John of Ephesus

John of Asia (ca. 507-589), originally from Amid, entered the monastery as a child, but was later exiled under the Miaphysite persecutions of Justin I and Justinian I in the 520s. Despite residing in Constantinople ca. 540 among the other exiled Miaphysite Christians, Justinian I chose him in 542 to lead a mission throughout Asia Minor. Over a decade after his missionary efforts began (ca. 558), Jacob Baradaeus [Burd'oyo] would consecrate him to become the Bishop of Ephesus. Although consecrated Bishop of Ephesus, John functions as a titular Bishop for Ephesus since his ecclesiastical work centers in Constantinople. Justin II cast him in prison in the 570s where he remained until his death. His Lives was likely written during the 560s, while his his Ecclesiastical History covers up through 588 and thus at least partially written from his period of imprisonment.1 Further information on John of Ephesus, see J. Tannous and Johnson, S. Fitzgerald, Eds., Chronicles and Historiography. 2014..

Works Cited

Contents

 

Lives of the Eastern Saints [Back to Top

Instrumenta

Content

Titles taken from Brooks [above]

 

Ecclesiastical History [Back to Top]

Part 1: [Missing] [Back to Top]

 

Part 2 [Back to Top]

Instrumenta

 

Content

This book is partially preserved, only through its re-use in later historiography. Land first collated this text from B.L. Add 14650 (Wright 949.19; see note here): J. P. N. Land, Ed., Joannis Episcopi Ephesi monophysitae scripta historica quotquot adhuc inedita supererant, vol. 2, 4 vol. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1868., pp. 289-329. Land notes the portions in B.L. Add 14650 are excerpts from the second part of the Ecclesiastical History of John of Ephesus concerning the Monophysite persecutions after Severus of Antioch is dispelled from his seat which are then details recovered by the writer of the Zuqnin Chronicle (i.e. Chronicle of Pseudo-Dionysius of Tellmahre). This connection is made by Assemani as well in J. S. Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis: De Scriptoribus Syris Monophysitis, vol. 2, 3 vol. Rome: Society for the Propagation of the Faith, 1721., pp. 84ff

Chabot later edited the fourth part of the Chronicle attributed to Dionysius of Tellmahre (see J. - B. Chabot, Ed., Chronique de Denys de Tell-Mahré. Quatrième partie. Paris: Émile Bouillon Library, 1895.) which was subsequently reviewed by T. Nöldeke (see T. Nöldeke, Review: [Chabot, J.B., Chronique de Denys de Tell Mahre.], Vienna Oriental Journal, vol. 10, pp. 160-170, 1895.) who called attention to the need for a more detailed analysis of the chronicle. Nau's analysis (see F. Nau, Analyse de la seconde partie inédite de l'Histoire Ecclésiastique de Jean d'Asie, patriarche jacobite de Constantinople, Revue de l'Orient chrétien, vol. 2, pp. 455-93, 1897.) is a response to Nöldeke (and others) who desired a closer examination and textual analysis comparing the Ecclesiastical History to the Zuqnin Chronicle with other available chronicles. Nau publishes excerpts from BnF syr. 284 (a copy of M. Reed, Vat. sir. 162. 2017.), recognizing this to be the second part of the Ecclesiastical History (the third book of the Zuqnin Chronicle), and specifically the second portion of the book which Land published previously in Anecdota Syriaca. His examination includes comparisons of various manuscripts and chronicles with part two of the Ecclesiastical History

In 1907, Kugener published an edition and French translation of the life of Severus of Antioch from part 2 of the Ecclesiastical History: M. - A. Kugener, Sévère, patriarche d’Antioche, 512-518: textes syriaques publiés, traduits et annotés. Pt. 2: Vie de Sévère par Jean, supérieur du monastère de Beith-Aphtonia, avec divers textes syriaques, grecs et latins, in Patrologia Orientalis, Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1907, pp. 203-264.. Rather than utilizing BnF syr. 284 (previously used by Nau), Kugener made use of Sachau 321(Berlin 26.11) and B.L. Add 17203 (Wright 980).

The second part of the Ecclesiastical History was used in the Zuqnin Chronicle (see also Baumstark p. 182n3), edited by Chabot in his edition.2 Alternate readings derived from Land (i.e. B.L. Add 14650) are given by Chabot in his edition, pp. 2-145 (see Brock,3 p. 6). At the end of Chabot's edition of the Zuqnin Chronicle, Brooks compiled a study drawn both from the work of Chabot and the 1908 work of A.P. Dyakonov on John of Ephesus.4 He has organized what he believes to be one fragment from part one and fragments from part two in E. W. Brooks, Iohannis Ephesini: Historiae Ecclesiasticae Fragmenta quae e prima et secunda parte supersunt, in Chronicon Pseudo Dionysianum Vulgo Dictum II, vol. 2, 3 vol., J. - B. Chabot, Ed. Louvain: L. Durbecq, 1927, pp. 402-417.. The excerpt of part one of the Ecclesiastical History only exists as a short quotation from Michael the Syrian (see p. 402). Brooks collects excerpts from B.L. Add 12154 (Wright 860.35j) and B.L. Add 14647 (Wright 945, fol. 136-139) which he assigns to part two of the Ecclesiastical History (pp. 402-417). See also  "John of Ephesus" here on the Chronicles and Historiography page. 

The following order is derived from collating the sections of Wright 949.19 with Land's edition:

Part 3: [Back to Top]

Instrumenta

Content

Titles taken from R. Payne Smith

  • Book 1 [Back to Top]
    • Chapters 1-3 Lost (Though chapter 3 is partially preserved: (Syriac) (ET) (GT))
    • Chapter 4: Quotations from the books of the prophets relating to the distress which at this time happened in the church of God (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 5: Upon the bitter suffering caused by the sudden uprooting of all the congregations of the church of the believers in the capital (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapters 6-9: Lost (Chapter 9 partially preserved (Syriac) (ET))
    • Chapter 10: Upon what was done in the convents of men and women by the barbarous violence of the persecution (Syriac) (GT) (ET)
    • Chapter 11: Concerning John the Bishop of the city, and the deeds wrought by the urgency of his wickedness (Syriac) (GT) (ET)
    • Chapter 12: Upon the priesthood of the Orthodox, which John annulled, without purpose, or respect to justice, and in violation of the canons, and ordained them anew in the priesthood of the Synodites, that is, of those who believe in two natures (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 13:Upon a night vision, which happened to a worthy monk as a revelation of what was quickly about actually to be done openly (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 14: Concerning Paul, bishop of Asia (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 15: Concerning bishop Elisha (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 16: Concerning bishop Stephen, whom John similarly wished to depose and consecrate afresh (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 17: Upon their sending for and summoning the bishops from the monasteries and place in which they were imprisoned (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 18: Upon the rebuke and admonition which John received from the bishops whom he had brought together and imprisoned, because of his annulling their laying on of hands, and of conferring it afresh in violation of law, and contrary to all the rules and regulations of the Church of God (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 19: Upon the edict which the illustrious king Justin made (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 20: Shewing, that after twenty clean copies of the edict had been written out, he sent the first, signed with his own hand, to those who were in prison (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 21: Shewing that John protested to the bishops, saying, 'See now that it is you who prevent the unity of the Church' (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 22: Shewing that the bishops were blamed and found fault with, even by the chief men of the orthodox party, because of their obstinancy and refusal to give way for the sake of unity (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 23: Upon the disputation and distress of the bishops themselves and of their people (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 24: Upon the last disputation held, and the treacherous and lying oaths (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 25: Upon the grief and contrition of spirit which overtook the bishops, because they had submitted to and united themselves with the communion of John, and the other Dyophysites of his party (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 26: Shewing that when the king learnt thereof, he sent of them, and had them brought to the palace, and comforted them (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 27: Shewing that subsequently the king returned from the warm baths, and concerning the schedule that was sent them . . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 28: Shewing that when these things were made known to the king and he was angry, he commanded that all the princes should assemble, and that the bishops should be tried by them in the bishop's palace (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 29: Shewing that according to their orders they assembled at the bishop's palace, and that the bishops were summoned to trial (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 30: Containing the writer's defence against those who fall into an unfounded idea respecting him (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 31: Concerning Conon, the head of the heresy of the Tritheites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 32: Concerning Photius, and his conduct (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 33: Concerning the Sophists and Scholastics, and Naucleri, and others, who in the middle of the persecution were summoned and went to the capital from Alexandria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 34: Concerning all the chiefs of the clergy of the orthodox, who were next arrested, and sent to the capital (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 35: Concerning some Egyptian monks, who also were summoned to the capital to foretell things future (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 36: Upon the monasteries of men and women, which, after they had treated violently, and some few had yielded, finally returned to their faith (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 37: Relating that John before his death was questioned by the Christ-loving Caesar respecting the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 38: Shewing that even while John lived, the congregations of the orthodox finally grew in strength, and rose up (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 39: Upon the monastery, called Cathara, in the land of Bithynia (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 40: Upon the Synodite bishops of Alexandria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 41: Upon the bishops at Antioch from Flavianus and Severus (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 42: Upon the bishops at Constantinople during Justinian's reign (Syriac) (ET) (GT
  • Book 2 [Back to Top]
    • Chapter 1: Showing that when the bishops saw that they had lied unto them, they separated and abandoned the communion of the Dyophysites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 2: Concerning Paul the patriarch, and the writing which he made, and which was found out (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 3: Concerning Stephen, bishop of Cyprus; and the summons of Paul, and his journey to the capital from his place in exile, and subsequent flight (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 4: Concerning John, Superintendent of the heathen (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 5: Concerning the trials which came upon John (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 6: Concerning a vision, and no dream, but a reality which was seen by John in his affliction (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 7: Concerning the imprisonments and second banishment of the said John (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 8: Concerning the flight of Paul from the episcopal palace (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 9: Concerning the praiseworthy Andrew, the queen's chamberlain and pursebearer, and the conflicts which he underwent (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 10: Concerning the merciful queen Sophia, who was orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 11: Concerning three consuls, who also behaved bravely and stood firmly in the truth (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 12: Concerning two noble ladies, who also behaved bravely, and courageously stood firm (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 13: Concerning Sergius, and Sergius, the presbyters, and the conflicts which they underwent (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 14: Concerning Andrew who was imprisoned (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 15: Concerning the diaconate of those who tend the sick, who are thrown out into the streets of the city (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 16: Concerning another and different diaconate (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 17: Shewing that now a persecution was stirred up everywhere (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 18: Concerning what was related at the capital by the Catholicus of Dovin, a city of the greater Armenia in the Persian dominions, and by the other bishops who were with him (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 19: Concerning what was said by the Magi to Khosrun their king, and put in execution (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 20: Concerning the commencement of the provocation of the Christians in the Greater Armenia by the king of the Persians. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 21: Shewing what was afterwards done by Khosrun in Persarmenia, and how they revolted from him and the whole land surrendered itself to the Romans (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 22: Concerning the narrative of the Catholicus and his companions. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 23: Shewing that at first, on the arrival of the Armenian bishops at the capital, they went, in their simplicity, and communicated in the church of the Synodites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 24: Showing what was subsequently done after the Armenians had surrendered themselves (to the Romans), and that owing to their extreme numerousness we omit and pass by the narrative of these events (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 25: Concerning the dread and severe chastisement of God's righeous judgment, which in the height of the persecution quickly overtook both sides alike (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 26: Concerning the humiliation and torture which overtook John of Sirmin, and that he was chastised by a devil all the days of his life, because it was he who set on foot a merciless persecution (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 27: Showing, that when John was persecuting, he rooted out and took down all the pictures of the orthodox fathers from all the monasteries, and fixed up his own (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 28: Concerning Theodulus, the deacon, who was also a violent persecutor of Christians, and of the righteous sentence of retribution which also overtook him, when tortured by misfortune (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 29: Concerning the king's quaestor, whose name was Anastasius (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 30: Showing that as the churches of the orthodox were rooted up in the persecution by the Synodites, so shortly afterwards those which the Synodites themselves possessed were similarly treated by a certain just sentence; the altars of the churches throughout all Thrace, and up to the city wall, being rooted out and stripped by the barbarians, and they fled from before the face of the barbarians (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 31: Upon the summons and arrival at the capital of the patriarch Eutychius after the death of John (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 32: Concerning what was said by the archdeacon of Rome in the presence of the king canonically with boldness concerning John and Eutychius before the arrival of the latter (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 33: Showing that when Eutychius was recalled, it was supposed by everyone that he would not be permitted to return and occupy the see, until a synod had been assembled and sat and examined every thing that had been done by him and John unto one another (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 34: Concerning the images of John which Eutychius took down, and his relatives, all of whom he humbled and ejected (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 35: Concerning the books of the Quaternity, that is, the two natures after the union, which Eutychius composed when in exile (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 36: Showing that Eutychius was perverted to the view of the heresy of the Athanasians, who say that these bodies do not rise, but others arise in their stead (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 37: Showing that when Eutychius was murmured at and ridiculed and reviled by everyone, he thought that he was only reviled by the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 38: Concerning Fravianus, the slave of Andrew, who had been originally the queen's pursebearer (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 39: Concerning a sister a nun, and the courageous conflicts she underwent, and was victorious and triumphant in all fo them (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 40: Concerning the Antiphon for Thursday in Passion-week, which Eutychius wished to alter, and which from ancient custom was part of the service in all churches, and substitute his own (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 41: Concerning what finally happened to John, called Superintendent of the heathen, after all his trials (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 42: Concerning the injured Paul of Asia, who was deposed from the episcopate (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 43: Showing that John endeavoured by a crafty artifice to consecrate Paul again, of which attempt we here record only a short summary (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 44: Concerning Deuterius, who succeeded Paul as bishop of the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 45: Concerning the sect of those who are called Condobaudites, after the name of the monastery which they assembled (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 46: Concerning the monastery of the Cappadocian monks (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 47: Concerning the confused and troubled orthodoxy which prevailed in the monasteries (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 48: Concerning a marvellous sign manifested in some animals, that is, some elephants (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 49: Cocncerning a conflagration which took place at the capital (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 50: Explaining the reasons why possibly the account of one event will be found recorded in a confused manner in several chapters (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 51: Showing that while Eutychius originally belonged to the heresy of the Samosatenians [Sabbatarians], he finally gave himself up to other heresies (Syriac) (ET-[Note this has mistakely been marked II. 42]) (GT)
    • Chapter 52: Showing that Eutychius was opposed to the phrase, "Thou that wast crucified for us" (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
  • Book 3 [Back to Top]
    • Chapter 1: Concerning the commencement of the book (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 2: Showing that when the king gave way, and betook himself to evil courses, chastisement was sent down upon him from God for his good (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 3: Concerning the means employed for the king's amusement . . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 4: Concerning what was said of the king's temptation (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 5: Concerning the appointment of the God-loving Tiberius as Caesar. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chatper 6: Concerning the end of King Justin, and the reign of the merciful Tiberius (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 7: Concerning queen Sophia. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 8: Concerning the wife of Tiberius Caesar, whose name originally was Ino. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 9: Concerning the arrival of the Caesar's wife at the palace, after he had begun to reign. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 10: Concerning the queen Sophia, and what happened afterwards (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 11: Concerning the commencement of the reign of Tiberius (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 12: Concerning the manner in which the Caesar was annoyed by the patriarch John (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 13: Concerning the persecution commanded against heresies for the following reason (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 14: Concerning the Hypatia of king Tiberius. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 15: Concerning the persecution which was stirred up against heresies, and also against the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 16: Concerning the uprooting of the congregation which assembled at the church in the Marianum (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 17: Concerning the patriarch Eutychius himself. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 18: Concerning the patriarch Eutychius himself, and his pride (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 19: Concerning the opposition he made to the phrase, "Thou that wast crucified for us" (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 20: Concerning the heat and bitter bile and utter hatred entertained by Eutychius against the whole party of the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 21: Showing that the victorious king, in whose nature was nobleness and humility, though occupied with the cares of the wars, did not often give way to persecution, according to the wish and urgency of the persecutors (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 22: Concerning the gentleness of king Tiberius (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 23: Concerning the buildings which king Tiberius erected in the palace (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 24: Concerning Justin's Pharos, which king Tiberius rooted up (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 25: Concerning the trials occasioned by the numerous wars which surrounded king Tiberius from the time he was made Caesar (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 26: Concerning the Romans and Goths who were Arians, and asked for a church to be given them (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 27: Concerning the audacious doings of the heathens, and what was justly stirred up against them (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 28: Concerning what was done at Edessa respecting the heathen (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 29: Concerning the tumult, and what was done at Antioch the Great after these things (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 30: Concerning what was done and carried on at the capital in the matter of the heathen (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 31: Concerning the riot at the capital from the zeal of the Christian people because of the quest after the heathens (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 32: Concerning the entry of the king into the city, and what happened afterwards (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 33: Concerning what was subsequently done in the trial of the heathens (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 34: Concerning the quest subsequently made after the heathen (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 35: Concerning the bitter murder of Eustochius, bishop of Jerusalem, which was perpetrated by his slave (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 36: Concerning the great monastery newly built in the land of Asia by John, Superintendent of the heathen, in a mountain of (near) the city of Tralles (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 37: Concerning the opposition and trials which arose agianst the said monastery of Derira, through the envy of the evil one (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 38: Concerning the suddend death of Eutychius (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 39: Concerning John, who from being the pursebearer of the former (John), was subsequently chosen (to be patriarch) (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 40: Concerning Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], the son of Harith, and the accusation against him (Syriac) (ET [Page says II.40, but means III.40]) (GT
    • Chapter 41: Concerning the visit of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith] to Magnus, and his arrest. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 42: Concerning the four sons of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], and what they did (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 43: Concerning the second journey thither of Magnus, and the death which overtook him, and put an end to his wicked plots (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 44: Concerning the peace and short respite which the orthodox enjoyed at the capital [For Chapters 44-56 we have only the title preserved. The actual content is missing. See the note in English here and in German here]
    • Chapter 45: Concerning the famine which suddenly happened at the capital 
    • Chapter 46: Concerning the excessive mortality of children
    • Chapter 47: Concerning king Tiberius, and the time of his death
    • Chapter 48: Concerning king Tiberius' purpose of bringing about unity in the church
    • Chapter 49: Showing that king Tiberius' wife from ignorance hated the orthodox
    • Chapter 50: Concerning the three queens who dwelt at one time in the palace after the death of Tiberius
    • Chapter 51: Concerning John, who was patriarch after Eutychius
    • Chapter 52: Concerning the mercifulness and liberality of the partriarch John
    • Chapter 53: Concerning the struggles of the patriarch John against the heathen
    • Chapter 54: Concerning the imprisonment of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], and his banishment from the capital to a distant place of exile
    • Chapter 55: Concerning one of the princes of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith] whose name was Sergius, a believer, who was also sent into exile
    • Chapter 56: Concerning the arrival of Noman [al-Nu'man III ibn al-Mundhir], the son of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], at the capital
  • Book 4 [Back to Top]
    • Chapters 1-4 missing; Chapter 5 partial (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 6: Concerning the barbarian people of Nubia, who were instructed in Christianity, together with the cause of their being instructed (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 7: Concerning the arrival of the blessed Julian and his companions in the land of Nubia, and their reception, and the other things which they there accomplished by the help of God (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 8: Showing that when the blessed Theodosius departed from this world, he remembered this people, and commanded that Longinus should be immediately made their bishop, and sent thither, inasmuch as Julian also was dead (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 9: Concerning what was written to Longinus by Theodosius, archpresbyter, and Theodore, archdeacon of the clergy of the church of the orthodox at Alexandria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 10: Concerning two bishops, John and George, who at that time had been sent from Syria to Longinus, and concerning Theodore, who fell into temptation (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 11: Concerning those things which malignantly and savagely and confusedly, and contrary to all canonical order, were done by the Alexandrians after these things, together with the consecration of Peter (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 12: Showing that though the question had not been taken into consideration, and examined by them as orderly men, whether the former (bishop) had been appointed in a fitting and orderly manner, (or not,) they consecrated a second (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 13: Concerning Theodore, the first bishop, who against his will, was appointed and consecrated upon compulsion (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 14: Concerning Paul the patriarch, spoken of above, and concerning the unfounded idea respecting him, and his deposition contrary to rule by Peter, who was himself appointed unseasonably (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 15: Concerning the division and quarrel, which by the instigation of Satan took place between Jacob and Paul contrary to the rule of propriety (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 16: Concerning the deposition of Paul by Peter, who was the second consecrated (to the see), contrary to justice, and the entire canonical order of the church (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 17: Concerning the arrival finally of the blessed Jacob at Alexandria and the rest of his acts (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 18: Concerning the departure of the blessed Jacob and the other bishops who were with him from Alexandria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 19: Concerning the division and quarrel and schism which ensued not only in Syria, but also in Cilicia and Isauria and Asia and Cappadocia and Armenia, and especially at the captial. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 20: Concerning the message sent by Paul the patriarch to Jacob, respecting an inquiry and canonical examination of the charges brought against him (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 21: Concerning the zeal and earnestness of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], son of Harith, king of the Arabs (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 22: Concerning the journey of Longinus, and Theodore, whom he had made pope, into the regions of Syria, and to the side of the Paulites (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapters 23-29 missing; Chapter 30 partial (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 31: Showing that there were divisions also in most of the chief monasteries, and that being at variance, they parted and withdrew, some standing up for the Paulites, and some for the Jacobites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 32: Concerning the meetings of numerous abbots, and the message they sent to Jacob; and the bishops who were with him (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 33: Showing that an impulse suddenly seized upon the old man Jacob to go to Alexandria, and that on his journey he departed from the world (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 34: Concerning an unfounded idea full of wickedness which some persons imagined and gave utterance to, respecting the sudden death of the blessed Jacob and his companions, who, having no fear for the account they must give for every idle word, spread abroad a report, that some Paulites forsooth murdered the old man Jacob and his companions with stones (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 35: Concerning the three ambassadors, who in the year 883, were sent to confer about a peace upon the marches, and who strongly took the side of Paul (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 36: Concerning Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], the son of Harith, king of the Arabs, and all his hordes, who were grieved and vexed on account of the Paulites and Jacobites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 37: Concerning the second journey of the clergy of Alexandria to the capital, and their imprisonment in monasteries (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 38: Concerning the death of Theodosius, archpresbyter, and Ecclesiecdicus of the church of the Alexandrians, who died in imprisonment at the monastery of Nitria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 39: Concerning the journey of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], the son of Harith, king of the Arabs, to the capital, and what was done by him there in his zeal because of the schism between the Jacobites and Paulites (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 40: Concerning the meeting, and promises of peace and union made by the two parties to one another by the mediation of the illustrious Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith] (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 41: Concerning Damianus, a Syrian, who also, contrary to canonical order, was appointed patriarch at Alexandria after Peter (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 42: Concerning the departure of the Alexandrian clergy, and subsequently of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith] himself from the capital (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 43: Concerning Damianus, and his flasehood, and the upsetting which iniquitously brought about of the peace made at the capital; and concerning the clergy who also turned round and were false to their promises (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 44: Concerning what was done also in the land of Syria, occasioned by the letters of Damianus, without order, and contrary to the laws of the church (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 45: Concerning the letters of the monasteries in the east in their own handwriting to John of Ephesus, who was dwelling at the capital, inviting him to communion with the patriarch, whom they had consecrated (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chatper 46: Apology of the author, showing that he writes without partiality or passion towards either party (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 47: Showing that Paul finally went and hid himself in a mountain of Isauria in a cave, as they said, for four years, without intercourse with any one (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 48: Concerning Theodore, who was made pope of Alexandria by Longinus and the rest (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 49: Concerning the conversion to Christianity of the people whom the Greeks call Alodaei, who are supposed by us to be Cushites (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 50: Concerning those who were sent by the Alexandrians to the people of the Alodaei (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 51: History of the journey of the blessed Longinus to the land of the Alodaei, and of their joyful conversion and baptism by him (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 52: Concerning the letter of the king of Alodaea to the king of Nubia (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 53: Part of a letter of bishop Longinus (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 54: Concerning the concealment of Paul the patriarch (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 55: Concerning Theodore, who was made pope of Alexandria by Longinus (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 56: Concerning the journey of pope Theodore to the island of Cyprus (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 57: Concerning the end of Paul the patriarch, how it was (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 58: Concerning the decease of Paul and Jacob, how it happened to them both one after the other in a troubled manner (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 59: Concerning what after their death was said and done by the parties of the Paulites and Jacobites, who were at variance with one another (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 60: Concerning the journey of Peter, who had been consecrated in Syria, to Alexandria (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 61: Concerning the congress of the bishops of both parties, etc., who for a year, more or less, contended and debated with one another (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
  • Book 5 [Back to Top]
    • Chapter 1: Concerning the commencement and time when the Tritheites began the laying on of hands, and took measures, that their bishops might fill all quarters with their impudent and polluted heresy (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 2: To the same effect, namely, that they consecrated and sent everywhere numerous bishops of their party (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 3: Concerning the sectaries of the heresiarchs Conon and Eugenius (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 4: Concerning the release of Conon from exile (Syriac) (ET) (GT
    • Chapter 5: Concerning the division of the Cononites into two heresies (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 6: Concerning the journey of both parties to the land of Pamphylia, to pervert it, and the death of Eugenius there (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 7: Concerning the message sent to Conon by John of Asia at the capital, and the cause of his (Conon's) journey thither (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 8: Concerning the imposture of the Tritheites, who, by a crafty artifice, professed to wish for union, but did not do so in reality (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 9: Shewing that they were guilty of the same at Alexandria and also in Syria (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 10: Concerning the great book of lacerations (catena of extracts) which the Tritheites tore out and put together (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 11: Concerning the meetings of the bishops of the Tritheites (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 12: Concerning a solitary bishop of the Tritheites, who returned to the Orthodox, and made an act of recantation, and anathematized them (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 13: Concerning the time of the reign of the victorious king Maurice, which according to the rule of propriety ought to have been written at the head of the book, but it did not so occur (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 14: Concerning king Maurice, and his marriage banquet, and his son, whom afterwards he begot in the palace. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 15: Concerning those whose habit it was, on pretext of the faith, to fall upon men, and rob and steal the goods of others, and who did not rest quiet till they had informed the king about the orthodox (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 16: Concerning the persecution of the Church of the Arians (Syriac) (ET [Written as V.15, but should read V.16]) (GT)
    • Chapter 17: Concerning Gregory, bishop of Antioch, and his journey to the capital, and the request he made to the king (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 18: Concerning the parents, and brothers, and sisters, and very numerous relatives, whom king Maurice sent for and brought to the capital, and enriched and ennobled them (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 19: Concerning Domitianus, metropolitan of the city of Melitene, a relative of the king (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 20: Shewing that when Maurice began to reign he found the palace emptied of its treasures, and came into great trouble and distress (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 21: Concerning the disturbers, and persecutors, and plunderers of others, who constantly were annoying the ears fo king Maurice, and the rest of his court (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 22: Concerning the rebuilding of the desolate city of Arabissus in Cappadocia, which was king Maurice's native town (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 23: Concerning the destruction by an earthquake two years afterwards, more or less, of the rebuilt town of Arabissus (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
  • Book 6 [Back to Top]
    • Chapter 1: Concerning the commencement of the book (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 2: Concerning the war conducted by the patrician Marcian, and what subsequently happened to him (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 3: Concerning the causes of the king's wrath against Marcian, in respect of Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], king of the Arabs (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 4: Concerning the king's letters to Marcian and Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith] (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chatper 5: Concerning the march of the king of the Persians, and the capture of Dara in the year 884. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 6: Concerning the capture of the city of Apamaea, and the devastation wrought that year, while the Persian king sat before Dara (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 7: Concerning two thousand beautiful virgins, who, at the king's command, were selected to be sent as a present to the barbarians, and the wonderful and astonishing act which the virgins committed in their zeal for Christianity (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 8: Concerning the short truce which was made at that time for three years in the provinces of Syria, and the expedition of the king of the Persians into the territory of the Romans, that is, into Armenia and Cappadocia (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 9: Concerning the burning of Melitene, and the subsequent events (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 10: Concerning what finally happened to the Romans in Persarmenia (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 11: Concerning the Persarmenians who had given themselves up to the Romans (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 12: Concerning the ambassadors of the Romans and Persians, who met on the part of the two realms upon the borders, mutually to judge of and examine all the matters on account of which wars had been stirred up, and for which they blamed one another (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 13: Concerning the inroad which the Persians made into the Roman territories, immediately, at that very time (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 14: Concerning Count Maurice, etc., and the stratagem and inroad of the Persians (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 15: Concerning the subsequent actions of Maurice (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 16: Concerning Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], the son of Harith, and Maurice, how after these things they invaded in concert the Persian territories (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 17: Concerning a Marzban of the Persians, who crossed over, and burnt the district of Tella a second time, and that of Edessa, and Haran . . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 18: Concerning Mondir [Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Ḥārith], the son of Harith, and his victory (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 19: Concerning what was done by the captives imprisoned in Antioch, which Khosrun built in Persia, and has imprisoned there all his captives from the Roman territory unto this day (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 20: Concerning the death of Khosrun, king of the Persians, and of the duration of his reign. . . (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 21: Showing that Khosrun gave proof that he was sorry and vexed at the rupture of the peace between the kingdoms, and that even after much devastation had taken place in both realms, he wished to reestablish peace, and made many concessions (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 22: Concerning the son of Khosrun, king of the Persians, who reigned after him, and whose name was Hormuzd (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 23: Concerning the reasons whence the ill feeling originally arose, and the peace was broken between the kingdoms (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 24: Concerning a base people who are called Avars (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 25: Concerning the people of the Slavonians, and the devastation which they committed in Thrace, in the third year of the reign of the serene king Tiberius (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 26: Concerning the battle of the Romans and Persians, which happened before the city of Tella, on a day of the month Haziron, in the year 892, as follows (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 27: Concerning Maurice, who was over all the generals in the East (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 28: Concerning a battle which took place in Armenia, and the other matters administered and done there (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 29: Concerning a certain Persian imposter, who gave himself out as the king's son (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 30: Concerning Sirmium, a great city in the kingdom of the Gepidae, which the Avars took by violence (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 31: Concerning the journey of Narses the Spatharius (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 32: Showing that finally when what they hoped did not come to pass, the city of Sirmium was given up to these barbarians (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 33: Concerning the burning of Sirmium, which happened subsequently (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 34: Concerning the record of numerous wars, and finally of the war conducted by Maurice, and the capture of Arzun (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 35: Concerning another fort which Maurice built opposite Sophene, the name of which is Shemkoroth (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 36: Concerning another fort, the name of which is Ocba, which is situated on the Chalat, in the land of the Persians (Syriac) (ET) (GT)
    • Chapter 37: Concerning an ambassador of the Persians, who happened at that time to be sent to the king of us the Romans (Syriac) (GT) [This chapter is fragmentary and the rest of the book is not preserved]
    • Chapter 38: Concerning the journey of an ambassador of the Romans, to confer with the king of the Persians about a peace
    • Chapter 39: Concerning the Persian ambassador, who was sent a second time to the king of the Romans
    • Chapter 40: Concerning the immense devastation wrought during a long period by the two states against one another
    • Chapter 41: Concerning the rise and subsequent fall of the principality of the Roman Arabs
    • Chapter 42: Concerning some of the princes of the Arabs, who went and surrendered themselves to the Persians
    • Chapter 43: Concerning some famous princes among the Persian Marzbans, who were taken prisoners, and sent in chains to the capital
    • Chapter 44: Concerning another war in the third year (of Maurice), and the victory which God gave the Romans
    • Chapter 45: Concerning the base people of the barbarians, who from their long hair are called Avars
    • Chapter 46: Showing that the Avars made an expedition, and captured numerous important cities and forts
    • Chapter 47: Concerning the terror and commotion which fell upon Constantinople, while we also were there
    • Chapter 48: Concerning the capture and laying waste of the land of of the Slavonians
    • Chapter 49: Concerning the laying waste of the city of Anchialus, and concerning the warm baths there