan Isho` of Hedhaiyabh, who amongst many other projects, worked on the rearrangement of the Ḥudhra in the convent of Beth `Abhe during the patriarchate of Isho`yabh III, [24], p. 175. The ancient source of this information cited by Wright (Ibid.) and by Assemani (BO, vol. III, part 1, p. 139) is book 2, chapter 15 of 'The book of governors' by Thomas bishop of Marga who completed this work in 840 AD. This important historical work has been edited and translated by E. A. Wallis Budge, [63]. The passage in question can be found in vol. 2 of the English translation, on page 189. Given that `Anan Isho` edited the Hudhra during the Patriarchate of Isho`yabh III, his work on the Hudhra would have been completed between AD 647 and 657. According to several ancient sources reported in [57], p. 349, this editing of the Hudhra included the abbreviation of the anaphora of the apostles Addai and Mari. As with `Anan Isho`'s other works, when the Hudhra alludes to the gospels, which it often does, it exhibits an Old Syriac text type. Many copies of the Hudhra survive in the manuscript record. A bibliography of the known Mss of the Hudhra has been published by William F. Macomber, 'A list of the known manuscripts of the Chaldean Hudra,' Orientalia Christiana Periodica 36, 1970, 139 and by Anton Baumstark, 'Geschichte der syrischen literatur' Bonn, 1922. Some example Mss are; Mardin 22 dated AD 1287 [57], Mingana Syriac 512, which dates from the early 15th century [46], [57], British Library Add. 7177 dated AD 1484, Vatican Syriac 83 dated AD 1538, Trichur Syriac Ms 27 (after the list of Mar Aphrem, metropolitan of Trichur) or Ms 11 (after Ploeg, [51]) dated AD 1598, Mingana Syriac 542 dated AD 1601 [46], Cambridge Add. 1981 dated AD 1607, [40] and Harvard Syr 12 dating from the 17th century, (see Goshen-Gottstein's catalogue, p. 42). An edition based on the Mss at Trichur has also been published by Mar Thoma Darmo in India, 1960, 1961, 1962, (3 volumes) As the Hudhra is now found in most Mss, the introduction informs us that this work was completed in the Dayra `Alita or 'The Upper Monastery' of Mar Gabriel of Kashkar and Mar Abraham bar Dashandad, at Mosul. However, since the Upper Monastery was founded by Mar Gabriel in the first quarter of the 8th century and Mar Abraham flourished a little later, in the mid 8th century, between 50 and 100 years after the Hudhra was compiled by `Ananisho` of Hedhaiyabh around 650 AD, the present author believes that the Hudhra could not have been originally compiled there. Instead, the Upper Monastery was the place where the Hudhra was revised along with the other service books of the Church of the East. Thomas bishop of Marga reports that a certain 'Babai the musician' revised the Hudhra, [63], p. 296. Wright reports that this Babai flourished during the patriarchate of Slibha-Zekha 713 – 729 AD, [24] p. 184, i.e. a period virtually coincident with initial literary activity at the Upper Monastery which had just been founded by Mar Gabriel. Rubens Duval wrote about this Babai, and mentions that this was Babai of Gebilta, rather than Babai Bar Nesibhnaye who lived earlier, at the end of the 6th century, [76] (Duval 1907, p. 379 note 2). There is internal evidence from the list of the patriarchs of the east found in the Mss, that the Hudhra was revised again in the first part of the 14th century, in the days of Timothy II Catholicos of the East. Later still, beginning in the 18th century, the Hudhra was adapted by the Chaldean Uniat Catholic church to introduce some Catholic commemorations and to remove all references to Nestorius. A Chaldean Uniat Catholic edition of the Hudhra called the, 'Breviarium Chaldaicum' was published in Leipzig by Paul Bedjan in 1886 AD. `Anan Isho` also produced some lexical books. One such book explains how to pronounce difficult Syriac words used by the church fathers based upon pioneering work by Joseph Huzaya, (c. 580 AD, see [24], p. 115) who was the first Syriac grammarian and a disciple of Mar Narsai. Another is a lexical work which survives with the additions made by Honain ibn Ishak al-`Ibadi of Herta who died AD 873. This has been published by Hoffmann, 'Opuscula Nestoriana' from two Mss, [24] p. 176. Another Ms copy can be found in Mingana Syr 420. |
[24], pp. 115, 172,
174, 175, 176, 184 |
|
Saturday |
Died Mar Maroutha, who had been Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit and all the East since AD 628 and Maphrain of the East since AD 629. He was succeeded by Denha. The latter wrote a biography of his predecessor in which he also commented upon the situation in the East Syrian church in his area, (this has been edited by Françoise Nau, [71]). He said that the East Syrian monks were very keen to establish schools in every settlement and that very many schools were established and ran by them. |
[24], pp. 136,
137 |
|
650 AD |
Many monks and ascetics were killed by the army of Sa'd along the Byzantine border, especially in the monastery called "The daughters of Five Churches" at Ra's Ayn (in modern Syria). |
(Michael G. Morony, Iraq after the Muslim Conquest, 1984, p. 379, Also J.B. Chabot, CSCO, Scr. Syri 56, Louvain, 1937) |
|
653 or 654 AD |
Gabriel was consecrated bishop of the Syrian Orthodox monastery of Mar Gabriel at Qartamin in Tur `Abdin by Athanasius the patriarch. This monastery was however very old even then. It was founded in AD 397, which see. The consecration of Mar Gabriel happened at this date during the caliphate of Omar. As appears from the gospel quotations in the 13th century manuscript which preserves this record, the gospel text in use at Qartamin at this time was an Old Syriac text of considerable age. |
[38], p. 115 |
|
3rd
November |
According to Bar Hebraeus, Mar Denha, Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit died on this day. |
[38], p. 131 |
|
660 AD |
Died Isho`yabh III of Hedhaiyabh Catholicos of the East, [60]. Formerly he had been Metropolitan of Arbela. Vööbus dates his death to AD 657 or 658, [38]. Many of his letters survive. These contain gospel quotations partly from the Peshiṭta and partly from Old Syriac texts. One of Isho`yahb's works, presumably written around AD 640 before his elevation, was a biography of Isho`sabran who was the last martyr of the Sassanid era, (the power of the Sassanids ended in AD 637). This earlier work exhibits quotations from an Old Syriac gospel. |
[38],
p. 102 |
|
661 AD |
Mar Giwargis I of Kaphra in Beth Garmai succeeded Isho`yabh III of Ḥedhaiyabh as Catholicos of the East. Mar Giwargis sat until AD 680 or 681, [63]. Reference [50] gives the date of his election as either 658 or 660 AD. Gewargis had been a monk at the Monastery of Beth `Abe. Giwargis was also an author who produced a number of liturgical and canonical works, see [63] Vol. 1. Some aspects of his life story are also preserved by Thomas of Marga, see [63] Vol. 2. |
[50],
p. 480 note 1 |
|
667 AD |
Died the eminent Syrian Orthodox Christian scholar and scientist Severus Sabukht. Severus Sabukht (or Sebokht) was born in Niṣibis and became a monk at Qinnesrine where he received an education. He was a physician, a mathematician, a philosopher and a pioneer of astronomy and science. Severus Sebokht wrote a treatise on the astrolabe, a device for predicting the apparent movements of the planets. Some of this work has been translated into English and is available on-line. He also wrote another work on the stellar constellations in AD 660, for which an introduction and some of this text are also available on-line. |
[70], p. 70 |
|
668 or 669 AD |
Athanasios, a Syrian Orthodox priest from Nisibis translates the letters of Severus, Patriarch of Antioch from Greek into Syriac. Athanasios used the Peshiṭta gospel text to replace the gospel quotations in the Greek original. |
[38], p. 101 |
|
676 AD |
The Catholicos Mar Gewargis I ordained Isaac bishop of Nineveh in the monastery of Beth `Abe. Isaac resigned after only 5 months to resume his solitary life in the mountains of Khuzistan. Isaac was one of the most important east Syrian ascetic authors. His extensive Syriac works were written in the last two decades of the seventh century. These were quickly translated into many other languages and distributed around the late antique world. Isaac's many Syriac works have been published in two stages. The Syriac text of the first part was published by Paul Bedjan as 'Mar Isaacus Ninivita de perfectione religiosa' Paris and Leipzig 1909. This first part was translated into English by A. J. Wensink in 1923. The second part was published by Sebastian Brock, 'Isaac of Niniveh (Isaac the Syrian) the second part' Publ. CSCO vols. 554, Syr. 224 (Syriac text) and 555, Syr. 225 (Translation) Leuven, Belgium 1995 ISBN 906831708-3 & 906831709-1. Isaac's works contain gospel quotations taken from an Old Syriac manuscript, [38]. The Old Syriac quotations in these quotations have occasionally been altered towards the Peshiṭta during transmission, but much more often, the Old Syriac elements remain in the text. This suggests that the Peshiṭta readings were added in the margin by later readers and then incorporated in the text when manuscript copies were made. |
[38],
pp. 102 – 103 |
|
May |
There was a synod under the East Syrian catholicos Giwargis I. The synodal canons are dated in the month Iyar = May of the Islamic year AH 57, [50]. Now, the year AH 57 began on the 12th November 676 AD, (see details under AD 622 above). The synodal canons quote the gospel using the Peshiṭta text, however a number of Old Syriac variants are also present. Reference [38] gives two differing dates for this synod, or perhaps two synods actually occurred? The canons of this synod indicate that the clergy were still trying to subordinate the monks and anchorites under their own authority. The monks had essentially split away from the church hierarchy following years of persecution at the hands of the clerics. This situation was very important for the history of the Old Syriac gospel text which was the gospel text preferred by the monks. As was typified by the gospel quotations in the canons of this synod, the clerics increasingly preferred the Peshiṭta text. |
[38],
p. 102, 125, 126 |
|
c. October |
Catholicos Giwargis I wrote a treatise in reply to several letters from Mina who was a priest and bishop in the Church of the East. |
[50], p. 490 |
|
c. 680 AD |
Flourished Shem`on of Taybutheh surnamed 'Luka' who was a monk and a physician, (hence the surname) and a disciple of Rabban Shabor Huzaya. A treatise by him survives in Mingana Syr 601 part E. For further details, see below under 687 AD. |
[46], volume 1, column 1148 |
|
680 or 681 AD |
Died East Syrian catholicos Mar Gewargis I. He was succeeded by John bar Marta, [Borgia Syr. 60, p. 532 column 2] |
[50],
p. 480 |
|
684 - 687 AD |
Ya`qob, (Jacob) was consecrated as Syrian Orthodox bishop of Edessa by the Patriarch Anastasius II who ruled AD 683 or 684 until his death on 11th September AD 687, (i.e. he died on the 11th Illul AG 998, [53]). Jacob had been a disciple of Severus Sabukht, (see above under AD 667, [60]). Jacob sat as bishop only four years and then he resigned in order to teach. Jacob was a distinguished scholar both in Syriac and in Greek. Jacob wrote a history and in AD 705 he was also engaged in various projects to create new Syriac revisions of Old Testament books whilst living and working in the Monastery of Tell `Ada. He died on June 5th, AD 708. |
[24], p. 142 |
|
Between |
An East Syrian recluse and monk, Yohannan Bar Penkaye, also known as Yohannan of Beth Zabhdai completed a large work called, 'The history of the temporal world'. What follows is a translation of a description of Ms 25 made by Archbishop Addai Scher in his catalogue of the Mss at Alqosh, [66]. “This work is divided into two parts. The first part contains 9 chapters, and the second six. The work begins with a Hexameron describing the six days of creation and then moves on to the Flood, the people of Isra'el, the scriptures, virtuous doctrine, the gentiles, the trinity, the incarnation, the redemption etc. The two last chapters are devoted to a history beginning with the Apostles and including the persecution of the church under Shapur king of Persia as well as a history of Constantine and the Romans of the same period, the council of Ephesus, the end of the Persian kingdom, then the Arab kingdom up to this year, AH 67 during the lifetime of the author.” Of this large work, chapters 1 to 9 are in Rylands 43, [56]. Also, as mentioned in [38] and [56], chapters 10 to 15 have been edited by Alphonse Mingana, 'Sources Syriaques', Published Leipzig 1908 and also by the Dominican Press at Mosul 1908. Vööbus notes that the gospel is quoted many times in this historical work and also in Penkaye's treatise on chastity and holiness preserved in BL Orient 9385. He says that the quotations are sometimes from an Old Syriac gospel and sometimes from the Peshiṭta. Amongst his other works, John bar Penkaya composed 15 metrical works in seven syllable metre, (unpublished, but see Mingana Syr 488 B, CUL Add. 1998, CUL Add. 2018, Rylands Syr 68, HSM Syr 42) and a book called, 'The Merchant' of which a large fragment can be found in Mingana Syr 47. History
of the temporal world: His
other works: More general analyses of the works of Yohannan bar Penkaye have been published by Assemani, Joseph Simon 1719, [75] and by Addai Scher 1907. 'Notice sur la vie et les œuvres de Yohannan bar Penkayè' Journal Asiatique 1907/07 (Serie 10, vol. 10) pp. 161 – 178. Assemani's monumental work is available on-line courtesy of the Brigham Young University and the Catholic University of America and the Journal Asiatique article is also available on-line courtesy of the Gallica project at the BnF, Paris. |
[66], p. 489 |
|
November |
Giwargis (George) became Syrian Orthodox bishop of the Christian Arab tribes. Giwargis had been a disciple of Ya`qob of Edessa, [53]. He wrote many metrical (poetical) works which preserve allusions to an Old Syriac gospel text. From comments made in [38] his gospel text may have been the Diatessaron harmony. |
[38], pp. 100 –
101 |
|
687 AD |
Henanisho I became East Syrian Catholicos. According to Addai Scher, the East Syrian author and monk Shem`on Taybutheh was a contemporary of Mar Henanisho I, [74]. Shem`on wrote books on knowledge, philosophy and mystical asceticism, some of which have been published with translations, for example by Alphonse Mingana in his Woodbrooke Studies VII, (Mingana 1934). Manuscripts which contain works by Shem`on Taybutheh include Mingana Syriac 601 described in his catalogue, (Mingana 1933, cc. 1146 – 1153) and Mosul 97, (Scher 1907, p. 30). |
[46], volume 1,
columns 54, 1146 - 1153 |
|
688 AD |
Mar Denha II was ordained as Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit and all the East. He died in AD 727. |
[71], p. 51 |
|
c. 690 AD |
Flourished Dadisho` Qatraya an East Syrian ascetic recluse who nevertheless resided in, or near, the convent of Rabkenara [64] and later in his life at the monastery of Rabban Shabor, [38]. Rabkenara is thought to be situated somewhere in Northern Iraq in the vicinity of Beth `Abe where according to his own words, Dadisho` began his career as a monk, see [64], p. 300 line 16f in the edition and p. 232 lines 20f in the translation. Dadisho` was a very learned man. Dadisho`'s date can be fixed approximately based upon his cherished memories of Rabban Koudhoy who, according to Archbishop Addai Scher, died around AD 680, see [64], p. 231 in the translation and Scher, (see reference opposite) p. 112. He wrote a commentary on the asceticon of Abba Esha`ya (Abba Isaiah = Isaiah of Scete?) which has been published by CSCO, (vols. 326, 327). Another unedited work by Dadisho` on a similar theme can be found in Mingana Ms Syr 60. As well as quoting from Abba Esha`ya, in [64], he quotes extensively from many earlier authors including Anthony of Egypt, (pseudo-) Macarius the Great (= She`mon Messalaya, see under AD 370), Evagrius of Pontus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, John Chrysostom, John of Apamea, Babai the Great, Barhadbeshabba and others. He also quotes the gospel text frequently and from a very old Syriac text. This Old Syriac text is still evident, even though the manuscripts used in the CSCO edition were copied in the 19th century, [47] including Vatican Syr. 496, see [47] and [64] p. 8* in the introduction to the Syriac text. Dadisho` Qatraya translated or edited a commentary upon the 'Paradise of western monks' probably that of Palladius and Jerome, [24]. A manuscript copy of his commentary on the Paradise is preserved in the British Library, BL Add. 17264, [48]. Even though the Ms dates from the 13th century, it is full of Old Syriac gospel readings, (an example of a Diatessaron quotation can be found edited in [42]). Dadisho` Qatraya composed a number of other treatises on various aspects of the ascetic life, [24], [61], funeral sermons and some letters, [24]. A treatise on solitude an prayer by Dadisho` was edited and translated by Mingana, A. 'Woodbrook studies' volume 7, 1934 and another English translation by Sebastian Brock in [61]. Vööbus reports that the gospel texts he found in this treatise have been adapted to the Peshiṭta, [38] but even a translation of this treatise [61] demonstrates that the Old Syriac gospel quotations remain, [61], p. 308. |
[24], p. 131 |
|
c. 700 AD |
Flourished John of Dalyatha, also known as John Saba a monk and a mystic of the Church of the East who lived on Mount Qardu in northern Iraq. John wrote 22 homilies, [61] [66] and 51 short letters, [61] which have all been edited by Robert Beulay, [69] and his work was appreciated and copied in the Syrian Orthodox manuscript tradition as well as in the Church of the East. Two of John's letters have also been translated into English by Brock, [61]. Manuscripts: |
[61], pp. 328
f. |
|
c. 700 AD |
Jacob of Edessa and John the Stylite corresponded about this time. Jacob was busy revising the Peshiṭta version of the Old Testament. |
[32] |
|
700 AD |
Died East Syrian Patriarch Henanisho` I. Letters, civil and synodal canons written by Henanisho` survive in Mingana Syr 586. He was succeeded by Pition, [See the Beth Gazza, e.g. Borgia Syr. 60, p. 532, column 2]. According to Wright, his name was pronounced, 'Pethion' and he died in AD 740, [24]. |
[24], p. 218 |
|
705 AD |
Ya`qob (Jacob)
of Edessa completed his revised Syriac text of the Old
Testament. |
[33], p. 211 |
|
June 5th |
Died Ya`qob, (Jacob) who was for a few years, Syrian Orthodox bishop of Edessa. |
[24], p. 143 |
|
713 – 729 AD |
Thomas bishop of Marga reports that Babai of Gebilta, also known as 'Babai the Musician' revised the Hudhra and founded at least 24 schools to teach church music, [63]. Wright reports that this Babai flourished during the patriarchate of Mar Slibha-Zekha Catholicos of the East 713 – 729 AD and gives further details of his musical achievements and literary output, which included hymns and letters, [24]. Further details of his literary output are also provided by Budge, [63] p. lxi.Duval also wrote about this Babai who revised the Ḥudhra, and mentions that this was Babai of Gebilta, rather than Babai Bar Nisibinayé who lived earlier, at the end of the 6th century, [76] (Duval 1907, p. 379 note 2). |
[24]
p. 184 |
|
714 – 718 AD |
Giwargis, (George) Syrian Orthodox bishop of the Arabs wrote in a letter about the identity of the fourth century 'Persian sage' we know as Aphrahat. This letter was part of an important cycle of his correspondence written between AD 714 and 717, [53]. |
[53], p. 98 |
|
February |
Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, the caliph who reigned AD 705 – 715 requisitioned the virgin daughters of the Christian Arab tribes living at Hirtha (Al-Hira) in southern Iraq during the see of Mar Slibha-Zekha who was Catholicos of the East AD 713 – 729. John Al-Azrak was bishop of Ḥirtha during this humiliation of Christian Arabs living under Islamic rule. However, after three days of prayer, the girls were reprieved, because Walid the caliph died in the month Shabaṭ AG 1026 = February AD 715, [80]. These events are commemorated during the festival of the Epiphany in the Ḥudhra of the Church of the East, [40]. John Al-Azrak
bishop of Ḥirtha
composed a number of riddles which survive in a manuscript;
London, British Library Or. 2084, 68 ff. dated AG 2067 = AD 1755
or 1756. See Margoliouth 1899, p. 3. |
Assemani
BO 1719, Vol. IIIA, p. 182 Bedjan, Paul 1890. ‘Gregorii Barhebraei Chronicon syriacum e codd. mss. emendatum ac punctis vocalibus adnotationibusque locupletatum’ Maisonneuve, Paris. [80] Nau 1915, p. 256 Syriac text & translation p. 267. |
|
First quarter of the 8th century AD |
About this time in the first quarter of the eighth century, Mar Gabriel of Kashkar founded several monasteries of the Church of the East including one at Mahoze in the region of Bet Garmai and three others; one at Tura Quni, another called Gabbare in the region of Bet Rushme and the Dayra `Alita, [47] or 'The Upper Monastery' so called because it was located at the highest point in the city of Mosul above the Tigris river. The approximate date is indicated because Mar Gabriel of Kashkar died in the Monastery of Mahoze in AG 1050 = AD 738 or 739, [47], [53] information derived from the 'Book of Chastity' by Isho`dena bishop of Basra, (Chabot 1896, p. 276, §121). The Upper Monastery was initially known as the Monastery of Mar Gabriel, but later it was known as the Monastery of Mar Gabriel and Mar Abraham after Mar Abraham bar Dashandad, 'The Crippled' of Bet Sayyada who was blessed as a child by Babai of Gebilta [24] and who later became a celebrated teacher there around AD 800, [53]. The Upper Monastery was to become the most eminent convent in the East Syrian sphere. All the later biblical, liturgical and textual reforms of the Church of the East were initiated in this monastery, (see below under AD 1202). |
[24],
pp. 185 – 186 |
|
724 AD |
Died Giwargis, (George) Syrian Orthodox bishop of the Christian Arab tribes. According to Spencer-Trimingham, [35] Giwargis was born c. 640 AD. He was based at `Aqula, (later known as Kufa and famous as the source of the Arabic Kufic script) not far from the centre of Arab Christianity affiliated to the Church of the East at Hira, [35]. |
[35],
p. 176 f. |
|
738 AD |
Died Yoḥannan (John) Daylomaya through whom many inhabitants of Daylom were converted to Christianity. Later between AD 685-705 he moved to Arrajan in the region of Fars where he founded two monasteries, one for the Syriac-speaking Christians and the other for Persian-speaking Christians, (Nicholas Sims-Williams, Encyclopedia Iranica). Yoḥannan also composed a hymn which is preserved in the Ḥudhra of the Church of the East, (see Cambridge Syriac Ms Add. 1981, f. 138b described by Wright & Cook 1901, p. 163). |
|
|
740 AD |
Died Pition, Catholicos of the East. According to `Abd-Isho` edited by Assemani, B.O. Volume 3, part 1, p. 172 – 173, one Gabriel Qaṭraya lived in the days of the patriarch Pition and composed memre. These memre may be those on the services of the church for weekdays and Sundays preserved in British Library, Or. 3336 with 230 ff. dated AG 1579 = AD 1267 or 1268. See Margoliouth 1899, p. 15. However, the memre listed by `Abd-Isho` do not match their description by George Margoliouth. |
[24], p. 218 |
|
c. 740 AD |
Flourished the East Syrian mystical writer Abraham Bar Dashandad. A letter of his survives in Mingana Syr 601 part C. |
[46], volume 1, column 1147 |
|
741 AD |
Mar Abha Bar Berikh-sebhyaneh of Kashkar bishop of Kashkar became East Syrian Catholicos. He sat until his death in AD 751 at an age of 110 years. He is quoted at least ten times by Isaac Shebadhnaya, also known as Asco in his sedras, see AD 1440 and Wright's catalogue of the Cambridge Mss, page 441. Also, it is mentioned in the Beth Gazza, for example Borgia Syr. 60, p. 532, column 2 that this Mar Abha wrote the Turgame, or exegetical anthems which are chanted before the gospel readings in the liturgy of the Church of the East. Mar Abha of Kashkar was succeeded by Sourin as catholicos of the east, [50]. |
[24],
p. 186 f. |
|
Friday, 5th
January |
Died Mar Sahde at 90 years of age. He had built a convent in the village of Herbe on the River Tigris (c. 690 AD) and taught in the Syriac school at Basra. The date of his death is given by Mar Isho`dena bishop of Basra, as Friday 5th of Second Kanun in the Islamic year AH 128, [77]. |
[77], p. 231 |
|
750 AD |
The Abbasid Islamic caliphate is established in Iraq |
[60], p. xxiv |
|
c. 754 AD |
Sourin catholicos of the east was deposed, [50]. |
[50], p. 515 note 4 |
|
758 AD |
Giwargi was elected Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. He sat until AD 790. |
[62], p. 5 |
|
Between |
Ya`qob metropolitan of Gundi-Shapor was elected Ya`qob II Saba Brika catholicos of the east. His election ended a four year gap which began with the deposition of his predecessor, Sourin. |
[50], p. 515 note 4 |
|
759 or 760 AD |
A dated inscription in a stone sepulchre was found near Amida containing three quotations from an Old Syriac gospel. |
[38], pp. 110 - 111 |
|
760 AD |
Was born Job of Edessa. |
[33], p. 212 |
|
Between |
Ya`qob II catholicos of the east was imprisoned and within two years, he died. After his death, there was no catholicos of the east for nine years until the election of Henanisho` II. |
[50], pp. 515, 515 note 4 |
|
767 AD |
An East Syrian copy of the Peshiṭta NT was copied in the convent of Rabban Mara Sabar Yeshua, or Beth Quqa near the river Zaba Rabba in Adiabene. |
Hatch 'Album', p. 214 |
|
773 or 774 AD |
Lazar of Qandasa, (or Kandasa), a Syrian Orthodox monk who lived in the mountains near Edessa wrote a commentary upon the gospels of Mark and John. From these it is clear that Lazar used the Peshiṭta text. |
[38], p. 113 |
|
774 - 779 AD |
When the Caliphs conquered the old Sassanid (Persian) metropolis of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and built Baghdad their new capital between the years 762 and 766, the East Syrian catholicos Henanisho` II (774-9) considered it expedient to move the Patriarchate in 775 to that city though still reserving the old title of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. As head of one of the richest and influential communities in the Islamic Empire, his position in the central administration became one of relative importance, sometimes through favour with the Caliphs themselves and sometimes through bribery and gifts, [Atiya]. Henanisho` II died in AD 780, [46]. |
Atiya, Aziz S., 'A
History of Eastern Christianity' Methuen, London, 1968 |
|
775 AD |
Mohammed El-Mahdi became Islamic Caliph of Baghdad. |
[50], p. 516 |
|
Between October
29th |
The East Syrian catholicos Henanisho` II held a synod. The synodal acts contain gospel quotations which mainly follow the Peshiṭta text, though a few Old Syriac variants are still to be seen. The synodal record is dated to 'AG 1087 which is also AH 159', [50]. This provides an early confirmation of the mathematical link between the Greek and Islamic calendars in use at that time. Henanisho` had been bishop of Lashom prior to his election as catholicos. His election was schismatic: not all east Syrian bishops supported him. Nevertheless, according to [50], it is his name which appears on the Singan-fu Syriac inscription found in China which is dated AD 781. The present author has not yet been able to verify this claim, or the date of the inscription. |
[38], p. 116 |
|
775 - 776 AD |
A monk from a monastery near Amida writes 'The chronicle of Zuqnin', which covers the period AD 488 - 775. |
[32] |
|
September 779 AD |
Died east Syrian catholicos Henanisho` II. Henanisho` was poisoned and died when he tried to recover some church property lost during the interregnum. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1202 |
|
Sunday 7th
May |
After 8 months of wrangling, Henanisho` II was succeeded by Timothy I Catholicos of the East. He was elected on Sunday 7th May AD 780. Prior to his election, Timothy had been bishop of Beth Bagash. Timothy came originally from Hazza in Adiabene. |
[50], p. 603 note
5 |
|
780 to 823 AD |
Timothy Catholicos of the Church of the East corresponded with Sergius who was later metropolitan-bishop of Bet-Lapat or Gundishapur in the Persian province of Elam. Timothy was a favourite of the caliphs al-Mahdi and Harun al-Rashid. There was a famous controversy between the caliph al-Mahdi and Timothy which was recorded in Syriac. A translation of this discussion has been published by Alphonse Mingana and is now available on-line. About 200 of Timothy's letters survive and when he quoted the gospel, he quoted from the Peshiṭta. Some of these letters can be found in Mingana 47, section mm. |
[32], paras
24ff. |
|
22nd
May |
Mari Giwargi Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch held a synod in the village of Kaper-nabu in the district of Serug. The synodal canons are preserved in a Damascus Patriarchate Ms which has been edited and published in [68]. The date given in the synodal letter is Pentecost Sunday, 22nd day of the month Iyar in the year of the Greeks 1096. These synodal canons do not contain any gospel quotations. |
[62],
p. 5 |
|
785 AD |
Died Mohammed El-Mahdi, Islamic Caliph of Baghdad. He was succeeded by Harun al-Rashid, (see above). |
[50], p. 516 |
|
790 AD |
End of the see of Giwargi Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. |
[62], p. 5 |
|
Between May 19th
|
Timothy I catholicos of the east, held the first of two synods. Catholicos Timothy I tried a cleric, Nestorius priest of the Monastery of Mar Yozedeq, [50] who was accused of being a Messalian, that is to say, a member of an ascetic sect which originated in the 4th century AD, [46]. Nestorius subsequently retracted this belief in a letter dated in this year, AH 174, [50]. Subsequently, Nestorius was made bishop of Beth Nuhadran or Nuhadraya. A treatise by this Nestorius can be found in Mingana Syr 601 part S, [46]. The writings of John Dalyatha who flourished c. AD 700 were also condemned by Timothy at the same synod and for the same reason, [69]. This condemnation was rescinded by Timothy's successor, Isho` bar Nun, [69] see under AD 823. Also, according to Beulay, during this synod, some words written by Yoseph Hazzaya recommending prayer in the monk's cell as more important than church services were condemned. As one might expect, this sort of teaching was always condemned as 'Messalian' by the Church of the East. See P. Harb, 'Lettre..', p. 269 referring to the ancient text edited in §102 which is on pp. 376 f. Yoseph was from Hazza in Adiabene, hence his name, and he was born around AD 710, [61]. He wrote many books, most of which are now lost but some were transmitted under the pseudonym of his brother `Abdisho` (See Mingana Ms 601). An excellent critical edition of three of his letters based upon 12 manuscripts has been published by Harb. This edition preserves some teaching by Yoseph on the monastic life. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1115, 1118-9 |
|
791 or 792 AD |
The scholar Theodore bar Koni of Kashkar nephew of (presumably Catholicos) John IV, completed his 'Liber Scholiorum'. This book contains much theological, apologetical and historical information. The text is richly studded with the gospel text quoted from a revised version of the Peshiṭta. Vööbus shows that the Peshiṭta text used by Theodore had been revised towards the Greek text, [38]. Theodore was promoted by his uncle to be bishop of Lashom in AD 793. In his 'Liber Scholiorum' Theodore gives an account of the Diatessaron and a brief quotation. He says, (I translate from the Syriac): ‘And finally came Tatianos the Greek, and he saw in the Separate Gospels that the episodes were described two or three times, and he took to write them down, one by one, and gathered from the four of them, one book. He called it "Diatessaron". And when he came to the reading of the resurrection, he saw that the testimonies of the four differed, because each caused to write that He was risen from the dead at the time that our Lord appeared to him. And, so as not to have to choose one testimony and omit three, he spoke thus in order to take account of the testimony of all four: "In the night when the first day of the week dawned, our Lord rose from the dead." ‘ |
[24], p. 222 |
|
c. 793 – 800 AD |
Isho`dena bishop of Basra wrote an important monastic history of the East Syrian Church in three volumes, [24]. Apart from extracts found in the works of later historians mentioned by William Wright, this work is preserved in only one Ms in Europe, Paris 333 copied in the 19th century, (Nau 1911, p. 291 f.). This Ms has been edited twice, the second time by Paul Bedjan at the back of his edition of the Book of Governors by Thomas of Marga, (Bedjan 1901, pp. 437 ff.). A French translation of the Book of Chastity has also been published by Jean-Baptiste Chabot, (Chabot 1896, p. 276, §121). References follow: Bedjan, Paul 1901 ‘Liber superiorum seu Historia Monastica auctore Thoma, Episcopa Margensi’ Dicta de Sèvres, Harrassowitz, Lipsiae (Leipzig) & Paris. A digital facsimile of this book is available on-line. Chabot, Jean Baptiste 1896. ‘Le livre de la Chasteté composé par Jésusdenah, Évêque de Baçrah’, Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, volume 16, Rome. A digital facsimile of this book is available on-line. |
[24], p. 195 |
|
793 AD |
Quriaqos or Cyriacus became Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. Cyriacus had been a monk at the convent of Bizona or 'the pillar' near Callinicus. He sat until AD 817 when he died in Mosul. His patriarchate was fraught with serious divisions caused or exacerbated by him in the Church. This situation even led to the appointment of a schismatic patriarch and the mediating intervention of the Islamic Caliph, Harun al-Rashid. |
[24], p. 165 f. |
|
November |
Quriaqos or Cyriacus Patriarch of Antioch held a synod in the village of Beth-bethyan in the region of Harran. The synodal canons are edited in [68]. |
[62], p. 6 |
|
After 797 AD |
A work was written about the three founders of the Syrian Orthodox monastery of Qartamin in Tur `Abdin which quotes the gospel from an Old Syriac text. |
[38], p. 113 |
|
c. 800 AD |
Died David, an East Syrian monk of Beth Rabban Paulos, i.e. of the convent of Zekha-isho` who later moved and lived in the convent of Beth `Abhe. David wrote a monastic history called 'The little paradise' used as a source by Thomas bishop of Marga. He also wrote a geographical treatise and some poorly styled acrostic poems on wisdom and learning. |
[24], pp. 183
f. |
|
Between |
Lived the East Syrian Catholicos Timothy I, see above under AD 780. Civil and ecclesiastical canons created by Timothy were enacted in a second synod which occurred in this year, (AH 189, [50]). A large collection of 59 letters and some canons written by Timothy are preserved in Mingana Syr 587. The treatise by Timothy on ecclesiastical law dated AD 805 and another treatise on the soul can also be found in Mingana 47, sections jj and ll, [46]. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1115, 1118-9 |
|
812 or 813 AD |
Quriaqos or Cyriacus Patriarch of Antioch held another synod in Harran. The synodal canons are edited in [68]. |
[62], p. 6 |
|
817 AD |
End of the see of Quriaqos or Cyriacus, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. |
Bar Hebraeus,
“Nomocanon” |
|
c. 817 AD |
Job of Edessa, (or Job al-Abrash) the East Syrian, teaches Syriac studies in Baghdad, and wrote 'The book of treasures', (essentially a Syriac encyclopedia). |
[33], p. 212 |
|
October |
Dionysius Tell-Mahraya became Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. He sat until AD 845. He had been a student at the Monastery of Kenneshre and then at the Monastery of Mar Jacob at Kaisum in the district of Samosata. Dionysius wrote histories that preserved the Chronicle of Edessa and the chronicle of Joshua Stylite. He dedicated his historical work to Iwannis Patriarch of Dara, (see below). Mar Dionysius held a synod in the city of Qalinicos during October AD 817 and the dated synodal canons are edited in [68]. The synodal letter contains a number of gospel quotations from an Old Syriac gospel, including Mt18v20, = ‘Where two and three are gathered in my name, there I am between them.’ see [68], p. 26 and compare the same variant quoted by Aphrahat who lived in the 4th century AD as edited by Wright, p. 69 lines 4, 6, 16 and p. 71 line 7. These quotations demonstrate that the Syrian Orthodox church was not only using the Peshiṭta version, but also Old Syriac gospels as authoritative texts in it's official documents even as late as the 9th century AD. |
[24], p. 196
ff. |
|
819 AD |
Jacob became patriarch of Alexandria. He sat until AD 836 |
Hatch, “Album” p. 114 |
|
820 AD |
Died Theodore Abu Qurra, bishop of Harran. Abu Qurra was from Edessa and had been a monk at the monastery of Saba. He says of himself that he wrote both in Syriac and in Arabic. His Arabic works are extant and display clear Old Syriac gospel quotations [38] [24]. Interestingly, he tells us that he is quoting from the separate gospels because he explicitly mentions the end of Matthew's gospel in connection with one of his quotations. So we have here some evidence that the early Arabic gospels were translated from the Syriac Evangelion daMepharreshe, not from the Peshiṭta. |
[38], pp. 158 –
159 |
|
5th
May |
Lived Theodosios Metropolitan of Edessa. An aged manuscript of Mor Jacob's Hexameron, records that Theodosios was Metropolitan of Edessa at this date, during the see of Dionysios patriarch of Antioch. |
[72], p. 340 |
|
Friday 9th
January |
Died Timothy I, Catholicos of the East aged 95 years. He had been Catholicos for 43 years and 7 months. (There is an uncertainty in [50] here due to conflicting information from the ancient sources, [53]. Either Timothy died on 9th January 824 after he had been catholicos for 43 years and 7 months, [50], or he died on 9th January 823, [50], after he had been catholicos for 42 years and 7 months.) Timothy was succeeded as Patriarch by Isho` Bar Nun who ruled from Baghdad, Iraq, [53]. Isho` had been tutored by Mar Abraham bar Dashandad, 'The Crippled' of Bet Sayyada the celegrated teacher who taught him in the Upper Monastery at Mosul, [53]. |
[50],
p. 603 note 5 |
|
823 AD |
Date of the earliest extant Ms containing the Philoxenian version of 1, 2 and 3 John, James, 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. Written in Egypt by Aaron, a monk from Dara, near Mardin, and presented 30 years later to the monastery of Theotokos in the Nitrian desert. Br. Lib. Add. 14623 and acquired from Nitria by the British Museum between 1839 - 47. |
[34], pp. XXIII, XLIII |
|
828 AD |
Died the East Syrian patriarch Isho` Bar Nun. According to the Beth Gazza, he was succeeded by Giorgis, [Borgia Syr. 60 p. 532 column 2]. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1212 |
|
fl. c. 830 AD |
Iwannis (Syrian Orthodox) Bishop Metropolitan of Dara, (or John of Dara). Iwannis wrote (amongst other things) four books on the Priesthood. In these particular books, he quotes a large amount of Gospel text taken from an Old Syriac, gospel including variants not found in the Sinaitic or Curetonian manuscripts. |
[24], pp. 200,
204f. |
|
fl. c. 830 AD |
Nonnos, a contemporary of Iwannis and an arch-deacon of the Syrian Orthodox Church at Nisibis wrote a theological treatise whilst in prison. From his treatise it can be seen that Nonnos used the Peshiṭta gospel text. |
[24], pp. 205 –
206 |
|
830 AD |
Died Basil, bishop of Tagrit. |
Hatch 'Album' p. 114 |
|
832 AD |
Sabhr-isho` II became East Syrian Catholicos, he sat until AD 836. In this same year, Thomas who was later bishop of Marga, entered the convent of Beth `Abhe. |
[24], pp. 216, 219 |
|
837 AD |
Abraham became East Syrian Catholicos and had Thomas as his secretary, promoting him to be bishop of Marga and afterwards metropolitan of Beth Garmai. |
[24], pp. 206,
219 |
|
fl. c. 837 to 858 AD |
Thomas bishop of Marga and East Syrian metropolitan of Beth Garmai wrote his 'Historia Monastica' or 'Book of Governors' in the Monastery of Beth `Abhe at the request of a friend, the monk `Abhd-isho` about AD 840, [63]. According to Vööbus, [38] the Historia Monastica uses the Peshiṭta gospel text and there are only 'a small number of Old Syriac variants'. However, when the present author analysed all 36 gospel allusions found in the Historia Monastica, only 11 (i.e. 30%) agreed with the Peshiṭta. Furthermore, some of the other 25 gospel allusions contain outstanding variants consistent with an ancient Old Syriac gospel text, even older than the Sinaitic and Curetonian codices. For example on page 380, line 10 of the Syriac text, [63] Thomas quotes from John 17v21, 'As that I and you my Father we [are] one'. The theology underlying this reading is very different to that which lies behind the reading found in the Sinaitic Old Syriac codex and in the Peshiṭta; 'As that you my Father [are] in me and I [am] in you.' It is tempting to see Thomas' words as a misquotation from memory, but a wider examination of his quotations shows otherwise. For example, in the Sinaitic and Curetonian Old Syriac codices and the Peshiṭta of Luke 15v7, 10 Isho` allegedly said either 'there will be joy in heaven' (v7) or 'there will be joy before God's angels' (v10) but in [63], p. 349 Thomas quotes this saying in a different way. He says, 'The angels who are in heaven rejoice'. A misquotation? No, not at all. This same text was alluded to as early as the 4th century AD by Aphrahat, (Wright 1869, p. 276) and by Ephrem Syrus, (Leloir 1958, CSCO vol. 180 quotations 544, 546 with others). Thus, the Historia Monastica enables us to enter the Monastery of Beth `Abhe and look over Thomas' shoulder at his familiar gospel text. In his gospel codex we can see glimpses of an ancient Syriac text, quite unlike that found in the Peshiṭta, or in the Greek and one having it's own distinctive Syriac text type and theology. Two printed
editions of the Book of Governors are available on-line: Manuscripts
of the Book of Governors are known as follows, [83]: |
[24], pp. 205 –
206, 220 |
|
845 or 846 AD |
Ephraem Stylite from the village Kephar-Tauetha near Zeugma copied a manuscript BL. Add. 12153 partly using Serta, and partly using the Estrangela Syriac script. |
Hatch, “Album” p. 152 |
|
845 AD |
Dionysius Tell-Mahraya Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch died on 22nd August AD 845 and he was buried in the Monastery of Kenneshre, [24]. In November AD 846 a synod was held in the Monastery of Mar Shila in the region of Serug and during this synod, Yohannan (John) III was elected as his successor, [62]. He sat until AD 873, [62]. |
[33], p. 212 |
|
847AD |
Start of the reign of the Caliph al-Mutwakil who began a systematic ideological attack on the Christians in Iraq. He also outlawed and began persecuting a number of Islamic schools including the Sufis who had engaged with Christians and debated their ideas in a constructive way. This caliph died in AD 861. |
[60], p. 88 |
|
850 AD |
End of the see of Abraham, Eastern Catholicos. |
[24], p. 206 |
|
852 AD |
Theodosius (who was the natural brother of Thomas b. of Marga) became East Syrian Catholicos. Prior to his elevation he was bishop of al-Anbar (also known as Piruz-Shabor, [65]) and then metropolitan of Gunde-Shabhor. A rival of Theodosius for the post of Catholicos was Isho`dad of Merv, bishop of Hedhatta. Isho`dad wrote commentaries on each book of the Peshiṭta Old and New Testaments, (see Ms lists below). There are some Old Syriac relics in his NT work which he inherits from older authors, but in general his commentary demonstrates the decline of the Old Syriac gospel text type in use amongst the East Syrian clergy. Nevertheless, Isho`dad makes some interesting comments about the Diatessaron in the prologue to his commentary upon Mark. He says, (I translate from the Syriac): ‘Tatianos who was the disciple of Justianos the philosopher and martyr, he selected from the four evangelists. And he mixed [them] and set down the gospel. And he called it "Diatessaron," that is "The mixed". And upon the divinity of the Christ he did not have cause to write. And Mar Ephrem commented to this.’ It is interesting how Isho`dad implies from his remarks that the Diatessaron had a low Christology. The way Isho`dad occasionally quotes excerpts from the Diatessaron in his commentaries of the gospels and Acts also suggests that he had no complete copy of the Diatessaron to study. On the other hand, Isho`dad often quotes verbatim from a copy of Ephraem's commentary. This suggests that Ephrem's critical analysis of the Diatessaron was his primary window upon that work. So, despite what he tells us elsewhere about his strenuous efforts to locate manuscripts, it would seem unlikely that Isho`dad found even a single copy of the Diatessaron. This suggests the scarcity of Diatessaron manuscripts by the mid 9th century. Isho`dad of
Merv's important New Testament commentary has been published by
Dr. Margaret Dunlop Gibson, (Gibson
I II III 1911, IV 1913, V 1916) and it is found in the following
Mss. However, Dr. Gibson's edition of the gospel commentary was
based upon only 3 Mss; The Cambridge Ms, the Oxford Ms Syr c.14
and the younger of the two Harvard Mss. The following Ms list
extends and updates a list originally edited by Baumstark,
(Baumstark 1922, p. 234, note 10): The Old
Testament commentaries of Isho`dad have for the most part, not
been published and they are scarcer in manuscript form. The
published portions are as follows: |
[24], pp. 206,
220
|
|
858 AD |
End of the see of Theodosius, Eastern Catholicos. According to the Beth Gazza, he was succeeded by Sargays of Nisibis, and next by Mari Anush who was from Beth Garmai and next by John IV bar Narsay who appears below under AD 893, [Borgia Syr. 60 p. 532 column 2 – p. 533 column 1]. |
[24], p. 206 |
|
861 AD |
Severus, a monk who lived in the monastery of Barbara in the hill of Edessa during the days of Johannan the Patriarch wrote a catena patrum, that is to say, a collection of sayings by the church fathers. The compilation was completed in AD 861. This work contains gospel quotations using the Peshiṭta text. |
[38], p. 113 |
|
c. 863 AD |
Moshe bar
Kepha was
born in Balad in about AD 813. He was taught from his early youth
by Rabban Cyriacus who was abbot of the convent of Mar Sergius
near Balad where Moshe became a monk. Later he became Syrian
Orthodox bishop of Mosul,
Beth Kiyonaya and Beth Raman and took the name Severus.
He sat for 40 years until his death in AD 903. Moshe was a
prolific Syriac author, but his principal work was his commentary
upon the bible. Fragments of his commentaries are preserved in the
following Mss; There is one edition of the commentary on John's gospel by Lorenz Schlimme, 'Der Johanneskommentar des Moses bar Kepha' Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz, 1978-1981. In his gospel commentaries, Moshe quotes the Peshiṭta text. He also wrote metrical homilies which also contain gospel quotations. According to Vööbus, it is noticeable that some of the shorter quotations in his homilies were taken from an Old Syriac gospel source, [38]. A Treatise on Paradise written by Moshe Bar Kepha in three parts is also mentioned here. This work has not yet been edited, but it is important because it contains quotations from the lost Philoxenian version of the Syriac gospels composed in AD 508 under the authority of Philoxenus, bishop of Mabbug. The quotations from the Philoxenian version can still be seen amongst the quotations from this treatise by Moshe Bar Kepha made by Gregorios Bar `Ebroyo in his 'Book of the Lamp of the Sanctuary', the 12th and final memra on paradise. This work by Bar `Ebroyo has been critically edited by Séd, Nicolas 1981. 'Le candélabre du sanctuaire – XII du Paradis', Patrologia Orientalis vol. XL, fasc. 3, No. 184, Publ. Brepols, Turnhout, Belgium. According to Mingana, Moshe Bar Kepha's, Treatise on Paradise consists of five memre, (Mingana 1933, c. 167). However, it is not clear whether any extant Ms contains all five memre. The following list identifies the known Mss of this work together with all the details I could find: Yale
Syriac Ms 10
which is dated 3rd
April AD 1225 in
Mardin, see Leo
Depuydt 2006, 'Classical Syriac Manuscripts at Yale
University: A Checklist,' Hugoye Vol. 9, No. 2. This Ms contains
three memra from the treatise on Paradise. A Hexaemeron was also written by Moshe bar Kepha in five memre, ([24], p. 208). This work is preserved in the following Mss: Paris
Syriac 311 dated
AD 1493 or 1494, imperfect (Nau 1911, p. 283). This Mss contains
memre III, IV and V. Moshe bar Kepha composed a long cycle of festal homilies which discuss various questions to do with the festivals of the Jacobite church, see [24], p. 209 & Baumstark, Anton 1922. ̔Geschichte der syrischen Literatur̕ Bonn: A. Marcus und E. Weber Verlag, p. 282. These festal homilies are supplied with gospel quotations of an interesting character. Moshe's cycle of festal homilies is preserved in the following Mss: London,
British Library Add. 17188 of the 10th
or
11th
century,
94 ff. vellum. See Wright's catalogue, p. 621. |
[24], pp. 207 f.,
209 Scher, Addai 1908. ‘Notice des mss. syriaques et arabes conservés dans la bibliothèque de l'évêché chaldéen de Mardin’, Revue des bibliothèques 18 (1908), 64 – 95. |
|
873 AD |
Died Honain ibn Ishak al-`Ibadi of Herta who was born in AD 803. He was a Syriac speaking Arab from Al-Hira who belonged to the Church of the East. He was a famous physician, an eye specialist and also a master translator of Persian, Greek and Syriac works into Arabic. He taught methods of collating sources and translation technique which were essential to the accurate transmission of knowledge. Honain also invented a scientific and philosophical terminology for the Arabic language, this too was essential for the understanding and transmission of knowledge. |
[24], pp. 211,
215 |
|
873 or 874 AD |
Died Yohannan (John) III, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. [62] has AD 873. |
Hatch, “Album”,
p. 156 |
|
June 5th |
Ignatios was elected Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch during a synod held at the Monastery of Mar Zakkai near Qalliniqos. He sat until AD 883. |
[62], p. 8 |
|
887 AD |
Romanus the physician, a monk from Kartamin was elected as Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, ([24] says Amid) and took the name Theodosius. He wrote a commentary on a work called 'Pseudo-Hierotheos' which he dedicated to Lazarus, bishop of Cyrrhus. Both Theodosius' commentary and the book he commented upon, quote many times from the Diatessaron gospel harmony. The textual pattern of the gospel quotations has been ascertained from agreements with earlier Diatessaron witnesses, from the free harmonizations found and also from some non-canonical elements only found in the Diatessaron. Theodosius died in AD 896. He was succeeded by Dionysios in the same year, [62]. |
[24], p. 206 |
|
c. 880 - 890 AD |
Flourished the distinguished Syrian lexicographer Isho` Bar `Ali Arabic name, Isa ibn `Ali who was a pupil of Honain ibn Ishak al-`Ibadi of Herta the famous physician, (Honain died in AD 873). An example of his lexical work based upon earlier lexicographers can be found in Mingana Syr 474. Isho` Bar `Ali also created a new Syriac recension of the Diatessaron by vulgarizing its readings using the Peshiṭta. This vulgarized Syriac recension was used later in the 11th century to create the Arabic Diatessaron, (see below, under AD 1043). |
[24], pp. 211,
215 |
|
893 AD |
The East Syrian Catholicos John IV bar Narsay, who is mentioned in the Beth Gazza, [Borgia Syr. 60 p. 533 column 1] appointed his nephew, Theodore bar Koni as bishop of Lashom. Theodore authored a book of scholia on the scriptures, (published by CSCO from 1910 onwards) and an ecclesiastical history. According to the list of patriarchs in the Beth Gazza, John IV was succeeded by Yuwannis and then by John bar Abgar, (see below under AD 900). |
[24], p. 222. |
|
896 AD |
Died Theodosius Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch. During a synod held at the Monastery of Mar Shila of Serug, Theodosius was succeeded by Dionysios in April of the same year, [62]. |
[62], p. 8 |
|
900 AD |
John bar Heghire [24] also known as John V bar Abgare [52] became East Syrian Catholicos. He sat until his death in AD 905, [52]. Included in the Nomocanon of Eliya of Damascus is a treatise on the Rogations of the Ninevites written by the patriarch in AG 1214 = 902 or 903 AD, [72]. |
[24], p. 230 |
|
903 AD |
Died Moshe bar Kepha, Syrian Orthodox bishop of Mosul, Beth Kiyonaya and Beth Raman. After he became bishop, he was known as 'Mar Severus'. |
[24], p. 208 |
|
905 AD |
Died John bar Heghire, also called John V bar Abgare, East Syrian Catholicos, he was succeeded by Abraham. Abraham sat until AD 936 or 937. The ancient sources of this data are Bar Hebraeus, from his 'Chron. Eccl.' and the Mss of the Mingana collection, [46]. |
[24], p. 230 |
|
22nd March 914 AD |
Kristophoros was ordained as Mar Sargis, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Mar Matti Monastery in Persia. The date given is 22nd of the month Adar in the year 303 AH. This occurred during the tenure of Denha, Maphrian of the East and Yohannan bishop of Mar Matti and Huran who was Abbot of the same monastery. |
[62], p. 10 |
|
c. 922 AD |
Flourished Elias of Anbar, the East Syrian bishop of Peroz-Shabhor, (the older name of Al-Anbar, see [65]). He corresponded with Catholicos Abraham. He wrote a collection of metrical homilies, an apology, letters and some prose discourses. There is a legible photograph in the BFBS catalogue of two pages from his collection of memre upon knowledge and wisdom called the 'Duresha'. Other Ms of his work; One dated AD 1554 can be found in Jerusalem, [65] another of the 16th century can be found at Alqosh, Ms152, [66] and another in Baghdad, formerly Diarbekir Chaldean Ms 101 dated AD 1698, [72]. There is also an edition of the Duresha by Juckel A, CSCO vols 559, 560 published by Peeters 1996. |
[24], pp. 228,
230 |
|
932 AD |
Moses of Nisibis, (906 - 943 AD) had a library of over 250 manuscripts. There was also a large library at Dayr al-Suryan in the Monastery of Theotokos of the Syrians in the desert of Scetis, (lower Egypt). Many of the surviving Mss were bought by the British Museum in two batches, the first in 1842. These Mss form the majority of the Syriac Mss now in the British Library. |
[32] |
|
937 AD |
Died Abraham, East Syrian catholicos. According to the Beth Gazza, [Borgia Syr. 60 p. 533 column 1], Abraham was succeeded by Emmanuel. and then (in AD 961) by Israyel Karkaya. |
[24], p. 230 |
|
c. 945 AD |
Emmanuel the Catholicos of the East appointed George metropolitan of Mosul and Arbel. George's chief work was an exposition of the ecclesiastical offices for the whole year, written in seven sections, (these have been published by Connolly R. H., CSCO 2 vols. 1912, 1913 and another in 1915). George also wrote Turgame which can be found in Vat. Syr. 150 and 151 and in Berlin Sachau 167 section 2. |
[24], p. 231 |
|
961 AD |
Israyel Karkaya was elected Catholicos of the East. |
[24], p. 230 |
|
963 AD |
`Abhd-Isho` I was elected East Syrian Catholicos. He sat until AD 968. Present at his
consecration was Emmanuel bar Shahhare. Also known as
Emmanuel of Mosul, [65] he was the teacher in the school of Mar
Gabriel in the convent of Daira `Ellaita (the 'Upper
Monastery') at Mosul. He died in AD 980. He wrote 28 metrical
discourses upon the six days of creation called the 'Hexaemeron'.
This work survives in many manuscripts (see the oldest Ms dated
1288 in [65]) and includes gospel readings from the Peshiṭta
as well as a significant number of Old Syriac readings and
even some Old Syriac variants not found in the Sinaitic and
Curetonian Old Syriac gospel manuscripts, [38]. Other Ms
include; Also present at `Abhd-Isho`'s consecration was the scholar Isho` bar Bahlul, whose Arabic name was Abu 'l-Hasan 'Isa ibn al-Bahlul. Bar Bahlul created an important Syro-Arabic lexicon. Mss copies of his lexicon can be found in Mingana Mss Syr 249 B and 571. |
[24], pp. 228, 230
– 231 |
|
969 AD |
The Greeks recaptured Antioch from the Muslims. Afterward, Antioch became a centre for the Melkite Christians in Palestine. The gospels and other parts of the NT originally used by the Melkites were written in Christian Palestinian Aramaic, (CPA). CPA is a dialect of western Aramaic, similar to the Samaritan and Jewish Palestinian dialects which were current before the Muslims invaded Palestine. CPA has its own distinctive semi cursive script, which looks like an Estrangela written with much squarer letters |
Hatch 'Album', pp. 249, 250 |
|
979 AD |
Died Rabban Joseph Busnaya in the East Syrian monastery of Rabban Hormizd situated near Alqosh. Around this time, Joseph's biography was written by one of his disciples, Johannan or John bar Kaldun. The biography is long, 242 folios [46] or about 200 folios, [66] and in it Johannan quotes the gospel text from an Old Syriac manuscript. Examples of Old Syriac readings, one of Lk17v21 and another of Jn3v16 have been edited from Ms Orient 9387 by Vööbus, [38], pp. 137, 197. The Syriac text of this biography may not have been edited, but a French translation is available published by J-B Chabot in Revue de l'Orient chrétien; 2 (1897) pp. 357-409; 3 (1898) 77-121, 168-190, 292-327, 458-480; 4 (1899) pp. 384-414; 5 (1900) pp. 118-143, 182-200 and again by Placide Deseille, 'L'evangile au désert', Paris 1965, pp. 213-267. |
[38], pp. 137 f.,
197 |
|
987 AD |
Mari bar Tobi, Atoraya or 'The Assyrian' was elected Catholicos of the East. According to the Beth Gazza, Mari was succeeded by Iwannis III. |
[24], p. 231 |
|
c. 990 AD |
John was bishop of the convent of Qartamin in Tur `Abdin at the end of the 10th century AD, (source Barhebraeus). At this time, John revived the Estrangela script which was used for copying manuscripts once more. |
Hatch 'Album' p. 26 |
|
1001 AD |
Nathaniel, bishop of Shenna was elected East Syrian Catholicos under the name John V. He sat until AD 1012. Curiously, the Beth Gazza mentions this person as Iwannis III here in the sequence of patriarchs. |
[24], p. 235 |
|
1008 AD |
Eliya or Elijah Bar Shinaya became East Syrian Metropolitan of Nisibis in AD 1008. Elias wrote that within 40 years of `Abhd-Isho`'s episcopate, that is by AD 1008, Eastern Syrian monasticism had collapsed to a very small contingent of monks and monasteries, [38]. According to Wright, [24] Elias Bar Shinaya was born in AD 975. He became a monk near Mosul and was later appointed Bishop of Beth Nuhadhre in AD 1002 and then Metropolitan of Nisibis on AD 1008. He was a prolific author who wrote many works both in Arabic and in Syriac. His greatest work was a history called, 'Annals' or Chronicle', (according to Wright, the only copy is found in BL Add. 7197). These important histories have been published by Chabot and Brooks, CSCO 1909, 1910. Eliya also wrote four volumes on the decisions of ecclesiastical law, an apology for the truth of the faith, hymns, metrical homilies and a lexical work which survives in Mingana Syr 420 E. |
[24], p. 235 –
239 |
|
Wednesday 19th
November |
Johannan VI Bar Nazol was promoted from Bishop of Herta to become East Syriac Catholicos. He sat until AD 1020, ([72] records an end of this see in 1023 AD). During his days there were mass conversions of Christians to Islam following many losses from Arab tribal warfare and Kurdish raiding parties. |
[24], p. 236
f. |
|
1020 AD |
Isho`yabh IV Bar Ezekiel became East Syriac Catholicos. He sat until AD 1025. |
[24], p. 236 |
|
1026 to 1027 AD |
Elias bar Shinaya (born 975 AD, [24) an author of the Church of the East, wrote seven disputations in Arabic concerning a dialogue he had the the vizier Abu'l-Kasim al-Husain ibn 'Ali al-Maghribi, [24], (Margoliouth 1899, p. 41). For further details about this author, see above under 1008 AD. |
[24], pp. 235 – 239 |
|
1028 AD |
Elias I or Eliya I of Karkha d'Gheddan in Beth Garmai became the East Syrian Patriarch. Eliya collated the East Syrian synodicon and the canons of the church, (see Mingana Syr Mss 586, 587). He was previously bishop of Tirha and during this time he composed grammatical treatises. He sat until AD 1049. |
[24], pp. 233, 236 |
|
1043 AD |
Died Abu 'l-Faraj `Abdu’llah ibn aṭ-Ṭaiyib a distinguished commentator, philosopher and lawyer, who had been the secretary of the East Syrian Patriarch, Eliya I. `Abdu’llah translated a Syriac copy of the Diatessaron into Arabic. Unfortunately the critical value of this translation was diminished because the majority of the Syriac readings in the copy he used had already been adapted to the Peshiṭta. This vulgarized Syriac Diatessaron had been created earlier by the distinguished Syrian lexicographer’ Isa ibn `Ali who flourished around AD 890. |
[24], p. 238 |
|
1049 AD |
Died Catholicos Eliya I of Karkha d'Gheddan. According to the Beth Gazza [Borgia Syr. 60, p. 533 column 1], Eliya was succeeded by Yohannan and then by Sabr-Isho`. |
[24], p. 233 |
|
1049 AD |
`Abdisho` II Atoraya of Nisibis was elected Catholicos of the East. In the Borgia Beth Gazza, [Borgia Syr 60, p. 533 column 1] this `Abdisho` is the last patriarch in the main list. This historical detail indicates that the patriarchal list in the Beth Gazza service book was compiled at the latest during the patriarchate of `Abdisho` between 1049 and 1090 AD. However, it is perhaps more likely that the list of patriarchs was originally compiled during the patriarchate of Eliya I. The Borgia Gazza does list later patriarchs, but these are rather obvious later additions. |
|
|
1052 or 1053 AD |
The colophon of a dated Ms mentions John the Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch. |
[72], p. 333 |
|
1089 AD |
The governor of Tikrit attacked the Syrian Orthodox Christians in that city and burned and looted the Cathedral of Mar Ahudama, also known as the Green Church. The Syrian Orthodox Maphrian, Yuhanna II Saliba and many others, escaped to Mosul. After an attempt to return failed, Tikrit was abandoned by the Syrian Orthodox Christian community. |
[60], p. 68 |
|
1089 AD |
The monasteries of Tur `Abdin were destroyed and the monks were killed. This catastrophe was recorded in a dated inscription. Even so, there is manuscript evidence that not everything was destroyed, see under AD 1133 and 1184 below. |
[38], p. 140 |
|
1090 AD |
Died East Syrian Catholicos `Abdisho` II. |
[46], volume 1, column 1158 |
|
1125 AD |
Mar Johannan became Metropolitan of Marde. He wrote that in the year he became metropolitan there was not one monk in Marde nor any at all in Tur `Abdin and that no one even remembered how the monks had lived. In a Ms colophon dated the following year, AG 1438 = 1126 or 1127 a Jacobite copyist writing in Maragha, a town in Azorbijan, remarked that the Christian faith was on the point of vanishing and that 'the lamp was going out because of a lack of oil', [74]. |
[38], p. 141 |
|
1133 AD |
Lazarus bar Saba, a native of Beth Severina in Tur `Abdin recorded his name and address in the colophon of a manuscript, BL. Add. 14498. This manuscript contains anaphoras and prayers from the liturgy and demonstrates that perhaps not all of the Syriac books at Tur `Abdin were destroyed in the disaster 44 years earlier, (see above AD 1089). |
Hatch 'Album' p. 178 |
|
1134 AD |
Died Basil, Maphrain of Tur `Abdin. Basil wrote a treatise on theology in Karshuni, i.e. Arabic, written with Syriac letters. This work is preserved in Paris Syriac Ms 327, (Nau 1911, p. 289). |
|
|
1138 AD |
`Abhd-Isho` bar Mukl of Mosul became Catholicos of the East. He sat until AD 1147. |
[24], p. 255 |
|
1152 or 1153 AD |
Yohannan bishop of the Monastery of Mar Hananya also known as Deir Za'faran, 'The Safron Monastery' held a synod there. Copies of the synodal acts survive in Damascus Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate Ms 8/11 ff. 215a – 216b (dated May 5th AD 1204 published by Voobus, CSCO vol. 367 etc.) and Ms Mardin Orth. 176 ff. 143a – 151b, a Ms of the 15th century. |
[62], pp. 24 f. |
|
1156 AD |
Mosul became the main centre of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Iraq and the Maphrain Ignatius Li'azir was called, 'The Maphrain of Tikrit, Nineveh, Mosul and all the East'. |
[60], pp. 68 - 69 |
|
1166 AD |
Michael the Great became Michael Patriarch of Antioch. He sat until AD 1199. Michael's most important work was a chronicle from the creation down to AD 1196. This chronicle survives in Armenian and in AD 1894 a Syriac copy was said to exist in the library of the Zafaran monastery near Mardin, Turkey, [24]. According to Bar Hebraeus, Michael also wrote an ecclesiastical history, (now lost). However, it is likely that the contents of Michael's ecclesiastical history were re-used by Barhebraeus in his own historical writings. |
[24], p. 251
ff. |
|
1166 AD |
Dionysius bar Salibi of Melitene, was Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Amid from 1166 until his death in 1171 AD. He wrote an important commentary on the four gospels in Syriac. Much of his material, comes from earlier commentaries written by Isho`dad of Merv (c. AD 850) and by Moshe bar Kepha († AD 903). For Dionysius' gospel commentary, see the following Ms list updated from a Ms list edited by Baumstark, (Baumstark 1922, p. 296, note 2, though I have omitted some Ms containing shorter extracts); According to Zotenberg, the earliest Ms, Paris 67, is a copy of the gospel commentaries which was completed and dated on Saturday 27th Tammuz AG 1485 = Saturday 27th July AD 1174, only 3 years after the decease of the author, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 35). Paris
Ms Syriac 67
dated 1174 AD according to Zotenberg, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 35) this
Paris Ms has a different recension to that found in the two
Vatican Mss, Vat. Syr. Mss 155 & 156, (Sedláček &
Chabot 1906 p. 2), fragments of which were edited long ago by
Assemani, (Assemani 1719, vol. 2, pp. 157-170). The gospel commentaries extant in the Mss listed above, have been partially edited. The partial edition has been achieved jointly by Sedláček & Chabot 1906, 1915, 1922 and Vaschalde 1931, 1933, 1939, 1940, (CSCO, Peeters, Louvain). All these volumes were edited from only 3 Ms sources; Paris Mss 67, 68 and the Lebanon, Charfeh Ms listed above. Bar Salibi's commentary on John's gospel has not been edited. Dionysius Bar Salibi also wrote commentaries upon the Acts, letters of Paul and the Revelation, (see Ms list below) and upon the Old Testament, (see Ms list below). All the NT commentaries are based upon the Peshiṭta text, however Old Syriac gospel quotations and other variants can still be found. Bar Salibi's
commentaries upon the Acts, letters of Paul, the Catholic epistles
and the Revelation have been edited, (Sedláček 1909,
1910) and they can be found in the following Mss, [34]: Since there
has been very little of it published so far, I also include an
updated Ms list of Bar Salibi's
commentaries on the Peshiṭta and
Syro-Hexaplar versions of the OT based on an earlier list by
Baumstark, (Baumstark 1922, p. 296, note 1). Another more recent
Ms list by Vööbus
ZAW 84, 1972 p. 246 ff. is reported by Goshen-Gottstein 1979, p.
90, but this list has not yet been consulted: In Bar Salibi's gospel commentary we find the following words about the Diatessaron, (I translate his words into English from the Syriac found on folio 182a of Ms Paris Syriac 67): “Tatianos the disciple of Justinos the philosopher and martyr selected from the four evangelists, and he mixed [them] and composed a gospel and he called it, 'Diatessaron' that is, 'The mixed' and Mari Ephrem wrote his commentary on this. It's start was; 'In the beginning he was, the Word'.” These words differ slightly from the description of the Diatessaron given by the earlier East Syrian Isho`dad bishop of Merv, which see above. |
[24], p. 247 |
|
1171 AD |
Died Dionysius bar Salibi, Syriac author, biblical commentator and metropolitan of Amid. |
[32], para 51 |
|
1171 AD |
The patriarchal seat of the Syrian Orthodox Church was moved and established in Mardin. |
[60], p. 93 |
|
July |
According to the colophon of Paris Syriac 67 copied at this time, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 35) Michael was Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Mark was Patriarch of Egypt, John was Maphrain of the Orient and Athanasius was Metropolitan of Edessa. |
Zotenberg's catalogue of the Paris Syriac Mss, 1874. |
|
1176 AD |
Eliya III, Abu
Ḥalim
ibn al-Ḥadithi
of Maiperkat, metropolitan of Nisibis became Catholicos of the
East. He sat until AD 1190, [57]. Abu Ḥalim
mostly wrote in Arabic, but he also gave his name to one of the
service books in Syriac, the 'Abu Ḥalim'
which contains collects and prayers for the whole year. Example
Mss are: A parchment Gospel lectionary Ms was copied in the Convent of Mar Awgin by Rabban Sliba in the year AG 1497 = 1185 or 1186 AD and mentioned Mar Eliya the patriarch, [74]. |
[24], p. 255
f. |
|
1177 AD |
Athanasius Abu Ghalib, bishop of Gihan wrote a work on chastity in AD 1177 which is preserved in Mingana Syr 118. He was ordained by Michael the Great in AD 1169. It is stated in this work that the West Syrian monks of this time were engaging in unchastity. This is probably the same cleric who is mentioned in Paris Syriac Ms 67 as Metropolitan of Edessa when the Ms was completed in July AD 1174. |
[46], volume 1, column 281 |
|
1184 AD |
A book of hymns was copied and dated in the village of Kaper Rac`a in Tur `Abdin. BL. Add. 14719 |
Wright 'Catalogue' p. 275 |
|
1190 AD |
Yabh-Alaha II bar Kayoma of Mosul became Catholicos of the East, [24]. Reference [57] has the date as AD 1191. He sat until 1222 AD, (see below). |
[24], p. 255 |
|
1190 or 1191
AD |
Mar Iwannis (John LXXIV) was elected Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Egypt. The date given is year 905 according to the era of the martyrs, (see above under AD 286). He died in year 932 of the same era, i.e. around AD 1217 or 1218. This same Mar Iwannis is mentioned again in the colophon of a Ms dated 18th Tammuz, AG 1503 = 18th July AD 1192 and which also mentions that Basil was Metropolitan of Edessa, [72]. This same Mar Iwannis is mentioned again in the colophon of Paris Ms 289 which is dated 8th Shabat, AG 1507 = 8th February AD 1196 and which also mentions Athanasios Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and another Iwannis (John) who was metropolitan of Amid, (Chabot 1896, p. 235). |
[62], p. XII |
|
1196 or 1197
AD |
An East Syrian gospel lectionary manuscript, BL. Egerton 681 was copied in AD 1206 or 1207, during the days of Yabh-Alaha II Catholicos of Seleucia Ctesiphon. The lectionary was arranged after the usage of the lections in the convent of Beth `Abhe which was founded by Rabban Jacob, (see earlier under AD 630). A similar dated gospel lectionary from Beth `Abhe can be found below, see under AD 1218. The patriarch Mar Yabh-alaha is mentioned again in other Ms colophons; one dated AG 1508 = AD 1196 or 1197 and another dated AG 1522 and AH 607 = AD 1210 or 1211, [72] and in Mosul 13, another gospel lectionary dated Saturday August 4th AG 1500 (an error, see [57]) and AH 609 = Saturday August 4th AD 1212, [74]. |
Wright “Catalogue”
p. 193 |
|
1196 or 1197 AD |
Mar Emmanuel, Metropolitan of Nisibis is mentioned in a Ms colophon dated AG 1508 = AD 1196 or 1197 . |
[72], p. 336 |
|
November |
Died Michael Patriarch of Antioch or Michael the Great, who had been Syrian Orthodox bishop of Amid and who moved his see from Amid to Mardin. Michael was a very important Syriac author. He created a NT in Syriac except the book of Revelation. He also wrote a valuable chronicle of events down to the year 1194 AD which preserves much earlier Syriac historical materials which are now lost. Michael the Great was succeeded by his nephew Isho` Setana, see under AD 1204 below. |
[32] |
|
c. 1200 AD |
Flourished John bar Zubi, an East Syrian monk of Beth Kuka in Hedhaiyabh (=Adiabene) who tutored Shakko or Shikko, also known as Severus, bishop of Mar Matthew, (see below under AD 1241). John wrote a Syriac grammar, a number of copies of this work survive in the Mingana collection. John's teacher was Shem`on Shaklawaya, i.e. from Shaklabad who composed a work on church Chronology in response to a request from John, [46]. |
[24], p. 258 |
|
1202 AD |
At around this time in the Upper Monastery of Mar Gabriel near Mosul, the liturgy was restructured. Vööbus, [38] asserts that all the Old Syriac elements were removed from the lectionary in favour of the Peshiṭta as well as from all the other liturgical books. However, contrary to the second part of this assertion, the surviving Mss of the Hudhra (the East Syrian office book used by the choir arranged by `Anan Isho` of Hedhaiyabh in the mid seventh century AD) and the Mss of the Beth Gazza demonstrate beyond any doubt that the Old Syriac text was not in fact removed from every liturgical book, only from the gospel lectionary. Vatican Syriac Ms 42 contains a Taksa (i.e. a service book or Euchologion) for the Priest's use whilst celebrating the East Syrian mass. This East Syrian Taksa was revised in AD 1202. This date correlates with the date that the lectionary system of the East Syrian liturgy was revised using the Peshiṭta by the Upper Monastery of Mar Abraham and Mar Gabriel at Mosul. The revision of the gospel lectionary required a large manuscript copying effort to replace the older lectionaries. A number of dated examples of these replacement lectionaries can be found mentioned here. |
Date according to
the introduction provided for Vat. Syr. 42 as found in the
facsimile edition of 33 Mss from the Vatican Library produced by
the BYU. |
|
5th
May |
According to the colophon of Damascus Patriarchate Ms 8/11 reported in [62] at this time, Isho` Setana also called Mika'el like his great uncle Michael the Great, was Patriarch of Antioch, Mar Iwannis (John LXXIV) was Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Egypt and Mar Grigorios was Maphrian of Tagrit, Nineveh, Mosul and all the East, (for whom see more details below under AD 1214). Assemani (BO II, p. 230 ff.) and also Baumstark (Geschichte Syr. Lit., p. 302) thought that Isho` became Patriarch in AD 1207, but this colophon shows that he is more likely to have become Patriarch of Antioch around the turn of the year AD 1200 soon after the death of Michael the Great. Isho` was from the Monastery of Barsauma and he reigned until his death in AD 1214. |
[62], p. XI (in the intro to the Syriac text) |
|
October AD 1207 ~
July 1208 AD |
Two East Syrian Ms of the New Testament were copied by Daniel, a priest and monk using the Estrangela script at the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd near Alqosh. The first Ms is dated AG 1519 and AH 604 and the second is dated AD 1522 and AH 607. The second Ms also mentions the Mar Yabh-Alaha Patriarch of the East, (this was Mar Yabh-Alaha II Catholicos of Seleucia Ctesiphon, see above). |
[72], p. 335 |
|
Saturday August 4th 1212 AD |
Sabr-Isho` bar Pawlos of Mosul was rector, (Syriac: Yaṣopa) of the Church of Meskenta in Mosul when the Ms Mosul Ms 13 was copied, (according to the date given in the Ms colophon). This Sabr-Isho` wrote an anthem on the [Divine] Economy which was recited at the fast called the Rogation of the Ninevites. This anthem is included in a 13th century appendix of the 11th century Mar Eshaya Hudhra. Another author of the Church of the East, the priest and monk Rabban Yaqqira Abou l-`ezz, (Baumstark 1922, p. 289) is mentioned in the colophon of the same Ms, Mosul 13, a gospel lectionary dated Saturday August 4th, AG 1500 (an error) and AH 609 = Saturday August 4th, AD 1212 during the sees of the patriarch Yabh-Alaha II bar Ḳayoma, and Mar Joseph, metropolitan of Assyria and Nineveh, [74]. Mar Yaqqira arranged a set of memra composed by Mar Ephrem and Mar Narsai for use during the Rogations of the Ninevites, (Baumstark 1922, p. 289 note 11 which has a Ms list). This work survives in a number of Mss, for example: London,
British Library Orient 2299 which is dated AG 1560 and AH 646 =
Between October 1248 and March 1249 AD, (Margoliouth 1899, pp. 5,
18). |
[57], p. 353 note
4 |
|
1214 AD |
Died Mika'el also known as Isho` Setana Patriarch of Antioch. |
[62], p. XI (in the intro to the Syriac text) |
|
1214 or 1215 AD |
Isho` (or Ya`qob) bar Abraham bar 'Elija of Bet Qandasi near Melitene who was Mar Grigorios Maphrian of Tagrit died in AD 1214 [62] or AD 1215, [46]. He was a nephew of Michael I, also known as Michael the Great, [46], [62]. He wrote anaphora which are preserved in Ms Berlin Sachau 196 folios16a ff., [62] and a treatise on Good Friday preserved in Mingana Ms Syr. 112 folios 92a – 107b, [46] |
[46], volume 1,
column 273 |
|
Between March and September 1218 AD |
An East Syrian lectionary of the gospels was written in the convent of Beth `Abhe which was founded by Rabban Jacob, (see earlier under AD 630). The dates given in the Ms are AG 1529 and AH 615. These two dates narrow down the date of the manuscript to between March and September AD 1218. A similar dated gospel lectionary from Beth `Abhe dated 1206 or 1207 AD has been mentioned above. |
CBL Ms 704 |
|
1222 AD |
Died Yabh-Alaha II bar Kayoma of Mosul, Catholicos of the East, [57]. |
[57], p. 353 note 4 |
|
1222 AD |
East Syrian Patriarch Yabh-Alaha III or Sabrisho` IV was elected. He sat until AD 1225. |
[46], volume 1, column 998 |
|
1225 AD |
Flourished Giwargis Warda from Erbil who wrote Syriac poems, (two are dated; AD 1225 and AD 1254, [46]) and hymns. According to Vööbus [38], some of these are based on the Old Syriac gospel and some on the Peshiṭta. The Mss studied by Vööbus were Cambridge Syr 1982 and Vatican Syr 184 with an edition by Hilgenfeld. Other Mss include Mingana Syr 197 C and Mingana Syr 505 dated around AD 1500. |
[32], para 55 |
|
1225 AD |
Died Sabrisho` IV Catholicos of the East. |
See above under 1222 AD. |
|
28th
February |
A Ms dated 28th Shabat, AG 1551 mentions the patriarch of the Church of the East, Mar Sabrisho Bar Meshihaya. |
[72], p. 356 |
|
1241 AD |
Died the West Syrian author and disciple of the John bar Zubi, Jacob bar Shakko, or more exactly, Ya`qob of Bartilla, Bar Shikko, also known as Severus, bishop of Mar Matthew. Some of his work called, The 'Treasures' written in AD 1231 can be found preserved in Mingana Syr 100. Note that Shikko was a West Syrian, despite being a disciple of John bar Zubi who was an East Syrian. Again, according to the patriarch Barsaum, (Barsaum 1967, p. 511 – 514), Jacob was the metropolitan of the Monastery of Mar Matta, [51]. |
[32], para 52 |
|
1244 or 1245 AD |
John of Mosul completed his 'Book of good conduct' in the East Syrian monastery of Mar Michael the companion of the Angels at Mosul. The book was dated by the author to the year AG 1556, [74]. This work has been edited by Elia Millos in 1868 AD. |
[74], p. 31 |
|
1249 AD |
Died the West Syrian Patriarch Michael II, formally known as Isho` Bar Shushan. His copy of the gospels was Old Syriac in character as can be seen from a gospel interpolation after Mt20v28 which can be found copied into Mingana Syr 497, a copy of the Harklean gospels. The same interpolation can be found in the Curetonian Old Syriac codex which dates from the 5th century AD. |
[46], volume 1, column 917 |
|
1256 AD |
Died East Syrian Patriarch Sabrisho` V Bar Meshihaya. |
[46], volume 1, column 931 |
|
1258 AD |
The Abbasid Islamic caliphate was ended by the invasion of the Mongol Khan Hulago who conquered and sacked Baghdad. The Khan spared the Christians in Baghdad because many Mongols were already Christians. |
[60], pp. xxiv, 90 |
|
1260 AD |
The Mongol Khan invaded Syria and took Nisibis, Edessa, Harran, Aleppo and Damascus. |
[60], p. 91 |
|
1264 AD |
Gregory Barhebraeus Abdu al-Faraj, (AD 1226 – 1286) became primate of the Syrian Orthodox Church. Gregory was the son of a physician who after studying medicine in Antioch and Tripoli turned to theological studies and the priesthood. See also below under AD 1286. |
[60], p. 71 |
|
November 1265 AD |
Denha I became East Syrian Catholicos. |
[40], volume 1, p. 39 |
|
1270 AD |
Died John of Mosul who was an East Syrian monk in the monastery of Mar Michael near Mosul. John wrote a work entitled 'Book of good manners' in AD 1245. Several Mss are known to the present author, BL Orient 2450 and Mingana Syr 488 A, 493 A. An edition of unknown exactness was published by Millos, E. J., Archbishop of Akra, 'Directorium spirituale', Rome 1868. |
[24], p. 285 |
|
1271 AD |
Died East Syrian Metropolitan `Abdisho` Bar Mashk who renovated the church of the Monastery of Mar Eugenius. This monastery was situated on Mount Izla. |
[46], volume 1, column 373 |
|
February 1281 AD |
Died Denha I East Syrian Catholicos. He was succeeded by Mar Yahb-Alaha III. He sat until AD 1317, [24]. |
[40], volume 1, p.
39 |
|
c. AD 1281 |
A certain Mar
Gabriel Kamsa, Metropolitan of Mosul, who
had been a monk at Beth Qoqa wrote a long poem about Mar
Sabrisho` the founder of the Monastery of Beth Qoqa.
According to Mar Isho`dena bishop of Basra, (Chabot 1896, pp. 255
– 258, §§ 59, 61 –
66) this convent was founded by Mar Sabrisho` in the region
of Hedhaiyabh, in the 6th century in the days of
Mar Isho`yabh Arzonaya when he was metropolitan of Hedhaiyabh,
i.e. before he was elected Catholicos later in AD 581. According
to the colophon of Cambridge Add. Syr. 616, Beth Qoqa was still in
use in AG 1772 = AD 1460 or 1461. This poem contains references to
an ancient Syriac gospel text. According to Assemani,
Gabriel, Metropolitan of Mosul was present at the
ordination of the Catholicos, Mar Yabh-Allaha III in AD 1281 and
both Assemani and Wright identify this Gabriel as the author of
the poem, (Assemani BO, III p. 566 chapter LIV, Assemani BO II, p.
456, Wright 1894, p. 284). The poem is often included at the
beginning of the East Syrian hymn-book called the 'Khamis'.
The Ms containing this poem are therefore numerous, some are
indicated in the following list which also shows a cross-section
of the places where many East Syrian manuscripts have been copied
over the centuries; |
[72],
pp. 354, 390 f. |
|
1286 AD |
Died Gregorios Bar `Ebroyo [Barhebraeus] Abdu al-Faraj, Syrian Orthodox Maphrian of the East and a prolific Syriac author, biblical commentator and scholar. On-line biographies of Gregory Barhebraeus including lists of his many scholarly works are available on the Internet, see link1 and link2. Gregory Bar `Ebroyo mainly used the Peshiṭta text of the gospels in his many works. His most important historical work was his, 'Book of Directions', more commonly known as 'The Nomocanon'. This is a large collection of synodal canons from previous eras. Bar `Ebroyo also wrote an interesting work called 'The Lamp of the Sanctuary'. This work is arranged in 12 chapters, most of which have been published in a piecemeal fashion over a number of years. The 12th chapter entiled 'on Paradise' has been edited and also translated into French by Nicholas Séd, (Séd 1981 'Le candélabre du sanctuaire – XII du Paradis', Patrologia Orientalis vol. XL fasc. 3, No. 184, Brepols, Turnhout, Belgium). In this book, Bar Ebroyo makes use of an earlier treatise on Paradise by Moshe Bar Kepha, (+ AD 903 which see) and in doing so he reproduced the Gospel quotations of Moshe which were taken from the now lost Philoxenian version of the gospels composed in AD 508 under the authority of Philoxenus, bishop of Mabbug, (+ AD 523). The edition lists the Mss employed and there is another 17th century Ms in Baghdad, [72]. Subsequent research has unearthed an early exemplar of the Book of Ethics written by Gregorios Bar `Ebroyo; Mosul Ms 99, described by Addai Scher, (Scher 1907, p. 31) [74]. This East Syrian codex is dated AG 1604 = 1292 or 1293 AD, i.e. within 9 years of the death of the author and the colophon also mentions the East Syrian patriarch, Mar Yabh-Alaha. Bar `Broyo also wrote a book called 'The ascent of the mind' about mathematics and astronomy. This work has been critically edited from a number of manuscripts and translated into French with diagrams etc. by François Nau, (Nau 1899, 1900). This edition is available on-line courtesy of the Gallica project at the BnF, Paris. In Erbil at this time and writing hymns was the famous East Syrian author, Khamis bar Qardahe or Kardaḥé. Khamis' life can be pinned down to the vicinity of this date because he wrote a metrical eulogy in memory of Barhebraeus which is preserved in Mingana Syr 156, a 19th century Ms copied from an exemplar dated AD 1293, i.e. a Ms roughly contemporary with the author. A complete collection of Khamis' works can be found in Mingana Syr 149B and some hymns of his can also be found in Mingana Syr 130. For a list of the hymn-book Mss bearing his name, see above under AD 1281. Some selections from the Khamis are available on-line in English translation. |
[32], para 52 Nau, François 1899, 1900 'Le livre de l'ascension de l'esprit sur la forme du ciel et de la terre: cours d'astronomie / réd. en 1279 par Grégoire Aboulfaradj, dit Bar Hebraeus' E. Bouillon, Paris. |
|
1294 AD |
Died Kublai Khan the Mongol emperor. |
[60], p. 91 |
|
1295 AD |
Ghazan, the Mongol Khan of Persia converted to Islam. He began a policy of persecuting Christians and for one hundred years many churches were burned and massacres of Christians took place, especially at Arbil in 1310 AD and in Amida in 1317 AD. Whole Christian communities were destroyed. |
[60], p. 91 |
|
1298 AD |
Audisho` Metropolitan of Nisibis, composed a metrical history of Syriac Christian literature. This work is an important historical source which was edited and translated into Latin by the Maronite scholar Joseph Simon Assemani, (Assemani 1719, volume 3, part 1), [75]. A full text search facility for this Latin edition has been made available on-line by the University of Bonn. An English translation of this history of East Syrian Christian literature is also available on-line. |
[75], volume 3, part 1. |
|
1299 or 1300 AD |
`Abdisho` Metropolitan of Nisibis, created an arrangement of the Arabic gospel lectionary, [72]. |
[72], p. 412 |
|
1300 or 1301 AD |
The earliest known Syriac Ms copied in India is Vatican Syriac Ms 22. This Ms of the Church of the East is dated AG 1612 and written in the royal town of Sengala in Malabar, India. The colophon on f. 93b mentions Mar Jacob, bishop metropolitan, superintendent and ruler of the see of the holy apostle Thomas and of the whole Christian church in India and the Catholicos Mar Yahb-allaha III patriarch of the East. |
[51], p. 187 |
|
1316 AD |
`Abdisho` Metropolitan of Nisibis, son of Berikha completed his famous collection of ecclesiastical canons, also known as the 'Nomocanon'. Earlier in AD 1291 or 1292, he also wrote a work called 'The book of the pearl', a defence of Eastern Christianity. A Ms copy dated AD 1686 or 1687 is described in [72] with mention of an edition of this work published by Angelo Mai which is available on-line, see part 2, pp. 317 – 341, (facs. pp. 744 – 780). An English translation was published by Percy Badger and this is also available on-line in electronic form. |
[72], p. 342 f. |
|
15th
November, [74] |
Died Mar
Yahb-Alaha an East Syrian monk who lived in Peking, China,
and who later became the Church of the East's Patriarch of China,
Mar Yahb-Alaha III (AD 1281 – 1317) based at the
patriarchal residence at Maragha. His biography contains gospel
quotations from an Old Syriac text, including variants not
found in the two surviving Old Syriac gospel manuscripts. The two
variants given in [38] can be traced to Justin Martyr and other
witnesses to the text of the Diatessaron. This suggests that the
gospel text used by the biographer may have been a copy of the
Diatessaron. The text of this patriarch's life story has been published by Bedjan, Paris 1888, [24]. |
[24], p. 289 |
|
February |
Timothy II became East Syrian catholicos in the month of Shebat AG 1629, [53]. He sat until AD 1353, [46] (although Wright gives the date of his death as AD 1328, [24] ). He had previously been metropolitan of Mosul and Irbil under the name Joseph. From these remarks it is possible that that Wright has confused two near contemporary people of different dates. Prior to his elevation, Timothy wrote a work upon the liturgy called, 'About the ecclesiastical mysteries', [53]. The synodal canons from AG 1629 = 1317 to 1318, presumably from a synod convened by Timothy II can be found in London Orient Ms 2309, ff. 176 – 215 (Margoliouth 1899, p. 7). |
[24], p. 290 |
|
1318 AD |
Died `Abdisho` Metropolitan of Nisibis and Armenia, son of Berikha who was a prolific East Syrian author and scholar. Although it is unclear whether he had access to this book in its original format, `Abdisho` said that Tatian's Diatessaron was, “An admirable gospel.” His comment is more likely to be describing the Arabic Diatessaron, (see above under 1043 AD). |
[24], p. 285 |
|
1333 AD |
Died Ignatius bar Wahib, Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch, [51]. This author wrote a work called 'Times for prayers' mentioned by patriarch Barsaum, (Barsaum 1967, p. 551). |
[51], p. 176 |
|
1353 AD |
Died Timothy II, East Syrian Catholicos. Timothy wrote a book called, 'The causes of the sacraments. Thirteen canons written by Timothy II can be also be found in Mingana Syr 121 part F. Timothy was succeeded by Mar Denha II who was still Catholicos in AD 1380 according to a Ms colophon of that date, [65]. |
[24], p. 290 |
|
14th cent? |
Lived Yeshua` bar Selibha dhe-khairon from Hah in Tur `Abdin a Syrian Orthodox scholar who wrote memre in the twelve syllable metre. He quotes Barhebraeus who died in AD1286 and his memre are in a manuscript dated AD 1452. Therefore, he seems to have lived in about the 14th century AD. |
CUL Add. 2019 |
|
1382 AD |
Died East Syrian Catholicos, Mar Dinha II. According to a note in Mingana 561, during his period there were many 'wars and devastations'. For the reasons, see under AD 1295. |
[46], volume 1, column 1044 |
|
1393 AD |
Timur Leng conquered Baghdad and overran Mesopotamia. This Khan persecuted both Sunni Muslims and Christians and left mayhem everywhere until his death in AD 1405. This devastation left Iraq in a weakened state for centuries. |
[60], pp. xxiv, 91, 92 |
|
1412 to 1480 AD, [73] |
Lived the priest and East Syriac author Isaac Shebadhnaya, also known as Asco. As well as being a priest, Asco was a smith. He came from the country of the Sindayé, a region north east of the modern town of Zakho, in a mountainous area of northern Iraq, [46]. |
[46], volume 1,
columns 77, 303, 347 |
|
5th
February |
The colophon of a manuscript dated 5th Shabat AG 1732 records that Ignatios Behna of Mardin was the Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch, (Scher 1907), [72]. A Ms now in India contains a memra written by this patriarch and according to Van der Ploeg, this patriarch sat from 1420 until 1455 AD, [51]. |
[51], p. 153 |
|
19th
February |
A Ms dated 19th Shabat AG 1734 was copied by Basil patriarch of Antioch. Van der Ploeg says that this man was a Jacobite schismatic patriarch who sat from 1421 until his death in Jerusalem in 1445 AD. |
[51], p. 169 |
|
c. 1437 AD |
Start of the see of Shimun IV Basidi patriarch Catholicos of the East of the Abuna, or Mama family. He sat until 1497 AD. |
[55], section 8 |
|
7th
August |
The Council of Florence was attended by the East Syrian bishop Timotheus of Tarsus. An unsuccessful attempt was made to create a Uniat Catholic East Syrian denomination called the Chaldean Church. Margoliouth mentions that this council occurred in AD 1441, but this alternative less precise date may be an error, (Margoliouth 1899, p. 41). |
[60], p. 108 |
|
1452 AD |
At this date lived Isho`yabh an East Syrian metropolitan of Arbel, (Chabot 1896, p. 268). The same metropolitan composed an important grammar of the Syriac language and dated it in the year AG 1755 = 1443 or 1444 AD. A copy of this work was in Mosul Ms 106 as described by Addai Scher, (Scher 1907) [74]. This grammar includes treatment of the eastern and western dialects of the Syriac language. |
Chabot's catalogue
of the Paris BNF Mss, 1896. |
|
1453 AD |
The Ottomans defeated the Byzantines and took Constantinople. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the vast Ottoman empire. |
[60], p. 99 |
|
1454 AD |
Died the West Syrian Ignatius V Behnam bar Yohannan Hedhlaya |
[46], volume 1, columns 194 and 718 |
|
May |
In a Ms of the East Syrian Beth Gazza dated in the month Iyar AG 1769, Aksanaya `Abdisho` metropolitan of Nisibis dedicated the manuscript in his own handwriting to the Church of the martyr Mar Pethion at Amida. |
[65], p. 107 |
|
29th
November |
The colophon of Vatican Syriac 186 dated 29th of Second Tishrin AG 1789 records that the East Syrian patriarch was Mar Shem`on, (Assemani & Assemani 1759, vol. 3, p. 403) |
|
|
3rd
March 1480 AD |
Three Mss, one dated 3rd Adar AG 1791 another dated 6th Nisan AG 1791 and another (London BL Add 7177) dated AG 1795 and AH 889 mention that Mar Shem`on was patriarch of the church of the East, and that Mar Eliya was Metropolitan of Nisibis, Armenia and Marde. |
[72], p. 386 |
|
1480 or 1481 AD |
In AG 1792 one Mas`ud was elected as Superior of the Syrian Orthodox Convent of Quriaqos in Tur `Abdin, taking the name Basil. At this time he had been a monk there for 10 years after becoming a monk at the age of 22 years. |
[66], part 2, p. 71 |
|
1481
AD |
Died Abu L'Ma-ani `Aziz bar Sabtha also known as Ignatius VII, the west Syrian patriarch of Tur `Abdin. He wrote a commentary on the mystical sayings of John Dalyatha, also known as John Saba, (see Mingana Syr 49 and under c. AD 700). Mingana says that this commentary quotes some otherwise lost sayings by John of Dalyatha. Ignatius also wrote another mystical piece on 'The ascent of the mind', (copies of which can be found in Mingana Syr 79 part B, and Syr 616). A Melchite Ms dated AD 1481 is also dated to the 6989th year of the creation, [46], volume 2, p. 184. |
[46], volume 1,
columns 140, 199, 227 |
|
1482 or 1483 AD |
Died the Syrian Orthodox patriarch Ignatius Khalaf Ma'adanaya who had resided in the Zafaran monastery. The colophon of a Ms dated AG 1794 = 1482 or 1483 AD, used as one exemplar for Mingana Syriac Ms 384, (Mingana 1933, cc. 694 f.) mentions this patriarch and his passing away. According to the colophon edited by Mingana, the deceased patriarch was succeeded by Mor Ignatius John of Mardin in the days of Basil, maphrian of the East. |
[46], volume 1, cc. 678, 694 f. |
|
1489 or 1490 AD |
Three Indian Christians visited Mar Shem`on, patriarch of the church of the East at Gazarta in AG 1801 = 1489 or 1490 AD, (Assemani 1719). Only two Indians; Giwargis and Yoseph arrive safely because one other dies on the way. Mar Shem`on ordains his two visitors as priests and consecrates two new bishops, Mar Thoma and Mar John to be sent back with Giwargis and Yoseph to take up their posts in Malabar. |
Assemani 1719, Bibliotheca Orientalis, vol. III/2, p. 590 ff. |
|
1494 or 1495 AD |
Mar Shem`on patriarch of the East is mentioned in Mosul Ms 15 which was written near Séert and dated AG 1806 = 1494 or 1495 AD. In this Ms, Mar Shem`on is mentioned with Mar Yohannan bishop of Athel. |
[74], p. 11 |
|
20th
February |
Died the patriarch Shimun IV Basidi Catholicos of the East. He was buried at the patriarchal residence which was then in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd at Alkosh, northern Iraq. He was succeeded by Eliya, metropolitan of Mosul, who was a nephew of Shimun Basidi. In the view of the present author, these two patriarchs of the Church of the East at Alqosh were not in the same dynastic line as the patriarchs of the Church of the East, who at this same time were also named Shem`on and based in Gazarta. This conjecture arises because of the physical evidence of two patriarchates, one at Alqosh and another at Gazarta. The two parallel dynasties may well have agreed to merge at Alqosh in April 1504 AD, see below. Two parallel dynasties may have arisen initially following the unsuccessful first attempt to create a Chaldean Church of the East, which began in AD 1445. Further underlining the instability of the church of the East in this period is the second attempt to start a Chaldean patriarchate, which happened in 1552 AD. |
[55], sections 3, 8 |
|
Early
September |
Mar Shem`on V the East Syrian Patriarch received Mar Thoma bishop of the Syrians in India during a second visit of the Syrians from India to the patriarchal residence at Gazarta. However, unfortunately during Mar Thoma's visit, Mar Shem`on the patriarch died at the beginning of September AG 1813 = September 1502 AD, [51], [55] and he was buried at the Mar Augin Monastery near Nisibis, (Assemani 1719) and [55]. Mar Shem`on is also mentioned as the current patriarch of the Church of the East in a colophon of a Ms at Diyarbekir dated AG 1812 = 1500 or 1501, (Scher 1907) [72]. |
[51], p. 232
quoting Nau 1912. [72], p. 405 |
|
1502 AD |
Eliya V succeeded Mar Shem`on to become patriarch of the Church of the East. As his predecessor had, he also resided in Gazarta, in the monastery of Mar Yukhannan the Egyptian. |
[55], section 10. |
|
c. April 8th 1504 AD |
Died the East Syrian patriarch Mar Eliya V [46], [55] who was succeeded by Mar Shem`on VI, [46], [55] who resided at a different place, the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd, [55]. On April 8th AD 1504, not long before he died, Mar Eliya consecrated more bishops and metropolitans for the Church of the East in India, [55]. These included Mar Jacob bishop of India who arrived at Sangalla (or Grangalur) in Malabar in 1504 AD, [51]. A Ms copied by Mar Jacob on 6th Adar AG 1821 = 6th March 1510 AD is now in the Vatican library, Vatican Syriac Ms 17, [51]. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1064 |
|
1508 or 1509 AD |
Died Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Noh who was from the village of Bakofa, [46]. According to Zotenberg, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 245) he was succeeded by Mor Ignatius Isa in the year AG 1820 = 1508 or 1509 AD. |
[46], volume 1,
column 1108 |
|
1520 to 1526 AD |
The colophon of Mosul Ms 74 written in the village of Ahtous in the region of Séert and dated AG 1832 = AD 1520 or 1521 mentions Mar Shem`on the patriarch of the Church of the East and Mar Yohannan bishop of Bokhtaye. This East Syrian patriarch was Mar Shem`on VIth. The same two clerics are mentioned also in Paris Syriac 345, dated AG 1837 = AD 1525 or 1526, (Nau 1911, p. 301). |
[74], p. 24 |
|
23rd
September |
Vatican Syriac 66 is dated in a note found on f. 37 as completed on 23rd Illul AG 1840. The note says that this Ms was copied at the request of Mar Gabriel metropolan of Gazarta. |
[51], p. 194 |
|
1534 AD |
The Ottomans conquered Baghdad and Northern Iraq. |
[60], pp. xxiv, 99 |
|
5th
August |
Died the East Syrian patriarch Mar Shem`on VI. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd giving the date 5th Ab, AG 1849 has been edited by Budge, [63]. This is most likely the same patriarch mentioned in the colophon of a manuscript dated 1st of First Tishrin AG 1840 = October 1, AD 1528, [72]. |
[55], section
11 |
|
19th
October |
In the interregnum following the death of Shim`on VI, Vatican Syriac Ms 83, a Ms of the East Syrian Hudhra commemorates Mar Isho`yabh metropolitan as the acting patriarch and Mar Gabriel as bishop of Gazarta and Beth Zabdhi. The completion of this Ms is dated 19th of First Tishrin, AG 1850. Ms colophons appear on f. 502b and further details with the completion date are given on f. 574b and over the page. |
Assemani &
Assemani 1759, vol. 2, pp. 456 – 466. |
|
1539 or 1540 AD |
According to another Ms dated AG 1851 = AD 1539 or 1540, Mar Shem`on VI was succeeded by another Shem`on, presumably Mar Shem`on VII Isho`yabh bar Mama [51], [55] and at that time, Mar Gabriel was Metropolitan of Gazarta, [72]. |
[51], p. 194 |
|
2nd
September |
A Ms of the East Syrian Beth Gazza dated 2nd Illul AG 1853 again mentions the patriarch Mar Shem`on and Mar Gabriel metropolitan of Gazarta, [72]. |
[72], p. 350 |
|
1549 or 1550 AD |
The colophon of Mosul Ms 80 dated AG 1861 mentions Mar Shem`on patriarch of the East and Mar Eliya as his natar korsia, (nominated successor). |
[74], p. 25 |
|
18th
October |
A Ms London Add Ms 7178 of the East Syrian Beth Gazza, (Rosen & Forshall 1838) was written in Gazarta of Beth Zahbdi and dated 18th of First Tishrin AG 1856 and to the Islamic month Shabban AH 951 in the days of Mar Shem`on Catholicos patriarch of the East and Mar Hannanisho` metropolitan of Gazarta, nephew of the Catholicos and natar korsia. This patriarch can be identified as Shimun VII Ishuyau [Read: Shem`on VII Isho`yabh] bar Mama, who sat from 1538 or 1539 until 1st November 1558 AD, [55]. See also a folio illustrated in Hatch, (Hatch 1946, p. 232). This patriarch is the same person as the acting patriarch and metropolitan Isho`yabh, mentioned earlier in Vatican Syriac 83, which is dated 19th October 1538 AD. It also appears that Mar Gabriel, the previous metropolitan of Gazarta who was mentioned in AD 1529, died sometime between September 1542 and October 1544 AD. |
Rosen &
Forshall 1838, Number xxxiv, p. 56 |
|
1546 AD |
The Ottomans complete their conquest of Iraq by taking Basra. |
[60], pp. xxiv, 92, 99 |
|
1548 AD
to |
Ignatius `Abd-Allah was Syrian Orthodox patriarch and Basil Nimat-Allah from Mardin was Maphrain of the East. Paris Syriac 193 is dated AG 1860 = AD 1548 or 1549 and was written in the days of these two leaders, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 136). Paris Syriac 237 is dated AD 1553 and was written in the days of these leaders, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 190). As well as Ignatius the patriarch and Basil the maphrian, this colophon also mentions Gabriel patriarch of the Copts. Mingana Syriac 607 is dated AG 1866 = AD 1554 or 1555 and was written in the days of these two leaders, [46]. Again, Ms Paris Syriac 145 dated AG 1867 = 1555 or 1556 AD mentions Ignatius the patriarch and Basil the maphrian and also mentions Gabriel patriarch of Alexandria and Gregory metropolitan of Jerusalem, (Zotenberg 1874, p. 106). |
[46], volume 2, p.
170 |
|
1552 AD |
Yohannan Sulaqa was elected by the bishops of Arbil, Urmiya and Salmas as East Syrian patriarch in opposition to the then hereditary heir to that title. Yohannan Sulaqa had been abbot of the monastery of Rabban Hormizd. He adopted the name John VIII. This man went to Rome and was recognized as patriarch by pope Julius III. |
[60], p. 108 |
|
23
May |
A Ms dated 23rd Iyar AG 1864 at the East Syrian Monastery of Mar Augen mentions Shem`on patriarch of the Church of the East. |
[72], p. 354 |
|
1553 AD |
The East Syrian anti-patriarch Yohannan Sulaqa of the Abuna family acquired papal recognition. This Chaldean Uniat patriarch was elected in opposition to the patriarch of the Church of the East. |
[55], section 3 |
|
1555 AD |
On his return, the patriarch of the Church of the East, Shem`on VII declared the election of Yohannan Sulaqa illegitimate and turned him over to the Ottoman authorities. Yohannan was murdered in 1555 AD, [51] and the Uniat community elected `Abdisho` IV Maron as Chaldean patriarch in his place. This man could not travel to Rome to receive his recognition until 1562 AD, [60]. A Christian Arabic Ms dated the previous year, 1554 AD was copied by one `Abedisho` bishop of Gazarta, so perhaps this was the same person prior to his elevation to the patriachate? [72] (This possibility has already been proposed by Van der Ploeg, [51] pp. 8 f. who adds the detail that `Abedisho` had been consecrated bishop of Gazarta by the first Chaldean patriarch, Yohannan Sulaqa.) According to [55], Mar `Abdisho` sat until 1570 AD, but the present writer is inclined to think that he sat until 1578 AD. |
[51], pp. 8, 200
f. |
|
1556 to 1568 AD |
Mar Joseph East Syrian bishop of India arrives in Goa and is taken captive by the Catholics to the region of Bassein 60 miles from Goa and detained by the Franciscans on the island of Salsette 8 miles from Bassein. Whilst in captivity, Mar Joseph copied a number of manuscripts now in the Vatican library, including; Vatican Syriac 128: According to the colophon, he completed it in captivity on Thursday 17th of First Kanun AG 1868 = 17th December 1556 AD. Vatican Syriac 88: According to the colophon on f. 200a, he completed it in captivity on Thursday 28th of Second Kanun AG 1868 = 28th January 1557 AD. |
[51], pp. 193 f., 198, 200 |
|
November |
Died the East Syrian patriarch Mar Shem`on VII. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd has been edited by Budge. This gives the date of the 4th Saturday in the Latter Tishrin, [63]. Mar Shimun VII was succeeded by Mar Eliya VI bar Giwargis who sat until 1591 AD, [55]. |
[55], section
13 |
|
1560 to 1576 AD |
Ignatius Nimat-Allah was Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and Basil `Abed Al-Ghani was Maphrian of the East. The Ms Mingana Syr 474, (Mingana 1933, col. 852) is dated AD 1560 and it was written in the days of these two leaders, and in the Zafaran monastery. The colophon of an exemplar used by the copyist of Mingana Syr 385, (Mingana 1933, col. 694) was dated 22nd of the month Second Tishrin AG 1879 = 22nd November AD 1567 and again, this Ms gives the names of these two leaders in full. CUL Syriac Ms 1999 dated AD 1573 was written in the convent of Mar Hananya and Mar Eugenius near Mardin, which is nowadays called the Zafaran Monastery. This Ms contains the works of John Saba also called John of Dalyatha and some letters of Philoxenus, bishop of Mabbog. Patriarch Ignatius Nimat-Allah was threatened by the Muslims and is reputed to have converted to Islam. This event is mentioned in a Ms colophon and occurred at Amid in AG 1887 = AD 1575 or 1576 , [72]. Despite these woes, Ignatius left us a significant legacy through his chronological and mathematical expertise. His achievements are summarized in an on-line article. |
|
|
22nd
March |
A Ms colophon written in Amid and dated 22nd Adar AG 1874 mentions three leaders of the Chaldean Uniat Church of the East; Mar `Abedisho` of Gazarta, patriarch of the [Chaldean Uniat] Church of the East, Mar Yohannan Sulaqa who had ordained him and the Ms was written by Mar Eliya, Metropolitan of Amid, [72]. |
[72], p. 408 |
|
1563 or 1564 AD |
Another Ms, Mosul 65 written at Amid and dated AG 1875 mentions Mar `Abedisho` the patriarch and the Ms was written by Mar Hananisho` bishop of Merda (= Mardin). |
[74], p. 22 |
|
25th
May |
A Ms written in Gazarta containing the East Syrian canons originally compiled by `Abedisho` metropolitan of Nisibis and Armenia and dated 25th Iyar AG 1874 is dedicated to Mar Abraham, bishop of India. Another Ms of the East Syrian Kashkol which was written at Kothamangalam, Kerala in South India and dated 16th of the month Illul in the year AG 1895 mentions Mar Shem`on catholicos patriarch of the East and Mar Abraham as bishop metropolitan of India. |
[51], pp. 13, 127, 140 f. |
|
1567 to 1568 AD |
The colophon of Mosul Ms 55 dated in the year AG 1879, mentions Mar Eliya the patriarch, Mar Hananisho` his brother as his natar korsia (i.e. as his nominated successor) and Mar Joseph bishop of Gazarta. |
[74], p. 20 |
|
31st
August |
According to a Ms dated 31st Ab, AG 1880, Mar Eliya was patriarch of the Church of the East and Gabriel was bishop Metropolitan of Gazarta and that Mar Gabriel had been ordained a bishop on the third Friday in lent AG 1879 = 11th March 1568 AD and then Metropolitan of Gazarta on 10th November AG 1882 = 1570 AD. |
[72], p. 359 |
|
11th
September |
According to a Ms note in Mosul, Chaldean Patriarchate Library Ms 63, the [Chaldean Uniat] Catholicos Mar `Abdisho` of Gazarta died on 11th Illul AG 1881 = 11th September AD 1570, ([74] = Scher 1907, p. 21). |
[74], p. 21 |
|
10th
November |
Mar Gabriel was ordained bishop Metropolitan of Gazarta, (see under 31st August 1569 AD). |
|
|
11th
May |
A Ms dated 11th Iyar AG 1882 names Mar `Abedisho` as patriarch of the Church of the East. Given earlier events, this `Abedisho` was definitely the Chaldean Uniat patriarch. According to a note in Mosul Ms 63, [74] `Abedisho` had died in the September of the previous year AG 1881, [55]. However, applying the historical method, we should perhaps accept the accuracy of a contemporary colophon and dismiss a (possibly non-contemporaneous) note in the undated Mosul Ms 63 which contradicts it. |
[55], section
22 |
|
9th
April, |
Mar Isho`yabh Metropolitan of Nisibis, Marde, Amid and Armenia records his name as the scribe of a Ms dated 9th Nisan AG 1884. |
[72], p. 351 |
|
28th
July |
Eliya, East Syrian Metropolitan of Amid, son of Habib Asmar, signed his name as the scribe of two Mss, one dated 28th Tammuz AG 1885 and the other dated 7th Ab, AG 1890. |
[72], pp. 387, 390 |
|
15th
November |
A Ms dated 15th of Second Tishrin AG 1887 mentions that it was completed in the days of Mar Eliya the patriarch of the East and Mar Isho`yabh, Metropolitan of Nisibis and Armenia. |
[72], p. 389 |
|
23rd
July |
According to a Ms colophon, Mar Eliya was patriarch of the East and Gabriel was bishop Metropolitan of Gazarta. |
[65], p. 129 |
|
1577 or |
According to the colophon of Alqosh Ms 53, in the year AG 1889, Mar Eliya was patriarch of the East and Joseph was bishop Metropolitan of Gazarta, [66]. Another Ms, Mosul 54 dated the same year also mentions Eliya the patriarch, [74]. This bishop Joseph is apparently the same person as was mentioned earlier in another colophon dated 1567 or 1568 AD and yet we notice from other manuscript colophons that a certain Gabriel was also metropolitan of Gazarta at the same time. |
[66], part 1, p.
500 |
|
October |
Ignatius David Shah was West Syrian Patriarch and Gregory Pilate was Mephrain of the east. According to the colophons of two Mingana Mss; Syr 473 which is dated AG 1897 = 1585 or 1586 AD and Syr 612 which is dated in the month First Tishrin AG 1889 = October 1577 AD. According to one report in Daniel vol. 2, p. 81, where he references his source as CSCO vol. 146, Honigmann, Ernest 1954, 'Le couvent de Barsauma et la patriarcat jacobite d'Antioche et de Syrie' p. 72, there was present at the ordination of this patriarch Ignatius David Shah a certain Basselius, Catholicos of the East and India. |
[46], volume 1,
column 850 |
|
1578 to 1580 AD |
Chaldean patriarch of the East `Abedisho` IV Maron died and was succeeded by Mar Yabh-Allaha V who sat only until 1580 AD, [51]. |
[51], p. 8 |
|
1581 – 1600 AD |
Chaldean patriarch of the East Mar Yabh-Allaha V died and was succeeded by Mar Shem`on IX Denha of the Abuna family who sat until 1600 AD [51], [55]. |
[51], pp. 8,
141 |
|
17th
November |
According to a Ms colophon dated 17th Second Tishrin AG 1900, Mar Eliya was the East Syrian patriarch and Henanisho` his brother, was the metropolitan [65]. Also, another dated Ms, Mosul Ms 16 mentions the same patriarch and is dated AG 1899 = 1587 or 1588 AD, [74]. |
[65], p. 101 |
|
26th
May |
Died Mar Eliya VI bar Giwargis, patriarch of the East. He had ruled for 32 years. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd giving the date and the duration of his tenure has been edited by Budge, [63]. The date is recorded as the Wednesday of the Feast of the Apostles AG 1902. According to a Ms dated 28th January AD 1591, Mar Eliya was still alive, and Mar Gabriel was Metropolitan of Gazarta, [72]. After his death, Mar Eliya was succeeded by Mar Eliya VII who sat until 1617 AD, [55]. |
[55], section
13 |
|
1590 or 1591 AD |
Lived the priest and Eastern Syriac author, Israel of Alkosh, who wrote a hymn dated AG 1902, [74]. Some of his work can be found in Mingana Syr 129B, 130J and 149G, [46]. |
[46], volume 1,
column 77 |
|
7th
February |
A Ms colophon dated 7th Shabat AG 1905 and written in Gazarta, names Eliya as patriarch of the East and Mar Yohannan as Metropolitan of Gazarta. |
[72], p. 337 |
|
17th
January |
A Ms colophon names Eliya as patriarch of the East and Yoseph as metropolitan, (presumably of Gazarta, see also above under AD 1577). the Ms is dated Saturday 27th Second Kanun, AG 1908, [65]. Another Ms, Mosul Ms 40, dated AG 1911 = 1599 or 1600 AD written in the Church of St Cyriacus in the region of Doure mentions the patriarch Eliya and Joseph bishop of Urmi, [74]. Another Ms dated AG 1912 and written in the Church of St Cyriacus in the village of Razga, which is also near the Church of Beh-Isho` of Taron, names Eliya patriarch of the East, [46]. Another Ms dated 3rd Adar, AG 1913 also names Eliya patriarch of the East and Yoseph Metropolitan of Gazarta, [72]. This may have been the same person as Eliya VII patriarch Catholicos of Church of the East who sent messengers to Rome to attempt a reconciliation in 1606 AD. It came to nought. |
[46], volume 1,
column 998 |
|
February |
Died Mar Abraham, Chaldean Uniat East Syrian bishop of India. |
[51], p. 13 |
|
1599 or 1600 AD |
Mor Dionysios `Abed el-Hay Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Amid is mentioned in a Garshuni Ms dated AG 1911. |
[72], p. 422 |
|
27th
August |
Mar Eliya patriarch of the Church of the East and Mar Eliya Metropolitan of Séert, Gazarta and Amid and Mar Esha`ya bishop of Hezzo and Gourdlaya were mentioned in a Ms dated 27th Ab, AG 1917, [72]. |
[72], p. 407 |
|
1st &
13th August |
Two Mss; one dated 1st and another dated 13th Ab, AG 1919 record that Mar Shem`on was patriarch of the East and Mar Eliya was Metropolitan of Séert, Gazarta and Amid, [72]. The second of these Ms was copied at the Monastery of Mar Jacob the Recluse. This patriarch can be identified as the Chaldean Uniat patriarch Shimun X who sat from 1600 until 1638, [55]. |
[55], section
26 |
|
26th
May |
Died Eliya VII patriarch of the East. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd giving this date has been edited by Budge. The recorded date is given as 26th Iyar AG 1928, [63]. This patriarch was succeeded by another of the same name, Eliya VIII Shimun who sat from 1617 until 1660 AD, [51]. An East Syrian Ms dated AD 1642 in Kerala, India mentions this patriarch, [51]. |
[51], p. 136 |
|
1st
October |
Lived Eliya the East Syrian patriarch and John, bishop Metropolitan of Mardin. This information comes from a Ms colophon dated 1st First Tishrin AG 1947. |
[72], p. 391 |
|
2nd
June |
A Ms dated 2nd Haziran AG 1949 mentions Mar Shem`on patriarch of the East and that the Ms was copied by Shem`on Metropolitan of Amid. This East Syrian patriarch was most probably the Uniat Catholicos of the East, Mar Shimun XI who sat from 1638 until 1656 AD, see further details in [55] and below under AD 1650. |
[55], section
27 |
|
5th
May |
According to Paris Syriac Ms 301 which is dated, 5th Iyar AG 1953, Mor Ignatios Shem`on was Syrian Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and Basil Yeshu`e was maphrian of the East, (Chabot 1896, p. 249). |
Chabot's catalogue of the Paris BNF Mss, 1896. |
|
27th
March |
Lived Eliya the East Syrian patriarch and John, bishop of Mardin. This information comes from a Ms colophon dated 27th Adar 1956 and written at Alqosh. |
[65], p. 100 |
|
c. 1650 |
Died Shim`on West Syrian Patriarch of Tur `Abdin. Shim`on wrote a Syro-Arabic lexicon. |
[46], volume 1, column 913 |
|
30th
May |
According to a Ms colophon of this date written in the Monastery of Eliya there was strife between Mar Eliya the East Syrian Patriarch and Shim`on the Catholicos. This evidence indicates that Shim`on and Eliya were rival patriarchs at this time, see also under AD 1654. |
[65], p. 129 |
|
26th
April |
The colophons of two Mss; one dated 26th Nisan AG 1962 and another Ms dated 5th of First Tishrin AG 1964 both mention Mar Shim`on the patriarch, and another Mar Shim`on who was Metropolitan of Amid. This East Syrian patriarch was most probably the Uniat Catholicos of the East, Mar Shimun XI who sat from 1638 until 1656 AD, see further details in [55] and above under AD 1650. |
[55], section
27 |
|
1654 AD |
The first West Syrian patriarch converts to Roman Catholicism. This record is given in a contemporary note in Mingana Ms 46 |
[46], volume 1, column 121. |
|
November |
According to the colophons of two East Syrian Mss of these dates, there was a Mar Shimon patriarch of the East and a Mar Shimon bishop metropolitan of Amid. The patriarch of the East at this time seems to have been referred to by different names, either Eliya or Shimun, see above under AD 1650. |
[65], pp. 115, 132 |
|
1665 AD |
According to Van der Ploeg, in this year the Syrian Orthodox patriarch established Mar Gregorios (previously the metropolitan from the monastery of Mar Marcos in Jerusalem) as the first Jacobite bishop in Malabar, India [51]. Mar Gregorios died in 1672 AD. |
[51], pp. 205, 250 f. |
|
1656 AD |
Andrew Akhejan was consecrated as Maronite Catholic bishop of Aleppo. (see also under 1662 AD.) |
[60], p. 112 |
|
18th
June |
Died Eliya VIII Shimun patriarch of the East. He had ruled for 43 years. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd giving this date and duration of tenure has been edited by Budge, [63]. The date given in the inscription is 18th Haziran, AG 1971. This patriarch was succeeded by Eliya IX Yukhannan Maraugin who sat until 1700 AD, [55]. |
[55], sections 15,
16 |
|
1662 AD |
Andrew Akhejan was elected patriarch and operated from Aleppo. For a time, he led both the Syrian Catholic and the Syrian Orthodox communities there. In 1677 he became the leader of the Uniat movement. |
[60], p. 112 |
|
1672 AD |
Relations were severed between the Uniat Chaldeans and Rome in a dispute over the control of the Church of the East in Kerala, India. The Chaldean patriarch Shimon XIII Dinkha who sat from 1662 – 1700 AD, [55] then formed a new faction of the Church of the East called the 'Mountain Nestorians'. This new faction was based around the monastery of Kotchannes in the Hakkari mountains. These events are mentioned by the Catholic author Van der Ploeg [51], where according to him, this Mar Shem`on had been a Catholic, but became a 'Nestorian' when he moved his see to Kotchannes. A switch back to the theology of the Church of the East by a patriarch of the Chaldeans could explain how these two rival patriarchates of the Church of the East came into being. It really seems that there was widespread fragmentation within the Church of the East at about this time. There were two branches of the Church of the East, one traditional line and another called the 'Mountain Nestorians' and a Catholic Uniat Church of the East which continued under different leadership after the departure of Shimon XIII Dinkha. |
[51], p. 147 |
|
14th
August |
A Ms dated 14th Ab, AG 1990 written at Alqosh records that Eliya was patriarch of the Church of the East at this time. This was the patriarch Mar Eliya who sat until AD 1700, [46]. The same patriarch is mentioned in a Ms colophon of Mosul Ms 1, written at Alqosh, Iraq in AG 1996 = 1684 or 1685 AD, [74] and again in Mosul Ms 17 which is dated AG 1992 = 1680 or 1681 AD and again in Mosul Ms 112 which was written in Alqosh and dated AG 2008 = 1696 or 1697 AD. For more details about this patriarch, see below under 1700 AD. |
[46], volume 1,
columns 994, 1134 |
|
1680 or 1681 AD |
According to the colophon of a Ms dated AG 1992 = 1680 or 1681 AD, the West Syrian Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius `Abd Al-Masih and the Mephrain Basil Yalda lived at this time. |
[46], volume 1, column 1062 |
|
1681 AD |
Joseph I became the first Chaldean (Catholic Uniat) East Syrian Patriarch. Papal recognition occurred in AD 1681. He sat until AD 1695 when he abdicated. He died later on November 10th 1707, [55]. In Joseph's time, the Chaldean Patriarchate was established at Diarbekr, (known in earlier times as the city of Amida). |
[51], p. 139 |
|
1685 AD |
The maphrian Mor Basilios and Mor Iwannis metropolitan († 1693 AD) arrived as replacement leaders for the fledgeling Jacobite church in India. These two churchmen were formerly resident in the Monastery of Mar Mattay near Mosul, Iraq. |
[51], p. 251 |
|
1686 AD |
Peter Gorgis of Mosul became Ignatius George II West Syrian Patriarch. He sat until AD 1708, [51] ([46] has his starting date as 1677 which conflicts with a dated Ms colophon mentioning Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius `Abd Al-Masih cited above). |
[46], volume 1,
column 708 |
|
1688 or 1689 AD |
The West Syrian patriarch Ignatius is mentioned in the colophon of a Ms dated AG 2000 = 1688 or 1689 AD with Basil Catholicos of Jerusalem and Mar Thoma, bishop of India. The colophon also states that this Ms was copied in Irapelli = Edapally, Kerala, India. |
[51], p. 152 |
|
1689 AD |
The Monastery of Zafaran (= of Safron) near Mardin was restored under the care of the Patriarch Ignatius George, (for details of his date, see above under AD 1677), [46]. |
[46], volume 1, column 98 |
|
1695 or 1696 AD |
Lived another East Syrian patriarch, Mar Shim`on who is mentioned in the dated Ms colophon of a Ms, Alqosh 107, [66]. |
[66], part 2, p. 64 |
|
1695 or 1696
AD |
Mar Eliya patriarch of the Church of the East is mentioned with his natar korsia (nominated succesor) Mar Isho`yabh in the colophon of Mosul Ms 59 dated AG 2007, [74]. The same two churchmen are mentioned again in Mosul Ms 112 which was written in Alqosh and dated AG 2008 = 1696 or 1697 AD, [74]. For more details about this patriarch, see below under 1700 AD. |
[74], pp. 21, 35 |
|
1696 AD |
Joseph II Sliba Bet Ma`ruf became Chaldean (Catholic Uniat) East Syrian Patriarch. He sat until AD 1712. Joseph died of the plague whilst he was visiting Rome on June 2nd, 1712, [55], ([52] has 1713 and [54] has 1714). His personal copies of the Hudhra (Vat. Syr. 83) and of the East Syrian Euchologion, (Vat. Syr. 42) are still preserved in the Vatican Library. Joseph wrote an 'Exposition of the Ecclesiastical Offices,' an 18th century copy of which survives in the Chaldean Patriarchate library, (Baghdad) Ms 252 and another in Mosul, Ms 62, [74]. He was a prolific author who wrote in classical Syriac and in Arabic and he translated many Roman Catholic works into these languages, [55]. |
[52], p. 63 |
|
1696 or 1697 AD |
A Ms dated AG 2008 was copied by Mar Isaac Basil, maphrian of the East. |
[51], p. 173 |
|
17th
May |
Died Eliya IX Yukhannan Maraugin patriarch of the Church of the East. He had ruled for 40 years. His tombstone inscription in the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd giving this date and duration of tenure has been edited by Budge, [63]. The date given in the inscription is 17th Iyar, AG 2011. According to Scher, he was succeeded by another patriarch of the same name, [66]. In [55] the name of his successor is given as Mar Eliya X Maraugin who sat until 14th December 1722 AD. According to Scher 1907, Eliya X's natar korsia (nominated successor) was Mar Isho`yabh, [74]. |
[55], section
16 |
|
1700 or 1701 AD |
A letter mentioned in [51] from Mar Shem`on was addressed to the Christians of Malabar and dated AG 2012 = 1700 or 1701 AD. |
[51], p. 122 |