SYRIAC
411
SYRIAC
moral and dogmatic theology of which the first seven-
teen chapters were assailed by Ishoyahb. To this
period belong the two most original ascetic writers,
Isaac of Nineveh and John of Phanek (often called
John Saba); the works of the latter, many of which
have been preserved, embrace aO subjects relating to
religious perfection. Under the patriarchate of
George (661-80) the monk Enanisho composed the
work entitled "Paradise"; it consists of two parts, the
first a translation of the "Lausiac History" of Palla-
dius and the "Monastic History" of Rufinus, the
second a collection of apothegms from the Fathers,
and questions concerning the ascetic hfe (ed. Bedjan,
Leipzig, 1897). This work must not be confounded
with the " Paradise of Orientals", which contains the
lives of Eastern ascetics and was compiled by Joseph
Hazaya (the Seer), an austere monk, the author of
numerous .iscetical treatises, and the warm partisan
of Henana. with whom he was condemned; he lived at
the beginning of the seventh century.
The Jacobite wTiters of this period are less numer- ous: John I, Patriarch of Antioch 631— iS, is the author of numerous liturgical prayers; Maranta of Tagrit (d. 649) left a liturgj', hymns, and commen- taries; Severus Sebokt, his contemporary, devoted himself in the celebrated convent of Kenneshre on the banks of the Euphrates to philosophical and scientific Btudjpg; his works, which are partly preserved, exer- cised great influence on the following centuries. His letters deal with theological subjects. His disciple Athanasius of Balad, who became patriarch (634-88), likewise devoted himself to Greek philosophy. All these names were eclipsed by another of his disciples, James of Edessa, a writer as distinguished for the ex- tent and variety of his knowledge as for his literary talent.
During the seventh century public events had created new conditions in the lancls where Syriac was spoken. The end of the Roman domination in Syria almost coincided with the fall of the Persian dj-nasty of the Sassanides, and the Mussulman rule enforced the use of the .\rabic tongue. These new conditions introduced a new character in literature, among Nes- torians aa well as Jacobites. Theological treatises were thenceforth more didactic than polemic, and Biblical exegesis became chiefly grammatical and philological. The eighth centun,^ began a period of decadence. Among Nestorian writers were Babai of Gebilta. a reformer of religious music in the time of the Patriarch Salibazekha (714-28); he Wiis the author of funeral orations, hymns, and letters, preserved in part; Bar Sahde, of Karka of Beit Slok, the author of an ecclesiastical historj- and of a treatise against Zoroastrianism, both lost; he lived in the time of the Patriarch Pethion (731—40). About the same time David of Beit Rabban wTOte "The Little Paradise", a kind of monast ic history from which Thomas of Marga borrowed, .\braham bar D.aschandad, a disciple of Babai, was the .author of a book of exhortations, hom- ilies, letters, "The Book of the Royal Way", and a commentarj' on the wTitings of the monk Marcus. Mar Aba II, who became patriarch at the age of 100 (741-.51), wrote a conuiientar\' on the works of St. Gregory of Xazianzus, and another on the Dialectics of .\ristotle, a "Book of Militarv- Governors", demon- strations, and letters. His compatriot, Simeon bar Tabbakhe, treasurer of the Caliph al-Mansur, was the author of an erclesia-stical history.
Surinus, Bishop of Xisibis and Later of Holwan, elected patriarch in 7.51 and immediately deposed, is regarded;us the .author of a treatise .against the here- tics. Cyprian, Bishop of Nisibis (741^7), composed a comment ar\- on the theological discourses of St. Gregory of Nazianzus and a treatise on ordination. Abu Noah of .\nbar, secretary of the Governor of Mosul at the end of this oentur>', wTote a refutation of the Koran, a refutation of heretics, and a life of John
of Dailam. The Patriarch Henanisho II (775-79) is
the author of letters, hyums for the dead, metrical
homilies, and canonical questions. He was succeeded
by Timotheus, whose Mterary work excels that of all
his contemporaries.
Timotheus I, a native of Hazza (near Arbelles), a disciple of Abraham bar Daschandad, became Bishop of Beit Bagash; at the death of Henanisho he was elected patriarch by intrigvie and the favour of the Governor of Mosul; he quieted the rivalry and was installed in 780, dying in 823. During his patriarch- ate the Nestorian missions in Central .Vsia received powerful encouragement, and he introduced impor- tant disciplinary reforms into his church (cf. Labourt, "De Timotheo patriarcha", Paris, 1904). His lit- erary work comprises an astronomical treatise en- titled "Book of the Stars" (lost), two volumes of canonical questions, a controversy concerning the Christian faith maintained before the Caliph Al-Ma- hidi, a commentary on the works of St. Gregorj- of Nazianzus, and about 200 letters. Sixty of these letters, the controversy, and a large projiortion of the questions are extant in various MSS. Through him was made the first collection of the Nestorian coun- cils, which under the name " Synodicon Orient ale " (ed. Charbot, Paris, 1903) comprises the acts of thirteen synods convened by his predecessors from 410 to 775. It is the basis of the Nestorian canon law and the official exposition of its creed. About this time lived Theodorus bar Kont, the author of a book of scholia (ed. Scher, Paris, 1908-11), which contains scholia on the Old and New Testament, a treatise against the Monophysites, one against the Arians, a colloquy be- tween a pagan and a Christian, and a treatise on here- sies. Ishodenah (or Denahisho), Bishop of Bassorah, composed an ecclesiastical history (lost), and the "Book of Chastity" (ed. Chabot, Rome, 189S), which contains 150 notices of the founders of Oriental convents.
The share of the Jacobites in the literary work of this period is far inferior to that of the Nestorians. With the exception of George, Bishop of the Arabs, a disciple of James of Edessa who is treated elsewhere (see Monophysites and Monophysiti.sm). the writers arcof only secondary interest. Of Elias, Patriarch of Antioch (709-24), we have an apology explaining why he abandoned the Diophysite doctrine; it is addressed to Leo, Diophysite Bislioii of Harran and author of controversial writings. Daniel of Salah WTote an extensive comment ary on the Psalms, in three volumes; the first to have reached us in the original text and t he third in an .\rabic version. David bar Paulos left a grammatical work, letters, a commentary' on chap, x of Genesis, a dialogue on the addition of the words "who was crucified for us" to the Sanctus. To him arc also ascribed poems which seem to belong to a later j^criod. A celebrated author was Theophilus of Edessa, called Maronite by Bar-Hebr;eus, and Chalcedonian by Michael the Syrian; this distinguished astronomer, who was much esteemed by the Caliph al-Mahdi, died in 785. His works include astronomical trea- tises, a history, and a Syri.ac version of Homer, sev- eral quotations from which have Ix'cii found, .\bout 775 Lazanis of Beit Kandasa compiled a commentary on the New Testament, a portion of which (St . Mark, St. ,Iohn, and ten Epistles of St. Paul) is extant. George of Beelthan, a monk of Kenneshre who be- came patriarch (758-90), is the author of a discourse and of some homilies (lost) and of a commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew (partly preserved). His successor Syriacus (793-817) left a liturgy, canons, some homilies, ami letters.
The ninth century witnessed a renaissance in scien- tific and historical sturlies. Among the Nestorians there was a series of Christian physicians who enjoyed the favour of the caliphs of Bagdad; Gabriel Boktisho (d. 828), John bar Maswai (d. 857), Ilonein (d. 873),
