Digitized Manuscripts: Faceted Search

About This Table

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
Saint Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem MS 49 (SMMJ 00049) 1,600 CE Garshuni

See entry at CPART and in Macomber (St. Mark's Convent, Jerusalem 2-9; SMC 2-9); Catalog entry in Baumstark 18*. Filoksinos Yohanna Dolabany, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in St. Mark’s Monastery (1994).

  • f. 1v-139v Anonymous, Lections gathered from the four gospels with commentaries. 
  • f. 140r-171v Pragsha, that is, a book that is a sort of collection of commentaries and discourses and canons of the Fathers 
    • f. 140r-144r Chapter 1, That God is eternal, pre-existent, invisible and omnipotent
    • f. 144rv Chapter 2, On the construction of the earthly church
    • f. 144v-145r Chapter 3, Concerning the eucharistic bread and wine
    • f. 145r-156r Chapter 4, Explanation of the office and the mass
    • f. 156r-157v Chapter 5, Concerning the priesthood
    • f. 157v-162r Chapter 6, On priests, deacons and penance
    • f. 162r-164r Chapter 7, concerning prayer
    • f. 164r-170r Translation of what has been mentioned in this chapter from Syriac and Arabic. A translation of the Sanctus and Trisagion, with commentary of the Fathers
    • f. 170r-171r On first fruits, votive offerings and tithes
  • f. 171r-197r A miscellany of stories, homilies, and short treatises 
    • f. 171r-172v The story of a merchant. This is an edifying tale of a God-fearing merchant who had a very beautiful wife.
    • f. 172v-174v A delightful portrayal from one of the authorities
    • f. 174v-177v A parable that the doctors of the Church set forth on the interpretation of the gospel. It is a story about a certain jeweler
    • f. 177v-183v St. Jacob of Sarug, Homily on charity
    • f. 183v-192v Anonymous, Discourse on Sunday
    • f. 193r-195v The commandments that our Lord ordered in his holy Gospel, there are 99
    • f. 195v-197r Seven prayers that are prescribed for us
  • f. 197r-222r Book of homilies delivered by Severus, more commonly known as Moshe bar Kepha 
    • f. 197r-201r First homily, on the consecration of the Church and her renewal
    • f. 201r-207r Second homily, On when the angel brought the good news to the priest Zechariah about the birth of John (the Baptist)
    • f. 207r-212r Third homily, On the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the holy and pure St. Mary
    • f. 212r-217v Homily on the temptation by Satan of our Lord Jesus Christ
    • f. 217v-221r Homily on the leper whom our Lord cured of the affliction of leprosy
    • f. 221r-222r Homily read on the first Sunday of the blessed Fast

Saint Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem MS 53 (SMMJ 00053) 1,413 CE Syriac

See entry at CPART and in Macomber (St. Mark's Convent, Jerusalem 3-1; SMC 3-1); Filoksinos Yohanna Dolabany, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in St. Mark’s Monastery (1994).

  • f. 1r-247v Syrian Orthodox Lectionary Readings for feasts (Fenqīthō for the holy places of Jerusalem)
    • f. 1r Contents
    • f. 1v-38r Order of (services celebrated on the feast of the Nativity in) Bethlehem. Includes Biblical lections, sedros, prayers and four homilies by Mar Ishaq
    • f. 39r-63r Order of the feast of Epiphany. Two homilies of Mar Ishaq: On those being baptized, and on Baptism
    • f. 63r-80r Part of the order of Palm Sunday. Includes homily of St. Ephrem
    • f. 80r-97r Order of Monday of the redemptive Passion
    • f. 97r-122r Homilies of St. Ephrem for Monday to Thursday of the Passion
      • f. 97v-102v Monday
      • f. 102v-112r Tuesday
      • f. 112r-118r Wednesday
      • f. 118r-122r Thursday of the Mysteries
    • f. 122r-126r Order of the ninth hour of the Thursday of the Mysteries
    • f. 126v-135v Order of the (foot-)washing that comes at the ninth hour of the Thursday of the Mysteries. Includes a Homily of Mar Ishaq on the Mass
    • f. 135v-157v Order of vespers for Friday. Includes a homily of Mar Ephrem
    • f. 157v-166r Ninth hour of Friday. Adoration of the Cross.
    • f. 166r-197v Order of the Saturday of Good News. Includes Homily of Mar Jacob on the cherub and the brigand
    • f. 179v-184r Order of the Saturday of Good News.
    • f. 184r-186v Order of the service of forgiveness which is performed after the office of the ninth hour and before the mass
    • f. 186r-219v Order of the Sunday of the redemptive Resurrection. Includes two homilies of Mar Ephrem
    • f. 219v-235v The Order of the Annunciation, celebrated wherever Cyril and the restor of the lectors wish
    • f. 235v-247v Order of the Assumption of the holy Mother of God. Includes a homily of Mar Jacob on the Assumption of the Mother of God