An Anthology of Syriac Writers from Qatar in the Seventh Century

The Syriac writers of Qatar have not received the scholarly attention that they deserve in the last half century. This anthology seeks to redress such an underdevelopment by providing new material in English translation with accompanying Syriac and Garshuni editions to encourage further research in the sub-field of Beth Qatraye studies. It includes the work of some of the most prominent scholars in this field. "This anthology includes the writings of a number of Syriac monastic and ascetical writers from the seventh century who were born and educated in Beth Qatraye (Syriac for Qatar or Region of the Qataris). Isaac of Qatar widely known as Isaac of Nineveh, for example, is considered to be the most influential of all Syriac monastic writers and continues to exert a strong influence in monastic circles today. Many of the others like Dadisho of Qatar, Abraham bar Lipah of Qatar, and Ahob of Qatar were important Syriac writers on spirituality and commentators or exegetes within the Church of the East tradition. These writers, who all originated from the Qatar region and were educated there, reveal the presence of an important school of education that rivaled in its sophistication the other more well-known schools such as the School of Nisibis or the School of Edessa. The Syriac writers of Qatar themselves produced some of the best and most sophisticated writing to be found in all Syriac literature of the seventh century. This anthology presents a selection of these writings for the first time in English translation with accompanying Syriac and Garshuni editions."-- Back cover The history of Mar Yawnan -- Sebastian Brock Isho'yahb III of Adiabene's letters to the Qataris -- Mario Kozah Introduction to the Book of the Aims of the Psalms by Ahūb Qatraya -- Bas ter Haar Romeny (Introduction by Mario Kozah) Abraham Qatraya bar Lipah's Commentary on the Liturgical Offices -- Mario Kozah Preface to Mar Shem'ūn's Law Book by an anonymous monk from Beth Qatraye -- Mario Kozah -- Dadisho' Qaraya's Compendious Commentary on the Paradise of the Egyptian Fathers in Garshuni / -- Mario Kozah, Suleiman Mourad, Abdulrabim Abu-Husayn (Introduction by Mario Kozah) Introduction to selections from the Ge'ez Filekseyus -- Robert Kitchen Isaac of Nineveh's Chapters on Knowledge -- Grigory Kessel Isaac the Syrian: The Third Part -- Mary T. Hansbury Two Discourses of the Fifth Part of Isaac the Syrian's writings -- Mary T. Hansbury The Fourth Part of Isaac Qatraya's ascetical homilies in Garshuni -- Mario Kozah. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Abbreviations The History of Mar Yawnan Ishoʿyahb III of Adiabene’s Letters to the Qataris Introduction to the Book of the Aims of the Psalms by Aḥūb Qaṭraya Abraham Qaṭraya bar Lipah’s Commentary on the Liturgical Offices Preface to Mar Shemʿūn’s Law Book by an Anonymous Monk from Beth Qaṭraye Dadishoʿ Qaṭraya’s Compendious Commentary on the Paradise of the Egyptian Fathers in Garshuni Introduction to Selections from the Geʿez Filekseyus Isaac of Nineveh’s Chapters on Knowledge Isaac the Syrian: The Third Part Two Discourses of the Fifth Part of Isaac the Syrian’s Writings The Fourth Part of Isaac Qaṭraya’s Ascetical Homilies in Garshuni Bibliography of Works Cited Index