|
|
|
|
|
600 – 620 AD
(Mentioned in
AD 612, [50].) |
Flourished
Shubha-lmaran, who was metropolitan of Karka d-Beth
Slokh, (now Kirkuk in Iraq). His approximate period is identified by
Dr. Sebastian Brock in his paper 'Gabriel of Qatar's Commentary on the
Liturgy', [Hugoye 6.2]. Ancient sources indicate that he participated in
an ecclesiastical trial held in the Persian royal court, AD 612, [50].
Later, he was imprisoned for his faith by the Persian king, Khusraw II
Parwez [50].
His metrical works are
preserved in a Sinai MS, New Finds 20 and he is probably the same person
as a monk of the same name quoted in MS Mingana Syr 553. He also wrote
ascetic treatises called, 'The book of gifts'. This work has been edited
from British Library Oriental Manuscript 6714 by the late Professor David
Lane, (this work is currently being prepared for publication by
CSCO). |
Hugoye on-line journal, Vol.
6, No. 2 July 2003.
[50], pp. 625, 633
For the CSCO edition see: http://www.peeters-leuven.be/boekoverz.asp?nr=7830 |
|
600 – 620 AD |
Flourished Gabriel bar
Lipeh Qatraya, i.e. of Qatar, who wrote an early
commentary upon the East Syrian liturgy. His approximate date is
identified by Dr. S. Brock in his Hugoye paper ' Gabriel of Qatar's
Commentary on the Liturgy' where Gabriel's commentary is also edited. His
commentary is preserved in a unique MS, British Library, Or. 3336 which is
dated AD 1268. The commentary is based upon a much earlier one which must
have been written before the schisms of the mid 5th century
because traces of it can be found in all the Syriac liturgical traditions.
An abridgment of Gabriel's commentary was also transmitted under the name
Abraham bar Lipeh Qatraya. This abridgment has also been
published by R.H. Connolly, 'Anonymi auctoris Expositio Officiorum
Ecclesiae Georgio Arbelensi vulgo ascripta. Accedit Abrahae Bar Lipeh
Interpretation Officiorum,' II (CSCO Scr. Syri 29, 1913). Gabriel's
commentary quotes the gospel a few dozen times, and even though the
surviving MS is of the 13th century, it is clear from the
remaining Old Syriac variants that an Old Syriac gospel text was in
use. |
Hugoye online journal, Vol.
6, No. 2 July 2003.
[52], pp. 60 f. |
|
AD 602 |
Christian Arab Lakhmid
king al-Nu'man III was assassinated by Khusraw II Parwez the
Sassanid king of Persia. Al-Nu'man III was the last Lakhmid
king. |
[60], p. 43 |
|
Summer
AD
604 |
Died east Syrian catholicos
Sabhr-isho` in Nisibis, whilst the Persian king Khusraw II
Parwez was besieging Dara. In this year this Persian king besieged and
captured Dara. This started a war with the Byzantines that lasted 25
years. |
[24], pp. 125, 133
[50],
p. 456 note 2 |
|
604 AD |
Died Dadh-isho` the
director of the Izla monastic movement, (see under AD 588).
Dadisho` was succeeded as director by Babai the Great or 'the
Archimandrite' or 'the Elder' (he lived AD 569-629) . Babai had studied at
Beth Zahbdai and at the School of Nisibis where he had also
taught. Babai wrote 'The Book of Union' a major statement of East
Syrian theology, (see below under AD 612). There are many gospel
quotations in this book which he quoted from an Old Syriac gospel
manuscript, (only a few quotations have been vulgarized during
transmission).
Babai's most important works
were his commentaries on the whole bible. These commentaries were
thought entirely lost until a copy was found amongst the 'New finds' at
Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai during refurbishment work in the
1970's. At the time of writing in 2005 this unique manuscript remains
unpublished. Also, despite the efforts of the present author, the
manuscript remains inaccessible. This situation is greatly to be regretted
and hopefully the text will be made available soon.
During his tenure at Mount
Izla, Babai expelled a number of monks. Perhaps there was a
dispute, because another monk from Izla called variously Meshiha-zekha,
Isho`-zekha or Zekha-Isho` left shortly afterwards and founded the
monastery of Beth Rabban Zekha-Isho` or Beth Rabban in the district
of Dasen. This would have happened in the first quarter of the
7th century AD. Zekha-Isho` was the author of an
ecclesiastical history. |
Atiya, Aziz S., 'A History of
Eastern Christianity' Methuen, London, 1968
[24], pp. 130, 131,
167
[38], p. 97
[53], p. 176 |
|
April
605 AD |
Grighor, (Gregory) of
Kashkar metropolitan of Nisibis was appointed by Khusraw, [63] as east
Syrian catholicos, he died in the fourth year of his patriachate. He was
nominated by the Persian Queen Shirin who also supported the Syrian
Orthodox church. The same month, a Syrian synod was held by the new
catholicos. At this synod, the clergy complained in the synodal canons
that the monks and anchorites ignored their authority. This was further
evidence of the rift that had opened up between the clergy and the monks
following the persecution of monks by the clergy.
Barhadbeshabba
bishop of Holwan who had been head of the school of Nisibis
became bishop of Holwan. His signature appears at the foot of this
synod, [50]. This Barhadbeshabba wrote an important history, 'The
cause of the foundation of the schools' which survives only in young
manuscripts. The oldest reported in [38] is of the 15th century
AD. The gospel text he used was originally Old Syriac, however many
of his quotations were vulgarized during 900 years of textual
transmission. It has been edited by Scheer, C. in PO IV and again by
Vööbus, A. 'History of the school of Nisibis', CSCO subsidia XXVI,
Peeters, Louvain 1965. |
[38], volume 1, pp. 94f.
& p. 125
[50], pp. 471 f., 479
Drijvers, H. ‘Bardaisan of
Edessa’ p. 106
[63], p. lxxiv |
|
Between October 608 AD and
April 609 AD |
Died the East Syrian
Catholicos Grighor, (Gregory) of Kashkar. After his death there was
a persecution in Persia until the murder of Khusraw II Parwez
Hormezd in AD 628. During this time there was no Catholicos of the
East and the leadership role was exercised by Babai the Great. From
a political point of view, the Izla ascetic movement was now (temporarily)
in charge of Eastern Christianity. ([24] gives Grigor's date of death as
607 AD.) |
[24], pp. 126, 167
[50],
p. 472 |
|
609 AD |
Died Mar Qamisho`
Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit and all the East. After his
death, there would seem to be a gap of about five years. |
[71], p. 54 |
|
609 AD |
The Persians attack and
capture Edessa from the Byzantine empire. |
[33], p. 95 |
|
c. 610 AD |
Flourished Mar Y`aqob,
(or Rabban Jacob) the East Syrian founder of the convent of Beth
`Abhe. Rabban Jacob tutored Sahdona whilst the latter was a
monk at Beth `Abhe, see below under AD 630, [52].
At about this time in the
first part of the seventh century flourished Rabban Hormizd who was
a famous founder of East Syrian monasteries presumably including the one
bearing his name at Alqosh in northern Iraq. The source of this data are
'The histories of Rabban Hormizd the Persian and Rabban Bar Idta' edited
by E. A. W. Budge 1902 via [38].
Also about this time in the
first quarter of the seventh century, Mar Gabriel of Kashkar
founded several monasteries in the regions of Bet Garmai and Bet
Aramaya including the Dayra `Alita or 'The Upper Monastery' so
called because it was located at the highest point in the city of
Mosul above the Tigris river. Mar Gabriel died in AD 639, [53]. 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 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
liturgical and textual reforms of the Church of the East were all
initiated in this monastery, (see below under AD 647 and AD
1202). |
[38], volume 2, p.
33
[52], p. 67
[53], pp. 185 f. & 189 |
|
c. 611 AD |
Martyrdom of Nathaniel
bishop of Siarzour whose crucifixion after an imprisonment lasting 6 years
was ordered by king Khusraw II Parwez. He had written a polemic against
the Magian religion, (which was the state religion in Persia at that time,
see below under AD 620). |
[50], p. 479 |
|
612 AD |
Giwargis an East
Syrian monk was martyred. An account of this man's life and martyrdom was
written by Babai the Great who also wrote an account of the
martyrdom of Christina. Both of these works also contain gospel quotations
quoted from an Old Syriac manuscript.
Also at about this time,
Babai the Great was made 'Inspector of Monasteries' by the joint action of
the metropolitans of Nisibis, Hadiab and Karka da-Bet Selok.
In this position he entered into a controversy with the brothers
`Abhd-isho` Hazzaya and Rabban Joseph Hazzaya
i.e. from Hazza = Arbil. Joseph was a disciple of Hannana
of Hedhaiyabh who had been excommunicated by the catholicoi
Isho`yabh of Arzon and Sabhr-isho`. Babai's theological
controversy with Joseph included his important christological treatise,
'The book of Union'. This latter work has been published by
Vaschalde A. 'Liber de unione', CSCO 1915. A number of Joseph's works also
survive. A 'Letter on the three Stages of Monastic Life' has been
published: Patrologia Orientalis, PO 202 (45.2) and others lie in the MSS,
including a large work on the Godhead, the trinity, the creation, the
judgment and the divine economy found in Mingana Syr 601 part V. Several
smaller works by Joseph and others by his brother `Abhd-isho` are also
contained in this MS, [46]. |
[24], pp. 124-129
[38],
volume 1, p. 98, volume 2, p. 33
[46], volume 1, columns 1150,
1152 |
|
Between 27th June
612 AD
and 26th June
613 AD |
An unusual kind of
controversial synod was held by the command of the king. The synod was
held in the royal court of king Khusraw II Parwez, in the
23rd year of his reign, between the Syrian Orthodox physician
Gabriel and the bishops of the Church of the East. The only
surviving record of this meeting was written by the Church of the East,
[50]. This record amounts to a defence of the faith of the church of the
East. |
[50], p. 580 |
|
613 - 619 AD |
Paul (Syrian Orthodox
bishop) of Tella, flees persecution in Mesopotamia and goes to the
Antonine convent in Alexandria, Egypt to work with Thomas of Harkel
on translations of the Bible from Greek into Syriac. Paul of Tella
translated from Greek into Syriac the LXX OT and the story of the woman
caught in adultery found in the Greek gospel of John, [46]. Thomas of
Harkel created the Herklensian version of the Syriac NT. And
completed it in AD 616, [46]. Thomas mentions the earlier work of
Philoxenus and uses that as a basis for his version. Later on, Thomas of
Harkel became bishop of Mabbûg, also called Hierapolis . |
[34], p. X (second
intro.)
[13]
[21]
[46], volume 1, columns 870, 871,
875 |
|
613 or 614 AD |
An East Syrian copy of the
Peshitta gospels was made at Nisibis and dated the
25th year of the reign of Khuswaw. |
Hatch 'Album' p. 212
BL.
Add. 14471 |
|
614 AD |
Mar Samuel was
ordained as Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit and all the
East. He sat until Ad 624. |
[71], p. 54 |
|
614 AD |
The Persian king Khusraw
II Parwez Hormezd attacks, captures and lays waste Jerusalem. This
Khusraw looted the wood of the cross and brought it to
Persia. |
[24], pp. 135, 169
[37] p.
xii |
|
615 or 616 AD |
The Persian king Khusraw
II Parwez Hormezd attacks and captures Alexandria. |
[24], p. 135 |
|
615 to 628 AD |
The Persian king, Khusraw
Parwez engaged in a campaign of destruction and murder. Due to the
suspicions of Khusraw Parwez that the Syrian Orthodox believers living
under his reign may be communicating with the Syrian orthodox church of
the west, Parwez maintained a persecution campaign which lasted until his
death in 627 AD. During this campaign, many monasteries near the royal
court were destroyed. |
[24], p. 134
[71], p.54,
75.
[14]. |
|
620 to 650 AD |
In the thirtieth year of
Khusraw Parwez (620), thirteen Christians were imprisoned in
Adiabene (Modern Arbil and surroundings) for five years and then in 625,
crucified at the bridge marking the border of Beth Garme. At about the
same time, a bishop by the name of Nathaniel was crucified for
writing a polemic against the Magians, (Nathaniel's crucifixion actually
happened slightly earlier, see above under AD 611). |
Chabot, "Chastete,," pp. 37,
39-40, 256, 258. Also Hoffmann, "Persiscer Martyrer" , p. 119,
121 |
|
622 on 16th
Tammuz
(16th July AD 622) = 1 AH |
According to Elias of
Nisibis, this day is the beginning of the first year of the kingdom of
the Arabs, that is to say the first year of the Hadj according to the
Julian, (not the present Gregorian) calendar. This date AH 1, is used as
year 1 for dates given in the Islamic era, (AH). The Islamic calendar is
based on the duration of 12 lunar orbits (months) and so it contains
354.358 days, (see reference below) that is to say, about 11 days shorter
than the Julian calendar year of 365.25 days. This means that the Islamic
new year moves constantly through the solar year, and calculations of the
solar date from an Islamic date must take this movement into
account.
According to R. M. Tennent,
'Science data book' Publ. for the OU by Oliver & Boyd 1976, p. 38, the
present calendar is based upon a corrected Gregorian tropical solar year
of 365.242 days = 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.9747
seconds. |
[37], p. xii |
|
24th June AD
624
= 3 AH |
According to Elias of
Nisibis, [71], the third year of the Islamic era began on 24th
day of the month Haziran in the year AG 935. This reference has been used
to calculate the beginning of the Arabian calendar on 16th July
AD 622, see above. |
[71], p. 58 |
|
624 AD |
Abbot Paul of Cyprus
fled to Cyprus to escape the Persian invasion of Syria. He translated the
works of Gregory of Nazianzen into Syriac on the island. According to
[38], he used an Old Syriac gospel manuscript and the work is very
rich in gospel quotations. These translations can be found in BL. Add.
Cods. 12153 and 14549. |
[24], p. 135
[34], p.
LXXI
[38], p. 94 |
|
627 AD |
Byzantines under
Heraclius crush the Persians at the battle of Nineveh, ending the
war begun by the Persian king in AD 604. |
[2] |
|
627 to 630 AD |
Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd
was murdered in AD 628 and on 25th February AD 628 was
succeeded by his son Sharwe or Kawad II, [37], [50]. He
reigned only 9 months as king of Persia after the murder of his father in
the same year. He was succeeded in about October AD 628 by Ardisher III
son of Khusraw who reigned one year and nine or ten
months. |
[24], pp. 126, 167
[37] p.
xii
Hatch 'Album', p. 212
[50], p. 562 note 2 |
|
628 AD |
Mar Maroutha became
metropolitan of Tagrit which was by then the centre of the Syrian
Orthodox Church in Persia, [60]. The following year, AD 629 the Persian
king recognized Maroutha as Maphrian of the East, the leader of his
denomination in Persian territory, [60]. Some 13th century
manuscripts containing Maroutha's works survive. From a homily in one of
these, BL Add. 14727, it appears that Maroutha used an Old Syriac
gospel text.
According to Nau, [71]
Maroutha was from Balad and he was educated in the monastery of Mar Samuel
near that city. |
[38], p. 100
[60], p.
xxv
[71], p. 53 |
|
628 AD |
Isho`yabh II Gedalaya
`Arabaya i.e. of Gedhala near Mosul became East Syrian
Catholicos. He studied at Nisibis and was bishop of Balad at the time of
his elevation. Isho`yabh became Catholicos unexpectedly, since the post
was unanimously offered by the bishops to Babai the Great. However, Babai
declined the post and Isho`yabh was elected instead. Isho`yabh II wrote a
christological treatise in the form of letter to Rabban Abraham of
Media which survives, [46]. Babai was near the end of his life anyway.
He died in AD 627 or 628, [53]. |
[24], pp. 167 – 168
[46],
volume 1, column 1112
[50], p. 562
[53], p. 177 |
|
629 AD |
Mar Maroutha was
ordained as Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit and all the
East. |
[71], p. 54 |
|
630 AD |
Shahabrez 'the great
[and] powerful' ruled Persia for 1 year. This reign seems to have been
followed by two very short reigns by Persian Queens, Boran and then
Zedemedokat both of whom were daughters of Khusraw. |
[37] pp. xii –
xiii |
|
630 AD |
Isho`yabh II of Gedhala
East Syrian Catholicos, was sent by Boran, daughter of Khusraw
II with an embassy to Heraclius, Emperor of Constantinople. He took
with him the the cross which had been looted by the Persians when they
captured Jerusalem in AD 614. This relic was promptly returned by
Heraclius to Jerusalem.
Accompanying him on this
journey was Sahdona of Halamun, (a village in Beth Nuhadhre),
afterward called Martyrius bishop of Mahoze dh'Arewan in
Beth Garmai. Sahdona studied at Nisibis and became a monk under Mar
Y`aqob, (or Rabban Jacob) the founder of the convent of Beth
`Abhe. Whilst Sahdona was at Beth `Abhe he composed his important
works on asceticism which have been published by CSCO. Sahdona included a
great deal of gospel text in his ascetic works, all of it taken from an
Old Syriac manuscript.
Also included in this embassy
were John the East Syrian bishop of Damascus and Isho`yabh of
Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene). Isho`yabh of Hedhaiyabh studied at
Nisibis, travelled in the West, [54] and later became bishop of Mosul and
then Metropolitan of Hazza, (i.e. Arbel) and Mosul and then Catholicos of
the East in AD 647. |
[24], pp. 169 – 171
[38],
pp. 103 – 104
[54], p. xlix |
|
November
630
AD |
A Syrian Orthodox synod was
held at the Mar Matti Monastery (north-east of Mosul, Iraq) and the
synodal acts include the canons of this monastery. The establishment of
the Mar Matti Monastery with it's own Metropolitan was an important event
in the history of the Syrian Orthodox Church and community in the Persian
empire. This event is linked to the establishment of the Metropolitanate
at Tagrit and to the creation of the Syrian Orthodox Maphrianate of the
East. The first Maphrian was Marutha of Tagrit, (see below under AD
640). |
[62], p. 10 |
|
631 AD |
Hormezed V, son of
Khusraw became king of Persia. |
[37] p. xiii |
|
632 AD |
Yesdelrad III, son of
Khusraw became king of Persia. |
[37] p. xiii |
|
635 AD |
Missionaries including
Alopen the Persian from the Church of the East arrive in
China. during the reign of emperor T'ai-tsung (AD 626 – 649). This
date was commemorated by an inscription set up in AD 781 in Hsian-Fu,
Western China. |
Rendell Harris from his
introduction to Gibson's edition of Isho`dad's commentary upon the NT, p.
xii
[60], p. 39 f. where the arrival date is also given as AD
635. |
|
637 AD |
During the reign of
Catholicos Isho`yabh II Gedalaya `Arabaya (628-44) the Muslim
invaders seized Seleucia-Ctesiphon (near Baghdad) after the battle of
al-Qadisiya in 637, and subsequently the whole Persian empire succumbed to
their armies and the Sassanid dynasty of Persian kings came to an
end. |
Layard
[60], p.
xxiii |
|
639 AD |
Edessa and Harran were
captured by the Muslim army commanded by 'Iyad ibn Ghanm the
general. Michael the Syrian, commenting on the Muslim conquest,
said that the Syrian Orthodox church lost much property, but gained relief
from the persecution which had been dished out by the Byzantine
emperors. |
[29], p. 110
[33], pp.
99, 100 |
|
640 AD |
Mar Maroutha Syrian
Orthodox metropolitan of Taghrith (or Tagrit) became
Maphrian of the East until his death in AD 649. He compiled a new
liturgy and wrote a commentary upon the gospels as well as some
discourses and sedras. Small fragments of his gospel commentaries can be
found in Mingana Syr 362 and in BL Add 12144. |
[24], p. 137
Wright
'Catalogue', p. 910 |
|
c. 640 AD |
East Syrian missionaries
translate their Syriac Four Gospels into Chinese for the Chinese
emperor Tai Tsung |
[4], p. 72. |
|
641 AD |
The Muslims capture
Alexandria |
[7] |
|
c. 642
AD |
Athanasius Patriarch of
Antioch writes to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius at the
beginning of the Arab invasions. |
[46], volume 1, column
407 |
|
644 AD |
Ended the see of Isho`yabh
II of Gedhala, (near Mosul), East Syrian Catholicos. He was succeeded
by Mariemmeh who died in AD 647. |
[24], pp. 168 – 169,
172 |
|
645 AD |
Yesdelrad III, son of
Khusraw was killed by the Saracens, (?) (Syriac: “the Children of
S'a-s'an”). This ended the Persian kingdom. |
[37] p.
xiii |
|
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]
[38], p.
99 |
|
c. 645
AD |
`Anan Isho`of
Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene), (later called Shenna dheBheth
Remman) was a distinguished scholar who studied in Nisibis. 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, (via Budge) `Anan Isho` then
returned to Mesopotamia and came to the convent of Beth `Abhe
whilst his friend 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.
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
'Historia Monastica' by Thomas b. of Marga. c. AD 850 via Budge,
“Paradise” 1904, pp. vii – viii
[38], p. 104 |
|
647
AD |
Isho`yabh III of
Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene) who had formerly been
Metropolitan of Arbela and bishop of Nuhadraye was elected Catholicos of
the East. This Isho`yabh ordered the (re-)arrangement of the
Hudhra, (or order of service) and seems to have suffered
widespread dissent from his bishops. Also attributed to Isho`yabh is a
theological and liturgical series of questions and answers which includes
historical details, see for example MS Mingana Syriac 566.
The actual work on the
Hudhra was done by Isho`yabh's friend, the distinguished scholar
`Anan Isho` of Hedhaiyabh. As the Hudhra introduction
informs us, this project was completed in the Dayra `Alita or 'The
Upper Monastery' of Mar Gabriel of Kashkar and Mar Abraham bar
Dashandad, at Mosul. Given that he edited the Hudhra during
the Patriarchate of Isho`yabh III, this work 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 and there was an edition
based on the MSS at Trichur published by Mar Thoma Darmo in India, 1960,
1961, 1962, (3 volumes). A bibliography of the known MSS of the
Hudhra has been published by W.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). The Hudhra was adapted by the Catholic church to remove
references to Nestorianism and an edition was produced in Leipzig called
'Breviarium Chaldaicum', 1886.
`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, 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]. Another MS copy can be found in
Mingana Syr 420. |
[24], pp. 115, 116, 172, 174,
175
[40], volume 1, p. 163
[46], volume 1, columns 940, 995
[51],
p. 137
[57], p. 338 |
|
Saturday
2nd May
649 AD |
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.
One of the most famous of
these founders of schools in and around Marga was Rabban Babai of
Gebiltha. It is highly likely that the monks taught from their Old
Syriac gospel texts in these schools. |
[24], pp. 136, 137
[38],
pp. 100, 131
[71], pp. 52, 55, 58 |
|
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 |
|
657 or 658 AD |
Died East Syrian Catholicos
Isho`yahb III, formerly Metropolitan of Arbela. Many of his letters
survive. These contain gospel quotations partly from the Peshitta
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 |
|
658 AD |
Mar Gewargis I,
(George) succeeded Isho`yahb III as Patriarch. He sat until AD 680
– 681. Reference [50] gives the date of his election as either 658 or 660
AD. Gewargis had been a monk of Beth `Abe. |
[38], p. 102
[50], p. 480
note 1 |
|
3rd
November
660 AD |
According to Bar Hebraeus,
Mar Denha, Syrian Orthodox metropolitan of Tagrit
died on this day. |
[38], p. 131
[71], p. 54,
59 |
|
660 AD |
Died Isho`yabh III of
Hedhaiyabh Catholicos of the East, [60]. He was succeeded by
Giwargis of Kaphra in Beth Garmai who sat until AD 680,
[63]. |
[60], p.
80
[63], p. lxv |
|
667 AD |
Died the eminent Syrian
Orthodox Christian scholar and scientist Severus Sabukht. Sabukht
was born in Nisibis 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. |
[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 Peshitta
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. He
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 world. Isaac's many Syriac works have
been published in two stages. The Syriac text of the first part was
published by Paul Bedjan, 'Mar Isaacus Ninivita de perfectione religiosa'
Paris and Leipzig 1909. This 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. |
[61], p.
242 |
|
May
677 AD
(Iyar 57
AH) |
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 Peshitta 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
Peshitta text. |
[38], p. 102,
125, 126
[50], p. 482 |
|
c. October
679
AD |
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. |
[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
[63], p. lxv |
|
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
[33], p.
211
[53], pp. 93, 97
[60], p. 70 |
|
Between
July 686 AD
and
July 687 AD |
An East Syrian recluse and
monk, Johannan Bar Penkaye, also known as Johannan
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 Peshitta.
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:
Mosul Patr. MS (number unknown, dated AD 1262?)
Alqosh MS
25 dated 1882, [66], p. 489
Vatican Syr 497
Mingana MS 179 dated
1928
Rylands 43, a fragment c. 1915, [56], p. 167 f.
[38], p.
105
His other
works:
BL Orient 9385
Rylands 68, §2, 15th -
17th century, [56], p. 200
Mingana Syr 47
Mingana Syr 488
B dates from c. AD 1570
CUL Add. 1998 is 16th century, cat,
p. 443
CUL Add. 2018 is dated AD 1677 cat. p. 568
Excerpts: Harvard,
HSM 42 dates from c. 16th cent.
Harvard, HSM 115,
[67]
|
|
November
687
AD |
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
[53],
p. 97 |
|
687 AD |
Henanisho I
became East Syrian Catholicos. |
[46], volume 1, column
54 |
|
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 Peshitta, [38] but even a
translation of this treatise [61] demonstrates that the Old Syriac gospel
quotations remain, [61], p. 308. |
[24], p. 131
[38], vol. 1,
pp. 117f
[42], p. 28
[47], vol. 3, p. 99
[48], vol. 3, pp.
1078f.
[61], pp. 304 – 312
[64]
Addai Scher, 'Notice sur la vie
et les œuvres de Dadišo Qatraya' Journal Asiatique, ser. X, VII
(1906), pp. 103 - 118 |
|
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 in 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]. |
[61], pp. 328 f.
[66],
part 2, pp. 66 f. Alqosh MS 104
[69], p. 8 note 16. |
|
c. 700 AD |
Jacob of Edessa and
John the Stylite corresponded about this time. Jacob was busy
revising the Peshitta 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
[32], para
31
[46], volume 1, columns 54, 1115, 1121 |
|
