Thomas of Marga

Just a decade or two prior to the work of Isho'dnah in the 9th century,1 Thomas, the East Syrian Bishop of Marga in Adiabene authored a book of monastic histories ca. 850 C.E.2 He became a monk at the monastery of Beth-'Abe in Marga from which he would ascend to the role of secretary to Catholicos Abraham II (837-850). The Catholicos appointed him in the 840s to become the Bishop of Marga. Thomas wrote three books in his lifetime of which only the third (The Book of Governors) survives completely. The first two ("The Histories of Certain Holy Men" and "The History of the Monastery of Rabban Cyprian") were incorporated into The Book of Governors (Syr. ܟܬܒܐ ܕܪ̈ܫܢܐ), which also goes by the names The Book of Abbots and Historia Monastica, adopting the paradigm of 'Enanisho's (ca. 670) Paradise of the Fathers (see vol. 7 of Bedjan, Acta Martyrum).3 This detailed monastic history preserves crucial historical detail for the study of the Christian Near East during the 6th to 9th centuries C.E.4

Bibliography

Instrumenta

• J. S. Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis: De Scriptoribus Syris Nestorianis, vol. 3.1. Rome: Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 1725.
  • Ch. 23. This work contains Latin translation excerpts.
• P. Bedjan, Ed., Liber superiorum, seu Historia Monastica, auctore Thoma, Episcopo Margensi. Liber Fundatorum Monasteriorum in regno Persarum et Arabum. Homiliae Mar-Narsetis in Joseph. Documenta Patrum de quibusdam verae fidei dogmatibus. Paris; Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz, 1901.
• Y. 'qub A. Manna, Morceaux choisis de littérature araméenne, 2 vol. Mosul: Imprimerie des pères dominicains, 1901. 
  • Vol. 2, pp. 55-68. Syriac excerpts.
• E. A. W. Budge, Ed., The Book of Governors: The Historia Monastica of Thomas, Bishop of Margâ A.D. 840, Edited from Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum and Other Libraries [Textus], vol. 1, 2 vol. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1893.
• E. A. W. Budge, Ed., The Book of Governors: The Historia Monastica of Thomas, Bishop of Margâ A.D. 840, Edited from Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum and Other Libraries [Versio], vol. 2, 2 vol. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trübner, and co., 1893.

The following breakdown of Thomas of Marga's 'Book of Governors' is done according to the order found in the work of Budge. Each entry contains the chapter number and heading with links to the texts of Budge and Bedjan. The titles loosely follow those of the translation of Budge.

[Book 1] [Book 2] [Book 3] [Book 4] [Book 5] [Book 6]

Preface (Budge)

Table of Contents (Budge) (Bedjan)

Introduction (Budge)

List of Proper Names (Budge)

List of Syriac Forms of Latin and Greek Words (Budge)

Book 1 [Back to Top]

• Chapter 1 The Apology of the Author to him who asked him to set down [these] Histories in Writing

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 2: The Reason why the Histories [were Written]

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 3: The Introduction to the History

  • Additional notes to book 1, chapter 3 (Budge)
  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 4: Of Mar Abraham and the head of the Convent of Mount Izla

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• Chapter 5: Of Mar Dadisho'

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• Chapter 6: Of Rabban Mar Ya'qub (Jacob) of Beth-'Abe

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• Chapter 7: Of the Blessed Mar Babai the Great

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• Chapter 8: Of the Corrupt men who Sprang up in that Holy Monastery

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• Chapter 9: Of the Holy Rabban Mar Elijah

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• Chapter 10: Of the things which the Blessed Mar Elijah did at Daybreak

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• Chapter 11: Of the things which Mar Babai and all the Fathers Did

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• Chapter 12: Of the Unlawful Accusation with which the Holy Mar Jacob of Beth-'Abe was Accused, and of the Judgment, Removed from Justice, with which he was Judged

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• Chapter 13: Of the things which took place in that Monastery after the Departure of Mar Jacob

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• Chapter 14: Of the Dispersion of the Holy Fathers into all Countries, which although it might be Thought to have been Wrought by means of Human Passion, was, nevertheless the Will and Act of God

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• Chapter 15: Of Rabban Bar Ḥadbeshabba and of the Monastery which he Built

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• Chapter 16: Of those men who were Driven Forth [from the Great Monastery, where they Went [and Dwelt], and how they Pleased God

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• Chapter 17: Of the Coming to them of the Holy Abba Yawnan (Jonah) the Ascetic from the Great Monastery

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• Chapter 18: Of Solomon Bar Garaph, the Solitary, from the Monastery of Bar-Tura, and the Histories which he Wrote

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• Chapter 19: Of the Blessed Marihab [alt: Maryahb], and of the Virgin Nun and Recluse

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• Chapter 20: Of Mar Jacob of Beth-'Abe

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• Chapter 21: Of the Coming of Mar Jacob from the Desert to the Great Monastery

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• Chapter 22: Of his Departure from thence to the Monastery and Laura of Beth-'Abe

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• Chapter 23: Of King Khesro (Chosroes), the son of Hormizd

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• Chapter 24: Of the Honorable Basṭomag, the Father of the Holy Mar Isho'yahb [the Catholicos]

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• Chapter 25: Of Gregory of Tell-Besme, and of the Office of Catholicos which he Received

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• Chapter 26: Of the Cessation of the Church after the Departure of Mar Sabrisho', the Catholicos

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• Chapter 27: Of Mar Babai the Great, and of the Ecclesiastical Visitation which he Undertook

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• Chapter 28: The Apology of the Author to him who would Ask a Question

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• Chapter 29: Of the Coming of Mar Babai to the Monastery of Beth-'Abe and of the Wonder which was Wrought before him in the Temple

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• Chapter 30: Of those Men who Became Disciples of Rabban Jacob in this Monastery

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• Chapter 31: Of Abba Yoḥannan (John), the Elder

  • A letter of Mar Isho'yahb to the monks of Beth-'Abe on the appointment of John the Elder as head of the monastery (Syriac–Budge)
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• Chapter 32: Of Rabban Yawseph (Joseph) of Beth-Qoqa, and of Abraham his Brother

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• Chapter 33: Of Rabban Sergius who was Surnamed "Destroyer of the Mighty"

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• Chapter 34: Of Sahdona, and of the Works which he Composed

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• Chapter 35: Of the Murder of King Khusrau

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Book 2 [Back to Top]

• Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Book

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• Chapter 2: Of Rabban Jacob of [Nuhadra, the head of] Beth-Rabban Isho'yahb

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• Chapter 3: Of Rabban Aphni-Maran

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• Chapter 4: Of the Departure of Mar Isho'yahb the Catholicos, of Gedala, and of the Bishops who went with him to Beth-Rhomaye

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• Chapter 5: Of the Casket of the Bones of the Apostles which Mar Isho'yahb Brought with him from Antioch and Placed in this Monastery

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• Chapter 6: Of how Sahdona Foolishly Turned Aside from the Orthodox Faith

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• Chapter 7: Of Mar Isho'yahb the Catholicos, and of how he Wished to Establish a School in this Monastery

  • Letters of Mar Isho'yahb concerning Sahdona the Apostate (Syriac–Budge)
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• Chapter 8: Of Rabban Qamisho' and [of how] he Elected to Oppose Mar Isho'yahb

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• Chapter 9: Of the Departure of Rabban Qamisho' and the Brethren who were with him, from [this Monastery] to Herpa, a village of Shaphsapha

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• Chapter 10: Of the Vision which Mar Isho'yahb Saw on the Night in which the Brethren Took Rabban [Jacob] and Departed

  • Letters of Mar Isho'yahb concerning the Dispute in Persia and Qatar (Syriac–Budge)
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• Chapter 11: Of Rabban 'Ananisho' ('Enanisho'), the Teacher and Ascetic, and Compiler of the 'Book of Paradise'

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• Chapter 12: Of the Blessed Mar Giwargis (George) the Catholicos

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• Chapter 13: Of the Humility and Meekness of George the Catholicos, and of George the Metropolitan of the City of Nisibis

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• Chapter 14: Of another George, the Metropolitan of Prath d'Maishan , who was also Angry and Wished to Lift up the Heel against Mar Catholicos

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• Chapter 15: Of the Compilation of the 'Book of Paradise'

  • [At this point the scanned pages from archive.org are missing in the Syriac of Budge's text. Therefore chapters 15-22 will be taken from Hathi Trust]
  • The Letter of Palladius to Lausus (Syriac–Budge)
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• Chapter 16: Of the Death of the Holy Mar George the Catholicos

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• Chapter 17: Of Rabban Sabrisho' who was Surnamed, Rosṭam

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• Chapter 18: Of Rabban Gabriel, the Head of the Monastery, who was Surnated Tawerta [The Cow]

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• Chapter 19: Of Rabban Mar Abraham, the Head of the Monastery of Rabban Zekaisho'

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• Chapter 20: Of the Other Heads who Lived in this Monastery

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• Chapter 21: Of Abba Shem'on (Simon) who was Surnamed, Sanoṭa [The Beardless]

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• Chapter 22: Of the Going Down of Simon to George the Catholicos, and of the Barrenness which he Made to Flower in the City of Ḥadatta

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• Chapter 23: Of Mar John of Dailom

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  • S. P. Brock, “A Syriac Life of John of Dailam”, Parole de l'Orient, vol. 10, pp. 123-189, 1982.

• Chapter 24: Of the Famine which Took Place in their Days in this Country, and of the Departure of John and his Master to Nireba of Beth-Gazza

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 25: Of how Rabban John was Taken Captive by the Barbarians

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• Chapter 26: Of Rabban Joseph, the Head of the Monastery of Beth-'Abe

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• Chapter 27: Of Ṣlibazeka, the Catholicos, and of his Coming to this Monastery

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• Chapter 28: Of the Departure of Rabban Joseph to the Monastery of Rabban Bar-'Idta

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• Chapter 29: Of Ayas of Shaibna, who Wished to Slay Rabban Joseph, and of the Flight of Rabban from before him

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 30: Of Rabban Mar John the Metropolitan Bishop of Adiabene

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• Chapter 31: Of Mar Dindowai, Bishop of Ma'alltha

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• Chapter 32: Of Mar Isho'zeka, Armaya, Bishop of Salakh

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• Chapter 33: Of Gabriel the Metropolitan Bishop of Karkha d'Beth-Selakh, who was called Raqoda (The Dancer), and of the Discourse which he Made

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• Chapter 34: Of the Blessed Mar Aḥa, the Head of this Monastery of Beth-'Abe, and Metropolitan of Arbela

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• Chapter 35: Of the Election of the Holy Mar Aḥa to the Headship of this Monastery

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• Chapter 36: Of the Election of Mar Aḥa to be Metropolitan of Adiabene

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• Chapter 37: Of Rabban Mar Isho'yahb, the Head of the Monastery

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• Chapter 38: Of the Miracle which the Blessed Mar Aḥa Wrought

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• Chapter 39: Of the Revelation and Indication of that which should Happen to Mar Aḥa, and of how he should End his Days, and where he should be Buried

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• Chapter 40: Of Abba Ḥananya who Ate Vegetables, and Pastured with Animals, and who Lived in this Monastery in the Time of the Holy Mar Aḥa

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• Chapter 41: Of Mar Maranzeka, Bishop of Ḥadatta, and of the Bishop who Pastured Camels, whom he Found

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• Chapter 42: Of Mar Sergius, Bishop of Ḥenaitha

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• Chapter 43: Of Ḥoghir the Believing Nobleman, and of the Monastery which he Built

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• Chapter 44: Of the Departure of the Blessed Mar Aḥa from [this] Temporary Life

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Book 3 [Back to Top]

• Part 1: A History of Rabban Babai

  • Chapter 1: The Apology of the Author to the Believing and Honorable Ḥasan

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 2: Of the Blessed Rabban Babai, the much Enlightened Teacher

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  • Chapter 3: Of the Schools which Rabban Babai Founded, and their Names

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  • Chapter 4: Of the Books which Rabban Babai Wrote, and of the End of his Life

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• Part 2: The History of the Holy Mar Maran-'Ammeh, the Metropolitan Bishop [of Salakh]

  • Chapter 1: The Apology of the Author

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  • Chapter 2: Of the Origin of Mar Maran-'Ammeh, [and of how and by whom he was Instructed in Divine Things]

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  • Chapter 3: Of the Episcopate of the Land of Selakh which Mar Maran-'Ammeh Received, and of the Miracles which Took Place there by his Hands

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 4: In which is set Forth how Mar Maran-'Ammeh was Consecrated Metropolitan Bishop of Arbela, and of the First Wonder which he Wrought in the Country

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  • Chapter 5: Of those Provinces Belonging to the Episcopal Thrones of the Diocese which Mar Maran-'Ammeh Took over to the Dominion of the Throne of Adiabene, and of those which he Gave in their Place

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  • Chapter 6: Of the Revelation which Mar Maran-'Ammeh Received in a Vision of the Angel of the Lord: to Destroy with his Hands the Seed that Worked Evil, and the Corrupt Children who were in the Country of Marga

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  • Chapter 7: Of how the Blessed Man Left his Episcopal Home and Fled, and of the Angelic Agency which Prevented his Flight

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  • Chapter 8: Of the Departure of Mar Maran-'Ammeh to the Country of Marga, and of the Signs and Wonders which Took Place by his Hands

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  • Chapter 9: Of the Drought and Famine which Took Place in the Days of the Holy Mar Maran-'Ammeh, and of the Sign which Shewed by his Rod

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  • Chapter 10: Of the Sickness which Smote the Holy Man, and of his Departure from this Temporal Life to that of Eternity

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  • Chapter 11: A Discource upon Mar Maran-'Ammeh

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Book 4 [Back to Top]

• Chapter 1: The Introduction to the Book

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• Chapter 2: Of the Blessed Rabban Isho'yahb, the Head of the Monastery, whence he Came, of what Parents he was Born, and of how he was Brought up

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• Chapter 3: Of Mar Timothy, Bishop of Beth-Behash, and of the Prophecy which was made concerning him by one of the Old Men who Lived in this Monastery

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• Chapter 4: Of how Timothy Artfully Contrived to Obtain Possession of the Patriarchate, after the Manner of Jacob who by Craft Obtained the Blessings of Isaac his Father

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• Chapter 5: Of Rosṭam, Bishop of Ḥenaitha

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• Chapter 6: Of the Going up of our Mar Isho'yahb to Adiabene

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• Chapter 7: Of the Swift Judgment which Overtook Rosṭam, and of how those who were with him were put to Shame and Disgraced

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• Chapter 8: Of the Repentance of the People of Adiabene, and of the Humble Entreaty which they Offered to Mar Isho'yahb to Enter into his Episcopal Seat

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• Chapter 9: Of how Mar Isho'yahb was Moved to Pull Down the Clay Temple which had been Built by Isho'yahb the Catholicos, and to Build Another of Lime in its Stead, and of how the Monks who Lived in his Days Counselled him not do do so on account of the Difficulty of the Work

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• Chapter 10: Of how God, the Lord of all, Stirred up Men to Put Forth their Hands against this Great Work

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• Chapter 11: Of the Satanic Vision which Abba Isho'dad, one of the Old Men of this Congregation Saw, and of the Money which he Found

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• Chapter 12: Of Another Treasure which Christ our Lord Gave him

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• Chapter 13: Of the Miracle which our Lord Wrought by the Hands of Mar Isho'yahb

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• Chapter 14: Of the Finish and Completion of the Temple, and of the Death of Isho'yahb

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• Chapter 15: The History of Rabban Cyriacus of Gebilta, the Head of the Monastery of Beth-'Abe, and Bishop of the City of Balad

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• Chapter 16: Of the Origin of the Blessed Cyriacus, and of his Coming to this Monastery of Beth-'Abe

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• Chapter 17: Of the Call of Abba Cyriacus to the Headship of the Monastery

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• Chapter 18: Of the First Miracle which Christ Wrought by his Hands

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• Chapter 19: Of how that Man Came to this Monastery, and of how he Rewarded it with a Noble Recompense as was Meet, and of the Rest of his Signs

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• Chapter 20: Of the Revelations which that Holy Man Received when he was with the Whole Congregation in the Refectory

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• Chapter 21: Of the Coming in of 'Amran Bar Muḥammad to this Country of Marga, and of how having Seized many Villages and Slain their Owners, he also Wished to Kill the Holy [Cyriacus] and to Inherit this Monastery

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• Chapter 22: Of how after these things 'Amran Sent Five Men to Slay Rabban Cyriacus, and of the Terrible Vision which Appeared to them

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• Chapter 23: Of Another Revelation which he Received of how he must be a Bishop

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• Chapter 24: Of the Coming of the Inhabitants of Balad to this Monastery for the Blessed Man

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• Chapter 25: Of the Mirachle which the Blessed Mar Cyriacus Wrought in Balad, and of the End of his Life

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Book 5 [Back to Top]

• Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Book

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• Chapter 2: Of the Origin of the Blessed Shubḥalisho' and of his Coming to this Monastery

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• Chapter 3: Of the Punishment which this Monastery Justly Received for the Persecution of the Holy Shubḥalisho'

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• Chapter 4: Of the Consecration of the Blessed Man Shubḥalisho', Metropolitan of Gilan and Dailom

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• Chapter 5: Of the Murder of Shubḥalisho', and of the Glorious Testimony of his Coronation

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• Chapter 6: Of Mar Yahballaha and of Qardag his Brother

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• Chapter 7: Of the Selection of the Holy Men who were Sent to those Countries

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• Chapter 8: Of Mar Elijah, Bishop of Moqan, and of the Countries of the Barbarians

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• Chapter 9: Of the Sublime Kinds of Prayer with which he Enriched his Soul

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• Chapter 10: Of the Election of Mar Elijah to the Bishopric of Moqan

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• Chapter 11: Of the Entrance of the Pious Mar Elijah into Moqan, of his Preaching therein, of his Return to this Monastery, and of the End of his Life

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• Chapter 12: The History of the Holy Man Mar Narsai, Bishop of Shenna

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• Chapter 13: Of the Origin of Mar Narsai and of his Coming to the Monastery

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• Chapter 14: Of the Election of the Holy Mar Narsai to be Bishop of Qardaliaba, which is Shenna

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• Chapter 15: Of the Spiritual Contemplation and Intellectual Pleasure in the Three [Kinds of] Spiritual Speculations: on the Coporeal, on the Incorporeal, and on the Holy Trinity, in which the Holy Man Mar Narsai was Trained and Instructed

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 16: Of the things which were Wrought by the Holy Mar Narsai: some by Spiritual Vision, and some by the Working of Miracles, and the End of his Life

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Chapter 17: Of Abba Joseph

  • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

Book 6 [Back to Top]

• Part 1: The History of Rabban Cyprian

  • Chapter 1: The Cause of the History

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 2: Of the Origin of Rabban Cyprian, of his Training in the School, and of his Journey to Jerusalem

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 3: Of his Leaving the Wilderness and Going to the Island of Yawan (Greece)

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 4: Of the Coming of Rabban Cyprian to this Country [of Marga], and how he Revealed and Made himself Known in this Place

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 5: Of the Building of this Monastery by the Hands of the Blessed [Cyprian]

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 6: Of the Wonders which Saint Cyprian Wrought

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 7: Of the End of the course of the Blessed Man, and of his Exhortation to his Children in the Hour of his Death

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• Part 2: The History of Rabban Gabriel

  • Chapter 8: The Apology

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 9: Of the Origin of Rabban Gabriel, and of Paul his Brother

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 10: Of the Instruction of Paul and Gabriel in the Convent of Rabban Cyprian

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 11: Of the Departure of Rabban Gabriel to Lead the Life of an Anchorite in the Country of Qardu and of how he Came Back again to this Country

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 12: Of the Blessed Mar John and of the Congregation in the Holy Monastery of Nerab Barzai

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 13: Of the Coming of Rabban Gabriel to the Monastery of Nerab Barzai, of the Headship [of the Monastery] which he Received, and of the Death of Rabban Paul, his Brother

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 14: Of the Headship of the Monastery of Mar Cyprian which Rabban Gabriel Received and of his Care for Everything which had been Established

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 15: Of the Ascetics and Holy Men who were Found in Various Places in the Days of Rabban Gabriel

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 16: Of the Revelations Concerning Future things which the Holy Man Mar Gabriel Received from God

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 17: Of the Wonders and Mighty Deeds which were Wrought by the Hands of Rabban Gabriel

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

  • Chapter 18: Of the Lamentable Death of Rabban Gabriel and of his Departure to the World of Joy

    • (Syriac–Budge) (Syriac–Bedjan) (ET)

• 1. Cf. M. Reed, “Isho'dnah”. 2015.
• 2. W. Witakowski, “Historiography, Syriac”, in The Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage, S. P. Brock, Butts, A. M., Kiraz, G. A., and Rompay, L. van, Eds. Piscataway : Gorgias Press, 2011, p. 202.
• 3. P. Bedjan, Ed., Acta Martyrum et Sanctorum: Tomus Septimus, vol. 7, 7 vol. Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz, 1897.
• 4. W. Witakowski, “Toma of Marga”, in The Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage, S. P. Brock, Butts, A. M., Kiraz, G. A., and Rompay, L. van, Eds. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2011, p. 417.