Digitized Manuscripts: Faceted Search

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This table searches all collections of Syriac and Garshuni manuscripts that are freely available online by key terms. Click any of the categorized menu items to narrow down your search. If you would like to sort the manuscripts by shelf-mark or date, or search by general keyword, see our other table here, which includes all the same manuscript data.

*The Approximate Date column is derived from the best available information for the manuscript. This is not asserted as a scholarly position on the dating of the manuscript. Instead, it is merely used here for the convenience of being able to sort all manuscripts by numerical date. The user should keep in mind that there may be considerable debate over the precise dating of the manuscript and should consult the manuscript repository and relevant scholarly literature for details.

Manuscript Name / Shelf Mark / Project Number Approximate Date Language The main body text Link to Digitized Manuscript
Vat. sir. 37 1,627 CE Garshuni, Syriac

See entry in Assemani and the entry completed by CPART

  • Binding
  • f. 1v-57r Burial service, Garshuni and Syriac
  • f. 57r-69v Jacob of Edessa, Tractate on the restrictions in marriage (on the different kinds of marriages that are not lawful)
  • f. 69v-106 History of St. Jacob of Egypt, the hermit, and his associates, Garshuni
  • f. 106v-128r History of King Hermianus, and of his wife and sons, Garshuni
  • f. 128r-133v Office of the resurrection of the Lord, for Vespers, Matins and Terce
  • f. 133v-139v Shorter anaphora of St. James, the Lord's brother
  • f. 139v-141r Various canons pertaining to the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, the Eucharist, and Holy Orders, in Garshuni
  • f. 141r-152v Anaphora of the Holy Fathers, by John the Patriarch (Theodore b. Wahbun)
  • f. 152v-153r Copy of a note from a Gospel book
  • f. 153r-155v Life of John, Bishop of Mardin
  • f. 155v-156v Copy of a note from a Gospel book
  • f. 156v-168v Life of St. Abhai, Bishop of Nicea
  • f. 168v-173r Account of the death of Constantine II
  • f. 173r-176r Life of Jacob of Serugh, Bishop of Batnae, Flute of the Holy Spirit and Harp of the Church
  • f. 176r-192r Life of Acha
  • f. 192r Catalog of the works fo Dionysius bar Salibi
  • f. 192r-192v Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopic calendars
  • f. 192v-201r Festal calendar attributed to Jacob of Edessa
  • f. 201r-201v Catalog of Eastern saints
  • f. 201v-201v Life of Moshe bar Kepha
  • Binding
Vat. sir. 596 1,917 CE Arabic, Syriac
  • Binding
  • f. 1r-53v Jacob of Edessa, Commentary on the Old Testament
    • f. 1r-20r Genesis
    • f. 20v-32r Exodus
    • f. 32r-39v Leviticus
    • f. 39v-42v Numbers (f. 41rv lacuna)
    • f. 42v-47r Deuteronomy
    • f. 47v-50v Job
    • f. 51r-52r Joshua
    • f. 52v-53v Judges
  • f. 53v-66r Exlanation of difficult Old Testament passages (Ephrem, Jacob, and others) 
  • f. 66r Colophon
  • f. 66v-79r Explanations of various subjects attributed to different authors
  • f. 79v-81v Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
  • f. 81v-83v The Doctrine of Addai
  • f. 83v-84r Twenty Canons of the Apostles
  • f. 84r-85r Six questions and answers of Jacob of Edessa
  • f. 85v-90r Hypomnemata of our Lord
  • f. 90v-99v Two letters of Theodore bar Wahbun
  • f. 99v-105r Prophecies of pagan philosophers
  • f. 105r-111r Chosen words of philosophers teaching wisdom
  • f. 111r Colophon
  • f. 111v-112v Eulogy of Abraham of Nathpar
  • f. 113r Anecdote of Moses bar Kepha by Mar Sawira
  • f. 113v-115r Profession of Faith by Mar Michael
  • f. 115v-116v Questions and answers on ousia
  • f. 117r-120v Legend of Mar Eli al-Hira in Arabic
  • f. 121r-130r History of Yareth the Alexandrian
  • f. 130r Colophon (other colophons found at 66r and 111r)
  • Binding
BnF syr. 62 1,100 CE Syriac

See catalog entry here (especially for the date of the ms)

  • f. 1-89 Didascalia Apostolorum (Teaching of the 12 apostles; with excerpt from the prayer of Manasseh)
  • f. 90-102r Books I-VII of the Apostolic Constitutions attributed to St. Clement
  • f. 102v-107 Extracts from the Teaching of Addai
  • f. 108-112 Collection of all the canons of the holy apostles and of the synods of the Holy Fathers
  • f. 113-121r Book VIII of the canons of Clement
  • f. 121v-128 The great and holy ecumenical council of Nicaea, metropolis of Bithynia, composed by the 318 fathers
  • f. 129-132r The 24 canons fixed at Ancyra in Galatia through the synod which was assembled there
  • f. 132v-133 Twelve other canons from the council assembled at Neo-caesarea
  • f. 134-137r The eight canons established at Gangra
  • f. 137v-146 The council which as gethered at ἐγχαινίοις, at the dedication of the church of Antioch: 28 canons.
  • f. 147-149 Fifty-nine other canons established at Laodicaea in Phrygia
  • f. 150-152 The seventh council, that of Constantinople
  • f. 153 Two canons established at the holy council gathered at Ephesus during the time of Thedosius
  • f. 154-170 Council of the 87 bishops gathered at Carthage during the time of Cyprian
  • f. 171-172 Other canons from a letter written from Italy to the bishops of the East which were sent to the bishops reunited at Antioch
  • f. 173-175r Selected sentences in the letters of the Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch
  • f. 175v-183r Extracts from the instruction of St. Peter, bishop of Alexandria and martyr
  • f. 183v-184 Questions addressed to Timothy the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria
  • f. 185-191 Synodicon of Sardis
  • f. 192-194r Letter of St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria to Abbot Ammon, on obligation of celibacy to monks
  • f. 194v Letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to the priest Paregorius
  • f. 195 Letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to Chorbishops, on the defense of conferring ordination for donations
  • f. 196-197 Letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to the priest, Diodore, in which is a declaration of the legality of marriage of a man with his step-sister
  • f. 198-207r Letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconia
  • f. 207v-212 Letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconia
  • f. 213 Another letter of St. Basil, bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, addressed to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconia
  • f. 214-218r The 27 canons of the council of Chalcedon
  • f. 218v Sentences of Philoxenus of Mabbug
  • f. 218v Sentences of St. Basil regarding heretics who persecute the orthodox
  • f. 219 Sentences of St. Gregory the Theologian
  • f. 219 Extracts of the third letter of St. Damassus
  • f. 219-225 Letter of St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa to Litoios, bishop of Melitene
  • f. 226-229r Canons of St. Rabbula, bishop of Edessa
  • f. 229v-237r Definition regarding certain chapters addressed to the east in the form of Questions to Holy Fathers
  • f. 237v-241 Various canons and rites established by the council of persian bishops who met at Seleucia-Ktesiphon
  • f. 242 Letter of John, bishop of Egypt, sent to the isle of Cyprus rejecting the council of Chalcedon
  • f. 243-244 Canons established in the time of the persection at the time of Patriarch Severus
  • f. 245r Extracts from a letter addressed to the holy fathers on the two priests and archimandrites named Paul
  • f. 245v Extracts of a letter of St. Constantine, metropolitan of Laodicaea
  • f. 246-247r Extracts of a letter written by a bishop to his friends
  • f. 247v-248r Letter written from Constantinople to Martyrius, Bishop of Antioch
  • f. 248v-253 Extracts from various letters of Severus, patriarch of Antioch
  • f. 254 Five canons of the holy Theodosius, pope of Alexandria
  • f. 254v-255r Letter of St. Anthimus, bishop of Constantinople to Jacob of Edessa
  • f. 255v Definitions on the punishments with monks regarding various sins by St. Basil, bishop fo Caesarea
  • f. 266 Letter of St. Cyril of Alexandria to the monks
  • f. 257 Extracts of the letter of St. Celestine, bishop of Rome, to the clergy at people of Constantinople
  • f. 258 More extracts from the acts of the council of Ephesus
  • f. 261 Four canons about excommunicated clerics, by Sergius, bishop of Amphiator
  • f. 262-266 Recommendations and precepts of the canons regarding clerics, by John Bar-Cursus, Bishop of Tella
  • f. 267-271 Questions on diverse subjects, addressed to the priest Sergius by Mar John Bar-Cursus, Bishop of Tella
  • f. 272 Letter of Patriarch Athanasius on the defense of Christians eating meat sacrificed by Arabs which currently abound
  • f. 273-284 Questions addressed by the priest, Addai Philoponos, to Jacob of Edessa and the response of the same
  • f. 285 Extract from the 107th homily of Gregory the Theologian, on the Gospel passage, "The Pharisees came to find him to test him"
  • f. 286 ff. Precepts which God gave to Moses on abominations
Diyarbakir, Turkey Meryem Ana Kilisesi 58; 3/16 (DIYR 00190) 1,910 CE Garshuni, Syriac
  • Gregory bar 'Ebrōyō, the Cream of Wisdom [Selections]
  • List of the Syriac and Arabic works of Bar 'Ebrōyō
  • Account of the death of bar 'Ebrōyō
  • Account of the death of bar 'Ebrōyō
  • Gregory bar 'Ebrōyō, Homily
  • List of the Patriarchs of Antioch
  • John bar Ma'dani, praises and prayers
  • John bar Ma'dani, Hymns for the Lord's feast
  • Book of guidance about the ranks of deacons
  • Collection of services
  • Jacob of Edessa, List of feasts
  • John bar Ma'dani, On our God who became man on behalf of us
  • John bar Ma'dani, Homily on the seizure of Edessa
  • Daniel ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, Book on the foundations of religion
  • World is a bodily behavior
  • Homily on Mar Matthew from the mountain Alfaf
  • Canon on how it is necessary to perform church prayer
  • Morning Gospel reading for Children
  • On the Assumption of our Lady Mary and how the Apostles gathered on the day of her death
  • Jacob of Sarug, Homily
  • Dionysius bar Ṣalibi, For Priests
  • Jacob of Sarug, Commentary on Deuteronomy. Selections
  • Philoxenus of Mabbug, on the Prophets
  • Jacob of Sarug, From the homily on the love of God
  • Jacob of Sarug, From the Holy Mar Jacob
  • From the Works of the Holy Fathers
  • Daniel of Salaḥ, Commentary on Psalm 8
  • Dionysius bar Ṣalibi, On performing the sign of the cross with one finger
  • Dionysius bar Ṣalibi, On the Trisagion
  • Timothy Isaac, Selections from the Holy Fathers against the Chalcedonians
Harvard MS Syr 47 1,400 CE Syriac

​Catalog Entry

  • Bound at an early date with a manuscript of theological texts (ff. 1-160)
  • Canons by Mar Yoḥanan the bishop on the holy mysteries (ff.161r-162r)
  • Scholion of Jacob of Edessa on the communion (162r-163v)
  • Commentary on the creed and baptism by Dionysius bar Ṣalibi (163v-168v)
  • An account of the faith and the cross and the other mysteries one by one (168v-177r)
  • The holy and life-giving mysteries of the holy chrism (177r-187r)
  • The hidden mystery concerning baptism (187r-203v)
  • On the making of olive oil for chrism (203v-204v)
  • Various short sections in different hands (205-207)
Harvard MS Syr 93 700 CE Syriac

Catalog Entry

  • A collection of short works including a "Gospel of the Twelve Apostles" (ff. 47r-51v)
  • Apocalypses of Simon Kepha, James, John the little (51v-57v)
  • A fragment of the Doctrina Addai (57v)
  • Various responsa and canons (1r-46v, 59r ff.) including replies of Jacob of Edessa.
Harvard Ms Syr 99 1,889 CE Syriac

Catalog entry

  • ff. 1v-76v Didascalia apostolorum
  • ff. 76-92v First epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
  • ff. 92v-93v Letter of James of Jerusalem to Quadratus
  • ff. 93v-96v Letters of Herod and Pilate 
  • ff. 96v-103v Hypomnemata of our Lord
  • ff. 103v-106v The teaching of Peter in Rome
  • ff. 107r-111v Letter of Dionysius of Athens to Timothy on the deaths of Peter and Paul
  • ff. 111v-117r Extracts from various Fathers
  • ff. 117r-120r Severus on the synods
  • ff. 120r-120v Letter that the Jews wrote to the emperor Marcion about the Synod of Chalcedon
  • ff. 120v-122v Short texts by Philoxenus
  • ff. 122v Creed of orthodox Christians
  • ff. 122v-124v Letter of John bar Shushan against Chalcedon
  • ff. 124v-126v Easy questions against the Chalcedonians
  • ff. 126v-128r Diagrams explaining theology and christology
  • ff. 128v-131v Disputation against the Nestorians
  • ff. 131v Cyril against anyone who keeps a book from a reader
  • ff. 132r-146v Prophecies of the pagan philosophers 
  • ff. 147r-148r 6 questions of Jacob of Edessa
  • ff. 148r-150v Riddles from the Old Testament
  • ff. 150v-151r Under which kings each of the prophets prophesied
  • ff. 151r-154r On the foundation of the true faith which we have received from the apostles etc.
  • ff. 154r On what the Jews wrote above the cross of Christ
  • ff. 154r-155r From the story of Peter the Iberian, that one should not give up hope of God's mercy
  • ff. 155r-157r Severus, from a letter to Thomas of Germanica on the Epistle of Jude
  • ff. 157r-160r Short sections on the eucharist, baptism, etc.
  • ff. 160r-162r On the prophets
  • ff. 162r-163r Jacob of Edessa on the seven spirits of Isaiah 11.2
  • ff. 163 r/v Ephrem on the dove that Noah sent out from the ark
  • ff. 163v-174r Answers to questions, including extracts from various Fathers
  • ff. 174v Diagram of the ten commandments
  • ff. 174v-178r Various other short sections on Old Testament exegesis
  • ff. 178r-181v Jacob of Edessa on the heavenly powers
  • ff. 181v-188v The orthodox teachers on the souls of human beings, and other short extracts
  • ff. 188v-190r Letter of Cyril of Jerusalem on the rebuilding of the temple by the Jews
  • ff. 190r-191r Extracts from Puman, John, Cyril and Basil
  • ff. 191r-201r Explanations of Ephrem on various matters from the Law
  • ff. 201r Colophon 
Saint Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem MS 153 (SMMJ 00153) 1,900 CE Syriac

Filoksinos Yohanna Dolabany, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in St. Mark’s Monastery (1994). Macler 21.

  • fol. 1v-3r Selections from the Apostles, prophets, and Orthodox Fathers
  • fol. 3r-5v Jacob of Serugh, selections
  • fol. 5v-8v Commandments from the Gospel
  • fol. 9r-13v Philoxenus of Mabbug, Letter to Patricius
  • fol. 13v-17v Philoxenus of Mabbug, Confession of faith
  • fol. 17v-21r Dionysius bar Salibi, Syriac Orthodox Creed
  • fol. 21r-68r Jacob of Edessa, Letter on the Providence of God
  • fol. 68r-171v Testament of the Lord (Attributed to Clement of Rome; divided into eight books)
    • Title NS: ܕܝܐܬܝܩܝ ܐܘܟܝܬ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܕܐܡܪ ܡܪܢ ܠܫܠܝ̈ܚܐ ܩܕܝ̈ܫܐ܆ ܟܕ ܩܡ ܡܢ ܡ̈ܝܬܐ܆ ܘܐܬܟܬܒ̈ܝ ܒܝܕ ܩܠܝܡܝܣ ܕܪܘܡܝ ܬܠܡܝܕܗ ܕܦܛܪܘܣ ܫܠܝܚܐ
  • fol. 171v-180v Selections from the doctrine of Addai
Saint Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem MS 222 (SMMJ 00222) 1,791 CE Garshuni, Syriac

Filoksinos Yohanna Dolabany, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in St. Mark’s Monastery (1994).

  • fol. 1v-60r Yūsuf al-Kaslūqīṯī, Syriac Grammar (Garshuni)
  • fol. 61v-62r Dionysius bar Ṣalibi, On the Twelve Apostles (Syriac)
  • fol. 62v-63v Jacob of Sarug, Homilies (Syriac)
  • fol. 63v-66r Commands of the Gospel (Syriac)
  • fol. 66r-69r Philoxenus of Mabbug, Admonition to keep the Lord's commands (Syriac)
  • fol. 69r-69v Evagrius and John of Dalyatha, Collection of sayings
  • fol. 69v-72r Philoxenus of Mabbug, Creed (Syriac)
  • fol. 72r-74v Dionysius bar Ṣalibi, Creed of the Syriac Orthodox Church (Syriac)
  • fol. 74v-75v Dialogue on the body of Christ (Syriac)
  • fol. 75v-91v Jacob of Edessa, Letter on the Providence of God (Syriac)
  • fol. 91v-94r Ephrem of Nisibis, Selections from a homily (Syriac)
  • fol. 94r-99r Jacob of Sarug, Homilies (Syriac)
    • Includes note on the life of Jacob of Sarug, fol. 98v-99r
  • fol. 99r-99v Jacob of Edessa, Letter on God's providence