Chart of the Syro-Phoenician Church from 525 A.D. till 1724
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Eastern Christian Milestones
525 A.D. to 1,724

The Eastern Church's contribution to the Universal Church is often forgotten. The Syro-Phoenician Church was the "mustard seed" that made a "major tree" in the modern world.

From the martyrdom of Philoxenus, 523 A.D. till the Arab Conquest, 645 A.D.

Date

Description

Sources
525 AD Pope Gelasius appointed a Syriac monk Dionysius Exiguus, (='Denys the short') as a translator of his archives. Denys invented the idea of dating from the birth of Christ, viz: anni Domini. (See entry under 532 AD.) [7], p. 63
525 AD
April		 Another disastrous flood at Edessa. Procopius states that about 30,000 people, (a third of the population) were killed in that flood. The chronicle of Edessa also records that the flood destroyed the city for the third time. This was also the fourth time that the walls were destroyed, [41]. Asclepius (Chalcedonian catholic) bishop of Edessa showing his true nature once again, flees the disaster and hides in Antioch were he died on 27th June of the same year.
 
Euphrasius was patriarch of Antioch at this time, [41].		 [33], pp. 96, 124
[41]
March 8th
526 AD		 Paul who had been deposed from Edessa decided to accept the council of Chalcedon and was restored as bishop of Edessa. Paul died on the 30th October of the same year. Paul was succeeded by Andreas on the 7th February AD 527 [41]
1pm Friday 29th May
526 AD		 A massive earthquake destroyed Antioch killing most of the population including Euphrasius the patriarch. He was succeeded by Ephraim of Amida, another Chalcedonian catholic. He sat until AD 545. [41]
[7], p. 72
1st April
527 AD		 Death of Byzantine emperor Justin I, who was succeeded by his nephew Justinian. Justinian decreed that a dam should be built to protect Edessa from flood waters and he funded the project.
 
During the reign of Justinian, a Chalcedonian catholic centre was established at Edessa. This was part of a wider movement led by the emperor, that later would become the Melkite denomination.
 
The Melkite movement translated its Greek scriptures and other writings into the local Aramaic dialect – Western Aramaic or Christian Palestinian Aramaic, (CPA). The faithful were still speaking western Aramaic in the 6th century and even later is demonstrated by the surviving CPA lectionaries, (see under AD 969 below).		 [33], pp. 77, 112, 156
[41]
15th November
527 AD		 Antioch, or what was left of it after the earthquake the previous year, was destroyed again, this time by a major fire. [41]
530 AD Emperor Justinian tried to Hellenize the Aramean monasteries of the Sinaitic peninsular. Part of this strategy was to establish the Monastery of St. Catherine in that part of the world. [35], p. 85
12th July
531 AD
(AG 842)		 Death of Kawad, king of Persia who was succeeded on 12th July AD 531 by Khusraw I Anushirun son of Kawad, [50]. [33], p. 112
[37], p. xii
[50], p. 318 note 3
18th December
531 AD		 The Huns defeated the Roman commander Demosthenes at Edessa and invaded and laid waste the Roman territory as far as Aleppo and they came within 12 miles of Antioch. [41]
532 AD
(= 247 anno Diocletiani)		 The Sythiac monk, Dionysius Exiguus (translator of Pope Gelasius ) writes a letter to a bishop named Petronius dated 247 anno Diocletiani stating that he had calculated the birth of Christ to have occurred 531 years previously in 1 AD, the start date he was proposing as a new Christian calendar. The non-zero integer arithmetic indicates that if the birth of Christ occurred in 1 AD and 531 years previously, then the date of Dionysius' letter was 532 AD. See entry above under 286 AD. [5], p. 100.
[7], p. 63 Bede read this letter 200 years later and used AD in his book, 'The Ecclesiastical History of the English People' popularizing the AD based calendar in England from the 8th century onwards.
September
532 AD		 Rufinius a Roman patrician makes a peace treaty with the Persians which holds until AD 539 or 540. [41]
December
532 AD		 Andreas bishop of Edessa died. He was succeeded by Addai on 28th August AD 533. [41]
c. 535 AD Cosmas Indikopleustes, an Indian traveler from the island of Socotra sees Syriac Christian bishops and communities living along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka. These Christians had been driven East by the persecution of, and wars between, the Zoroastrian Sassanian kings of Persia and the Arian Byzantine Caesars. [7], p. 153
537 to 538 AD John (bishop) of Tella a Monophysite bishop was arrested and tortured in prison. John had successfully run the Monophysite church for some time, staying on the move to evade capture as long as possible. He died a martyr during torture in 538 AD. [33], p. 96
538 AD Died theologian Mar Severus patriarch of Antioch [22]
5th October
538 AD		 Appeared a comet which the chronicler describes as a spear [41]
May
539 AD		 The Persian king Khusraw I Anosharwan invades Byzantine territory, penetrating deep into Syria. He laid waste Shura, and Haleb (Aleppo) and Antioch, and also took possession of Apamea, and turned and came as far as Edessa.
 
Edessa was besieged by the Persian king who was repulsed and bought off with 200 pounds of gold. A peace was arranged in 562 AD. According to [41], the date of the siege of Edessa was the summer of AD 539, however [33] has AD 544.		 [33], p. 113, 158
[41]
January
540 AD
(Kanun II AG 852)		 Mar Abha I who had been educated at the School of Nisibis, who later became an eminent professor there, succeeded catholicos Paulus and became East Syriac catholicos. He sat until his death on 29th February AD 552. [45]
[50], p. 318 notes 1, 3, 326, 353 note 5
c. 540 AD The Chronicle of Edessa (here labeled [41]) was written. [33], p. 166
542 AD
[34] has 341 AD		 Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian was sympathetic to the Monophysite cause and caused Jacob Bard'aya (or Burd'ana) to become bishop of Edessa, 541 - 578 AD. Jacob gave his name to the Jacobites a West Syriac Monophysite Christian denomination which survives to this day. [33], p. 97
[34], pXXVII
January to July 12th
544 AD		 A synod was held presided over by the east Syriac catholicos Mar Abha I. The acts of this synod contain a few gospel quotations taken from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript. Mar Abha who had been educated at the School of Nisibis, later founded a new eastern Syriac theological school in Seleucia, (Baghdad). One of his disciples, a priest called Ishai, became the first professor of biblical exegesis at Seleucia. Ishai wrote a treatise which survives. As is clear from the text, he also used an Old Syriac gospel manuscript in his work.
 
The 5th year of Mar Abha I began January AD 544 and the 13th year of Kawsrau the king ended on 12th July AD 544. This means that the synod was held sometime within this interval.		 [38], pp. 95 – 96
[50], p. 318
545 AD Ephraim of Amida Chalcedonian catholic patriarch of Antioch died. [7], p. 72
550 AD The archives of Edessa were still kept in that city at this time. Assemani, 'Bibliotecha Orientalis' Vol. 1 via [17], p. 142
c. 550 AD Moses of Agel (or Aggil) a Monophysite, mentioned that chorepiscopus Polycarp had translated the NT and David, (Psalms) from Greek into Syriac for Xenaias, (Philoxenus) - see under 508 AD above. Assemani Bibl. Or. t. II, p. 82 via [34], p. XXVIII
c. 550 AD East Syriac catholicos Mar Abha I wrote a book called 'Memre of the soul'.
Mar Abha I who had learned Greek at Edessa, [50] created a new Syriac version of the Old Testament, and perhaps also of the New Testament, (middle of the 6th century, see above under AD 544). According to Mingana Syr 53, Mar Abha also commissioned Thomas of Edessa to translate the liturgy of Theodore of Mopsuestia from Greek into Syriac.		 [32], para 34
[33], p. 165
[46], volume 1, column 150
[50], p. 318
fl. c. 550 AD Johannan of Dalyatha (or John Saba) an East (?) Syriac anchorite monk, gathered some monks together and erected the monastery of Dalyatha at Qardu. He wrote a treatise on the monastic life and a collection of epistles. According to [38] these works contain much gospel text quoted from an Old Syriac text, though some have been vulgarized in transmission. This was part of a reaction by the monks to the severe harm done by the East Syriac clergy towards them over the preceding 70 years or so. In general, the reaction of the monks was largely to go their own way. They could rely on the assistance of many ordinary believers to continue their healing and preaching ministries.
 
Johannan's work has been transmitted by both the Eastern and Western Syriac traditions. CUL 1999 is western and dated AD 1573.		 [24], p. 109
[38], pp. 104, 125
BL Orient 4074
CUL Syr. 1999
HSM Syr. 42, 48, 115
February
552 AD		 Mar Abha I East Syriac catholicos died on the second Friday in the month Careme = February, [50]. He was succeeded in May AD 552, [50] by Joseph who sat until being deposed between AD 564 and 567, [50] or in AD 567, [46]. [46], volume 1, column 663 cited from Bar Hebraeus.
[50], pp. 318 note 1, 352 note 1, 353 note 5
553 AD = 1 AE This was year 1 or 2 in the Armenian era (AE) dating system. [44], p. 17
January
554 AD		 An East Syriac synod was held under catholicos Joseph. Joseph had himself been a monk near Nisibis and being the favourite nominated by the Marzban (= Persian governor) of Nisibis, he was made catholicos by king Khusraw I Anosharwan (the same king who had earlier besieged Edessa). In his concluding statement from the synod, Joseph says that East Syriac monasticism had been suppressed and dethroned. This indicates the completion of a process of physical persecution and ideological suppression of asceticism which was begun by Barsauma at the end of the 5th century. Catholicos Joseph behaved despotically and generally badly, throwing some bishops into prison and deposing others, generating a lot of ill will. He was finally deposed, probably in AD 567. Afterwards Joseph was regarded as an illegitimate catholicos.
 
The persecution of the monks by the clergy resulted in a permanent rift between the two sides. From a gospel text point of view, the monks continued to use the Old Syriac texts they preferred, whereas from this time onwards the East Syriac clergy slowly migrated towards the Peshitta.		 [38], pp. 124 – 125
[50], pp. 352 note 1, 354
555 AD The second Armenian council Dvin. The Armenian bishops condemned the church of the Roman empire and formally adopted the Monophysite christology of Cyril of Alexandria. [44], p. 11
c. 560 AD Flourished Moshe Karkhaya, i.e. he was from Karkha in Piruz. Moshe was a disciple of Catholicos Mar Abha I. This places his fl. c. AD 560. His works include a treatise on the two genealogies of Christ as found in the gospels, (A copy of this work can be found in Mingana Syr 148A). [46], volume 1, column 340
c. 560 AD Hind, the daughter of the Arabian king Herta al-Hirah Abu Kabus Numan ibn al-Mundhir a Christian. Hind was also the mother of `Amr Ibn Mudir (AD 554 – 569). She founded a monastery in al-Hira. This monastery contains Christian Arabic inscriptions which indicate that the gospel had already by this time been translated from Syriac into Arabic. [24], p. 129
[38], p. 156
566 or 567 AD Yohannan (John) of Ephesus wrote his 'History of Oriental Saints'. Yohannan was a monk at Amida and became a favourite of the Emperor Justinian. He also persecuted pagan groups in Asia Minor, (Turkey). In his history, Yohannan quotes the gospels from the Peshitta, although some Old Syriac influences can be traced. [38], p. 93
567 AD Joseph catholicos of the east was deposed due to his authoritarian and heavy handed behaviour. [46], volume 1, column 663 cited from Bar Hebraeus.
[50], pp. 352 note 1, 353 note 5
570 AD Mar Hazqiel or Ezekiel became east Syriac catholicos. His election ended a gap of three years which began after the deposition of Joseph. During Hazqiel's episcopate, rabban Henana of Hedhaiyabh flourished in the School of Nisibis.
 
Also at this time there was an epidemic of yersinia pestis, (bubonic plague) which decimated Mesopotamia. Things got so bad that a three day fast was instituted in the church calendar, called the Rogations of the Ninevites. This fast is still practised by the Church of the East.		 [50], p. 370 note 2
575 AD Ahudemma was martyred by Khusraw king of Persia. His anonymous biographer quotes the gospels in the Peshitta version. [38], p. 93
February
576 AD		 A synod was held presided over by Catholicos Mar Hazqiel or Ezekiel. The acts of this synod contain eight gospel quotations. Of these eight, seven are taken from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript. The first canon concerns the designation of the Messalians (see above under AD 366) as heretics on the grounds of sexual immorality. Also according to the synodal canons, the clergy sought ways to subordinate the monks under their hierarchical authority.
 
According to [46], Mar Hazqiel had been a disciple of catholicos Mar Abha I and he wrote a commemoration of his master which survives in Mingana Syr 542 A (j).		 [38], pp. 95, 125
[46], volume 1, column 997
[50], pp. 368, 368 note 1
578 AD End of the see of theologian and bishop of Edessa, Mar Yacub Baradeus. [22]
[34], p. XXVII
30th June
AD 578		 Hormizd IV son of Khusraw I Anosharwan became king of Persia. He reigned until the summer of AD 590.
Reference [37] has a less exact date of 577 or 578 AD.
Reference [50], p. 390 note 1 has February AD 579.		 [37], p. xii
[50], pp. 390 note 1, 391 note 2
Between 30th June
and 30th September
581 AD
(AG 892)		 Isho`yabh I of Arzon became East Syriac catholicos who died in his 15th year which began late summer AD 595.
Reference [50], p. 370 has the election date as AD 582 or 583.
Reference [50], p. 371 note 3 cites an ancient source who gives the year of his election as AG 892 = between October 1st AD 580 and September 30th AD 581. Based upon the date of the synod in AD 585, the interval of his election can be narrowed down to between the 30th June and the 30th September AD 581.		 [24], p. 125
[50], pp. 370 note 2, 371 note 3
Between
30th June and
30th September
585 AD
(In the 8th year of Hormizd the king, and the 4th year of Isho`yabh [50])		 A synod was held presided over by the East Syriac catholicos Isho`yabh I of Arzon. The acts of this synod contain sixteen gospel quotations. Of these only a quarter reflect the tenacity of the Old Syriac text type. One canon issued by this synod forbade ordinary Christians from visiting monasteries and cells on Sundays and festivals. This was because many were visiting the monasteries in preference to attending church. Also at this synod, Hannana or Henana of Hedhaiyabh who had dared to challenge some of Theodore of Mopsuestia's teachings was excommunicated by the East Syriac church, (see below under AD 596).
 
Isho`yabh I of Arzon wrote an historical and theological commentary upon the trisagion of the East Syriac church which is preserved in a 14th century MS, Mingana Syr 561 part C, [46].
 
Isho`yabh was a friend of the Christian Arab king Herta al-Hirah Abu Kabus Numan ibn al-Mundhir whose daughter, Hind, had founded the Arabic speaking monastery, (see above under AD 560) where Isho`yabh later died in AD 596.		 [24], pp. 125, 129, 130
[38], pp. 95, 129
[46], volume 1, column 1043
[50], pp. 391 notes 2, 3, 422 note 2
588 AD Died Abraham of Kashkar an East Syriac monastic reformer. Abraham created a new monastic centre based on the mount Izla monastery he founded near Nisibis, [50], (this monastery was also called the great convent). A Syriac biography of Abraham survives, see Mingana Syr 252 D. Again, the Izla movement was a reaction to the suppression of the monks by the East Syriac clergy. Nevertheless, the monks had certain restrictions placed upon them by the clergy.
 
Abraham was succeeded by Dadisho` of Beth Qatraya as director of this movement before the death of Abraham. Afterward Abraham lived to a great age and died in this year. Dadisho` of Beth Qatraya composed a number of treatises on various aspects of the ascetic life and translated or edited a commentary upon the 'Paradise of western monks' probably that of Palladius and Jerome. A manuscript copy of his commentary on the Paradise is preserved in the British Library, BL Add. 17264. Despite the fact that it dates from the 13th century, this 142 page manuscript is full of Old Syriac gospel readings, (an example of a Diatessaron quotation can be found in [42], p. 28). The official use of the Old Syriac gospel at the Mount Izla monastery demonstrates that it was preferred by the East Syriac monks and anchorites. Further evidence for the use of the Old Syriac at this monastery can also be seen later, (see below).
Dadisho` also wrote a commentary on the works of Isaiah of Scete. A MS containing this work can be found in Vat. Syr. 496, [47].
A treatise on solitude an prayer also survives, see Mingana, A. 'Woodbrook studies' volume 7, 1934. Vööbus reports that the gospel texts found this treatise have been adapted to the Peshitta, [38].
Dadisho` died in AD 604.		 [24], p. 131
[38], pp. 97, 117 – 118, 129
[42], p. 28
[47], volume 3, p. 99
[50], p. 562
27th June
590 AD		 Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd became king of Persia.
Reference [37] has the less exact date as AD 589 or 590.		 [37] p. xii
Hatch 'Album', p. 212
[50], p. 390 note 1, 391 note 3, 456 note 1
593 AD Died Simon Stylites the Younger.
 
Simon corresponded with the famous East Syriac writer Isaac of Nineveh. Isaac was a monk of the convent of Mar Matthew in Mosul, then an anchorite who roamed the mountains of Susiana and later he was bishop of Mosul or Nineveh. However, he soon resigned his see and went to the desert of Scete in NW Egypt where he wrote his ascetic works. These are very rich in gospel quotations taken from an Old Syriac manuscript. The Old Syriac quotations in these quotations have occasionally been altered towards the Peshitta during transmission, but much more often, the Old Syriac elements remain in the text. This suggests that the Peshitta readings were added in the margin by later readers and then incorporated in the text when manuscript copies were made.		 [24], p. 110
[38], pp. 102 – 103
596 AD
(AG 907, `Amr [50]
AG 906, Eliya [50])		 Whilst on a pastoral visit in the area, the East Syriac catholicos Isho`yabh I of Arzon died at the monastery of Hind, who was the daughter of his friend king Herta al-Hirah Abu Kabus Numan ibn al-Mundhir. [24], p. 130
[46], volume 1, column 1043
[50], p. 391 note 3
596 AD Sabhr-isho` I became east Syriac catholicos. He had studied under the direction of Mar Abraham the Commentator at the School of Nisibis. [50], p. 456 note 2
May
596 AD		 Sabhr-isho` I east Syriac catholicos held a synod. [50], p. 456 note 1
596 AD Lived Hnana or Henana or Hannana of Hedhaiyabhe (i.e. Of Adiabene) a theologian and the director of the East Syriac School of Nisibis, (he studied in this school and later became it's 6th director after Mar Narsai). He was condemned as a heretic in AD 585 by Isho`yabha I of Arzon and again in May AD 596 at the synod called by the newly elected catholicos, Sabhr-isho`. As can be seen from his surviving theological treatise, (edited by A. Scher, see Patrologia Orientalis, PO 31), Henana used an Old Syriac manuscript of the gospels. Despite being denounced in this way, Henana's works were extensively quoted by important later East Syriac authors like Isho`dad of Merv, see later under AD 852. [24], p. 125
[32], para 30
[38], p. 96
Isho`dad of Merv
March
598 AD		 Catholicos Sabhr-isho` I received a servile letter from the leaders of the monastic movement in the Shigar region of Persia, west of Mosul, promising obedience and the catholicos wrote a reply. [50], p. 461
October to December
599 AD		 An East Syriac manuscript of the four gospels was copied. It was one of the 42 Peshitta manuscripts collated by G. H. Gwilliam for the BFBS Peshitta gospel text. The manuscript is dated 10th year of Khusraw II (AD 588 to 599) and AG 911 (October AD 599 to September 600). The manuscript was copied in Teldainor, in the district of Beth Nuhadra. [20]
BL Add. 14460
Hatch 'Album', p. 211
c. 600 AD Lived Abraham Nethperaya and anchorite monk from Nethpar near Arbela. Abraham's discourses survive in the following manuscripts, BL Add. Cod. 14614 and Orient 6714. In these, Abraham quotes from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript. [24], pp. 111 - 112
[38], p. 97
c. 600 AD Lived Barhadbeshabba who was an Eastern Syriac author and Head Doctor of the school at Nisibis. He wrote, 'The cause of the foundation of the schools'. This survives only in young manuscripts. The oldest reported in [38] is 15th century AD. The gospel text used was originally Old Syriac, but many quotations were vulgarized during 900 years of textual transmission. [38], pp. 94 – 95
Drijvers, H. ‘Bardaisan of Edessa’ p. 106
600 – 620 AD
(Mentioned in AD 612, [50].)		 Flourished Shubha-lmaran, who was metropolitan of Karka d-Beth Slokh, (now Kirkuk in Iraq). His approximate period is identified by Dr. S. Brock in his paper 'Gabriel of Qatar's Commentary on the Liturgy', [Hugoye 6.2]. Ancient sources indicate that he participated in an ecclesiastical trial held in the Persian royal court, AD 612, [50]. Later, he was imprisoned for his faith by the Persian king, Khusraw II Parwez [50].
 
His metrical works are preserved in a Sinai MS, New Finds 20 and he is probably the same person as a monk of the same name quoted in MS Mingana Syr 553. He also wrote ascetic treatises called, 'The book of gifts'. This work has been edited from British Library Oriental Manuscript 6714 by the late Professor David Lane, (this work is currently being prepared for publication by CSCO).		 Hugoye on-line journal, Vol. 6, No. 2 July 2003.
[50], pp. 625, 633
For the CSCO edition see: http://www.peeters-leuven.be/boekoverz.asp?nr=7830
600 – 620 AD Flourished Gabriel bar Lipeh Katraya, i.e. of Qatar, who wrote an early commentary upon the East Syriac liturgy. His approximate date is identified by Dr. S. Brock in his paper ' Gabriel of Qatar's Commentary on the Liturgy' where Gabriel's commentary is also edited. His commentary is preserved in a unique 13th century MS, British Library, Or. 3336. The commentary is based upon a much earlier one which must have been written before the schisms of the mid 5th century because traces of it can be found in all the Syriac liturgical traditions. An abridgment of Gabriel's commentary was also transmitted under the name Abraham Katraya bar Lipeh. This abridgment has also been published by R.H. Connolly, 'Anonymi auctoris Expositio Officiorum Ecclesiae Georgio Arbelensi vulgo ascripta. Accedit Abrahae Bar Lipeh Interpretation Officiorum,' II (CSCO Scr. Syri 29, 1913). Gabriel's commentary quotes the gospel a few dozen times, and even though the surviving MS is of the 13th century, it is clear from the remaining Old Syriac variants that an Old Syriac gospel text was in use. Hugoye online journal, Vol. 6, No. 2 July 2003.
Summer
AD 604		 Died east Syriac catholicos Sabhr-isho` in Nisibis, whilst the Persian king Khusraw II Parwez was besieging Dara. In this year this Persian king besieged and captured Dara. This started a war with the Byzantines that lasted 25 years. [24], pp. 125, 133
[50], p. 456 note 2
604 AD Died Dadh-isho` the director of the Izla monastic movement, (see under AD 588). Dadisho` was succeeded as director by Babai the Great or 'the Archimandrite' or 'the Elder' (he lived AD 569-629) . Babai had studied at Beth Zahbdai and at the School of Nisibis where he had also taught. Babai wrote 'The Book of Union' a major statement of East Syriac theology, (see below under AD 612). There are many gospel quotations in this book which he quoted from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript, (only a few quotations have been vulgarized during transmission).
 
Babai's most important works were his commentaries on the whole bible. These commentaries were thought entirely lost until a copy was found amongst the 'New finds' at Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai during refurbishment work in the 1970's. At the time of writing in 2005 this unique manuscript remains unpublished. Also, despite the efforts of the present author, the manuscript remains inaccessible. This situation is greatly to be regretted and hopefully the text will be made available soon.
 
During his tenure at Mount Izla, Babai expelled a number of monks. Perhaps there was a dispute, because another monk from Izla called variously Meshiha-zekha, Isho`-zekha or Zekha-Isho` left shortly afterwards and founded the monastery of Beth Rabban Zekha-Isho` or Beth Rabban in the district of Dasen. This would have happened in the first quarter of the 7th century AD. Zekha-Isho` was the author of an ecclesiastical history. 		Atiya, Aziz S., 'A History of Eastern Christianity' Methuen, London, 1968
[24], pp. 130, 131, 167
[38], p. 97
April
605 AD		 Grighor, (Gregory) of Kashkar became east Syriac catholicos, he died in the fourth year of his episcopate. He was nominated by the Persian Queen Shirin who also supported the monophysite church. The same month, a Syriac synod was held by the new catholicos. At this synod, the clergy complained in the synodal canons that the monks and anchorites ignored their authority. This was further evidence of the rift that had opened up between the clergy and the monks following the persecution of monks by the clergy.
 
Barhadbeshabba who had been head of the school of Nisibis was elevated to be bishop of Holwan. His signature appears at the foot of this synod.		 [38], p. 125
[50], pp. 471 f., 479
Between October 608 AD and April 609 AD Died the East Syriac Catholicos Grighor, (Gregory) of Kashkar. After his death there was a persecution in Persia until the murder of Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd in AD 628. During this time there was no Catholicos of the East and the leadership role was exercised by Babai the Great. From a political point of view, the Izla ascetic movement was now (temporarily) in charge of Eastern Christianity. ([24] gives Grigor's date of death as 607 AD.) [24], pp. 126, 167
[50], p. 472
609 AD The Persians attack and capture Edessa from the Byzantine empire. [33], p. 95
c. 611 AD Martyrdom of Nathaniel bishop of Siarzour whose crucifixion after an imprisonment lasting 6 years was ordered by king Khusraw II Parwez. He had written a polemic against the Magian religion, (which was the state religion in Persia at that time, see below under AD 620). [50], p. 479
612 AD Giwargis an East Syriac monk was martyred. An account of this man's life and martyrdom was written by Babai the Great who also wrote an account of the martyrdom of Christina. Both of these works also contain gospel quotations quoted from an Old Syriac manuscript.
 
Also at about this time, Babai the Great entered into a controversy with the brothers `Abhd-isho` Hazzaya and Rabban Joseph Hazzaya i.e. from Hazza = Arbil. Joseph was a disciple of Hannana of Hedhaiyabh who had been excommunicated by the catholicoi Isho`yabh of Arzon and Sabhr-isho`. Babai's theological controversy with Joseph included his important christological treatise, 'The book of Union'. This latter work has been published by Vaschalde A. 'Liber de unione', CSCO 1915. A number of Joseph's works also survive. A 'Letter on the three Stages of Monastic Life' has been published: Patrologia Orientalis, PO 202 (45.2) and others lie in the MSS, including a large work on the Godhead, the trinity, the creation, the judgment and the divine economy found in Mingana Syr 601 part V. Several smaller works by Joseph and others by his brother `Abhd-isho` are also contained in this important MS, [46].		 [24], pp. 124-129
[38], p. 98
[46], volume 1, columns 1150, 1152
Between 27th June 612 AD
and 26th June
613 AD		 An unusual kind of controversial synod was held by the command of the king. The synod was held in the royal court of king Khusraw II Parwez, in the 23rd year of his reign, between the monophysite physician Gabriel and the bishops of the Church of the East. A record of this meeting was written by the Church of the East side has survived, [50]. This record amounts to a defence of the faith of the church of the East. [50], p. 580
613 - 619 AD Paul (Monophysite bishop) of Tella, flees persecution in Mesopotamia and goes to the Antonine convent in Alexandria, Egypt to work with Thomas of Harkel on translations of the Bible from Greek into Syriac. Paul of Tella translated from Greek into Syriac the LXX OT and the story of the woman caught in adultery found in the Greek gospel of John, [46]. Thomas of Harkel created the Herklensian version of the Syriac NT. And completed it in AD 616, [46]. Thomas mentions the earlier work of Philoxenus and uses that as a basis for his version. Later on, Thomas of Harkel became bishop of Mabbûg, also called Hierapolis . [34], p. X (second intro.)
[13]
[21]
[46], volume 1, columns 870, 871, 875
613 or 614 AD An East Syriac copy of the Peshitta gospels was made at Nisibis and dated the 25th year of the reign of Khuswaw. Hatch 'Album' p. 212
BL. Add. 14471
614 AD The Persian king Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd attacks, captures and lays waste Jerusalem. This Khusraw looted the wood of the cross and brought it to Persia. [24], pp. 135, 169
[37] p. xii
615 or 616 AD The Persian king Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd attacks and captures Alexandria. [24], p. 135
615 to 628 AD The Persian king, Khusraw Parwez engaged in a campaign of destruction and murder. Due to the suspicions of Khusraw Parwez that the Monophysites living under his reign may be communicating with the Syriac orthodox church of the west, Parwez maintained a persecution campaign which lasted until his death in 627 AD. During this campaign, many monasteries near the royal court were destroyed. [24], p. 134
(Nau, "Ahoudemmeh," p.54, 75.) via [14].
620 to 650 AD In the thirtieth year of Khusraw Parwez (620), thirteen Christians were imprisoned in Adiabene (Modern Arbil and surroundings) for five years and then in 625, crucified at the bridge marking the border of Beth Garme. At about the same time, a bishop by the name of Nathaniel was crucified for writing a polemic against the Magians, (Nathaniel's crucifixion actually happened slightly earlier, see above under AD 611). Chabot, "Chastete,," pp. 37, 39-40, 256, 258. Also Hoffmann, "Persiscer Martyrer" , p. 119, 121
622 on 16th Tammuz
(16/07/622) = 1 AH		 This is the first year of the kingdom of the Arabs, that is to say the first year of the Hadj according to the Julian, (not the present Gregorian) calendar. This date AH 1, is used as year 1 for dates given in the Islamic era, (AH). The Islamic calendar is based on the duration of 12 lunar orbits (months) and so it contains 354.358 days, (see reference below) that is to say, about 11 days shorter than the Julian calendar year of 365.25 days. This means that the Islamic new year moves constantly through the solar year, and calculations of the solar date from an Islamic date must take this movement into account.
 
According to R. M. Tennent, 'Science data book' Publ. for the OU by Oliver & Boyd 1976, p. 38, the present calendar is based upon a corrected Gregorian tropical solar year of 365.242 days = 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.9747 seconds.		 [37], p. xii
624 AD Abbot Paul of Cyprus, who fled to Cyprus to escape the Persian invasion of Syria translated the works of Gregory of Nazianzen into Syriac on the island. According to [38], he used an Old Syriac gospel manuscript and the work is very rich in gospel quotations. These translations can be found in BL. Add. Cods. 12153 and 14549. [24], p. 135
[34], p. LXXI
[38], p. 94
627 AD Byzantines under Heraclius crush the Persians at the battle of Nineveh, ending the war begun by the Persian king in AD 604. [2]
627 to 630 AD Khusraw II Parwez Hormezd was murdered in AD 628 and on 25th February AD 628 was succeeded by his son Sharwe or Kawad II, [37], [50]. He reigned only 9 months as king of Persia after the murder of his father in the same year. He was succeeded in about October AD 628 by Ardisher III son of Khusraw who reigned one year and nine or ten months. [24], pp. 126, 167
[37] p. xii
Hatch 'Album', p. 212
[50], p. 562 note 2
628 AD Marutha became metropolitan of Tagrit. Some 13th century manuscripts containing Marutha's works survive. From a homily in one of these, BL Add. 14727, it appears that Marutha used an Old Syriac gospel text. [38], p. 100
628 AD Isho`yabh II Gedalaya `Arabaya i.e. of Gedhala near Mosul became East Syriac Catholicos. He studied at Nisibis and was bishop of Balad at the time of his elevation. Isho`yabh became Catholicos unexpectedly, since the post was unanimously offered by the bishops to Babai the Great. However, Babai declined the post and Isho`yabh was elected instead. Isho`yabh II wrote a christological treatise in the form of letter to Rabban Abraham of Media which survives, [46]. [24], pp. 167 – 168
[46], volume 1, column 1112
[50], p. 562
630 AD Shahabrez 'the great [and] powerful' ruled Persia for 1 year. This reign seems to have been followed by two very short reigns by Persian Queens, Boran and then Zedemedokat both of whom were daughters of Khusraw. [37] pp. xii – xiii
630 AD Isho`yabh II of Gedhala East Syriac Catholicos, was sent by Boran, daughter of Khusraw II with an embassy to Heraclius, Emperor of Constantinople. He took with him the the cross which had been looted by the Persians when they captured Jerusalem in AD 614. This relic was promptly returned by Heraclius to Jerusalem.
 
Accompanying him on this journey was Sahdonna of Halamun, (a village in Beth Nuhadhre), afterward called Martyrius bishop of Mahoze dh'Arewan in Beth Garmai. Sahdonna studied at Nisibis and became a monk under Mar Y`aqob, (or Rabban Jacob) the founder of the convent of Beth `Abhe. Whilst Sahdonna was at Beth `Abhe he composed his important works on asceticism which have been published by CSCO. Sahdonna included a great deal of gospel text in his ascetic works, all of it taken from an Old Syriac manuscript.
 
Also included in this embassy were John the East Syriac bishop of Damascus and Isho`yabh of Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene). Isho`yabh of Hedhaiyabh studied at Nisibis and later became bishop of Mosul and then Metropolitan of Hazza, (i.e. Arbel) and Mosul and then Catholicos in AD 647.		 [24], pp. 169 – 171
[38], pp. 103 – 104
631 AD Hormezed V, son of Khusraw became king of Persia. [37] p. xiii
632 AD Yesdelrad III, son of Khusraw became king of Persia. [37] p. xiii
637 AD During the reign of Catholicos Yeshuyab II (628-44) the Muslim invaders seized Seleucia-Ctesiphon (near Baghdad) after the battle of al-Qadisiya in 637, and subsequently the whole Persian empire succumbed to their armies. Layard
639 AD Edessa and Harran were captured by the Muslim army commanded by 'Iyad ibn Ghanm the general. Michael the Syriac, commenting on the Muslim conquest, said that the Monophysite church lost much property, but gained relief from the persecution which had been dished out by the Byzantine emperors. [29], p. 110
[33], pp. 99, 100
640 AD Marutha became Monophysite metropolitan bishop of Taghrith (or Tagrit) until his death in AD 649. He compiled a new liturgy and wrote a commentary upon the gospels as well as some discourses and sedras. Small fragments of his gospel commentaries can be found in Mingana Syr 362 and in BL Add 12144. [24], p. 137
Wright 'Catalogue', p. 910
c. 640 AD East Syriac missionaries translate their Syriac Four Gospels into Chinese for the Chinese emperor Tai Tsung [4], p. 72.
641 AD The Muslims capture Alexandria [7]
c. 642 AD Athanasius Patriarch of Antioch writes to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius at the beginning of the Arab invasions. [46], volume 1, column 407
644 AD Ended the see of Isho`yabh II of Gedhala, (near Mosul), East Syriac Catholicos. He was succeeded by Mariemmeh who died in AD 647. [24], pp. 168 – 169, 172
645 AD Yesdelrad III, son of Khusraw was killed by the Saracens, (?) (Syriac: “the Children of S'a-s'an”). This ended the Persian kingdom. [37] p. xiii

From the Arab Conquest, 645 A.D. till 1724
Muslim Arab armies invaded the area occupied by Syriac speaking Christians from the early 7th century AD onwards. According to an ancient account by Michael the Syriac, the Christians had been oppressed so hard by the Persians in the East and the Byzantines in the West that they welcomed the Muslims! [22]
[38], p. 99
c. 645 AD `Anan Isho`, (later called Shenna dheBheth Remman) a distinguished scholar was originally a native of Adiabene who studied in Nisibis. He then became an East Syriac monk when he entered the Great Monastery of mount Izla. Afterwards, according to Wright [24], `Anan Isho` travelled to Egypt and Palestine gathering information about ascetic life in those regions. According to Thomas, bishop of Marga, (via Budge) `Anan Isho` then returned to Mesopotamia and came to the convent of Beth `Abhe whilst his friend Isho`yahb was still Metropolitan of Arbela, that is to say, before Isho`yahb became the Catholicos, Isho`yahb III.
 
When `Anan Isho` came to the convent of Beth `Abhe he assembled his version of 'The Paradise of the Fathers' from the sources which he had collected during his travels in Scete, (Egypt) and in Jerusalem. `Anan Isho`'s recension of the 'Paradise' is a large work in two volumes. These volumes contain around 80 scattered quotations taken from an Old Syriac gospel manuscript.
 
According to [38], `Anan Isho`'s name was Enanisho and he worked for a later Catholicos, Gewargis I. However, according to Thomas bishop of Marga, `Anan Isho` came to Beth `Abhe before Isho`yahb III became Catholicos. Therefore, it is most probable that `Anan Isho` edited the Paradise whilst the information which he had gathered during his travels was still fresh in his mind. Therefore, `Anan Isho` probably completed his recension of the Paradise in around AD 645, soon after he came to the convent of Beth `Abhe rather than 15 years later during the patriarchate of Giwargis I.
 
`Anan Isho` also composed a lexical work which survives with the additions made by Honain ibn Ishak al-`Ibadi of Herta who died AD 873. This has been published by Hoffmann, 'Opuscula Nestoriana' from two MSS, [24]. Another MS copy can be found in Mingana Syr 420.		 [24], pp. 174 – 175
'Historia Monastica' by Thomas b. of Marga. c. AD 850 via Budge, “Paradise” 1904, pp. vii – viii
[38], p. 104
647 AD Isho`yabh III of Hedhaiyabh (i.e. of Adiabene) who had formerly been Metropolitan of Arbela and bishop of Nuhadraye was elected Catholicos of the East. This Isho`yabh ordered the (re-)arrangement of the Hudra, (or order of service) and seems to have suffered widespread dissent from his bishops. Attributed to him is a theological and liturgical series of questions and answers which includes historical details, see MS Mingana Syr 566.
 
The actual work on the Hudra was done by Isho`yabh's friend, the distinguished scholar `Anan Isho`. `Anan Isho` also produced some books explaining how to pronounce difficult Syriac words used by the church fathers based upon pioneering work by Joseph Huzaya, who was the first Syriac grammarian and a disciple of Mar Narsai.		 [24], pp. 115, 116, 172, 174, 175
649 AD Died Marutha, who had been Monophysite metropolitan of Tagrit since AD 640. He was succeeded by Denha. The latter wrote a biography of his predecessor in which he also commented upon the situation in the East Syriac church in his area, (this has been edited by Nau, F. 'Denha, histoire de Marouta', PO III, 1 Paris 1905). He said that the East Syriac monks were very keen to establish schools in every settlement and that very many schools were established an ran by them.
 
One of the most famous of these founders of schools in and around Marga was Rabban Babai of Gebiltha. It is highly likely that the monks taught from their Old Syriac gospel texts in many of these schools.		 [24], pp. 136, 137
[38], pp. 100, 131
650 AD Many monks and ascetics were killed by the army of Sa'd along the Byzantine border, especially in the monastery called "The daughters of Five Churches" at Ra's Ayn (in modern Syria). (Michael G. Morony, Iraq after the Muslim Conquest, 1984, p. 379, Also J.B. Chabot, CSCO, Scr. Syri 56, Louvain, 1937) 
653 or 654 AD Gabriel was consecrated bishop of the Monophysite monastery of Qartamin in Tur `Abdin by Athanasius the patriarch. This happened during the Caliphate of Omar. As appears from the gospel quotations in the 13th century manuscript which preserves this record, the gospel text in use at Qartamin at this time was an Old Syriac text of considerable age. [38], p. 115
657 or 658 AD Died East Syriac Catholicos Isho`yahb III, formerly Metropolitan of Arbela. Many of his letters survive. These contain gospel quotations partly from the Peshitta and partly from Old Syriac texts. One of Isho`yahb's works, presumably written around AD 640 before his elevation, was a biography of Isho`sabran who was the last martyr of the Sassanid era, (the power of the Sassanids ended in AD 637). This earlier work exhibits quotations from an Old Syriac gospel. [38], p. 102
658 AD Mar Gewargis I, (George) succeeded Isho`yahb III as Patriarch. He sat until AD 680 – 681. Reference [50] gives the date of his election as either 658 or 660 AD. Gewargis had been a monk of Beth `Abe [38], p. 102
[50], p. 480 note 1
660 AD Died Denha, Monophysite metropolitan of Tagrit. [38], p. 131
668 or 669 AD Athanasios, a Monophysite priest from Nisibis translates the letters of Severus, Patriarch of Antioch from Greek into Syriac. Athanasios used the Peshitta gospel text to replace the gospel quotations in the Greek original. [38], p. 101
May
677 AD
(Iyar 57 AH)		 There was a synod under the East Syriac catholicos Giwargis I. The synodal canons are dated in the month Iyar = May of the Islamic year AH 57, [50]. Now, the year AH 57 began on the 12th November 676 AD, (see details under AD 622 above).
 
The synodal canons quote the gospel using the Peshitta text, however a number of Old Syriac variants are also present. Reference [38] gives two differing dates for this synod, or perhaps two synods actually occurred? The canons of this synod indicate that the clergy were still trying to subordinate the monks and anchorites under their own authority. The monks had essentially split away from the church hierarchy following years of persecution at the hands of the clerics. This situation was very important for the history of the Old Syriac gospel text which was the gospel text preferred by the monks. As was typified by the gospel quotations in the canons of this synod, the clerics increasingly preferred the Peshitta text.		 [38], p. 102, 125, 126
[50], p. 482
c. October
679 AD		 Catholicos Giwargis I wrote a treatise in reply to several letters from Mina who was a priest and bishop in the Church of the East. [50], p. 490
c. 680 AD Flourished Shem`on of Taybutheh surnamed 'Luka' who was a monk and a physician, (hence the surname) and a disciple of Rabban Shabor Huzaya. A treatise by him survives in Mingana Syr 601 part E. [46], volume 1, column 1148
680 or 681 AD Died catholicos Mar Gewargis I. [50], p. 480
684 - 687 AD Jacob became Monophysite bishop of Edessa. He sat only a few years and then resigned in order to teach. [24], p. 142
[33], p. 211
686 AD Giwargis (George) became Monophysite bishop of the Christian Arab tribes. Giwargis wrote many metrical (poetical) works which preserve allusions to an Old Syriac gospel text. From comments made in [38] his gospel text was probably the Diatessaron harmony. [38], pp. 100 – 101
687 AD Henanisho I became East Syriac Catholicos. [46], volume 1, column 54
c. 700 AD Jacob of Edessa and John the Stylite corresponded about this time. Jacob was busy revising the Peshitta version of the Old Testament. [32]
700 AD Died East Syriac Patriarch Henanisho` I. Letters, civil and synodal canons written by Henanisho` survive in Mingana Syr 586. [32], para 31
[46], volume 1, columns 54, 1115, 1121
705 AD Ya`qob (Jacob) of Edessa completed his revised Syriac text of the Old Testament.
Ya`qob was a distinguished scholar. He was responsible for creating new monastic centres of Greek learning at Kaisum, Eusebona and Tell `Adda. In his writings, Ya`cob used the Peshitta as his gospel text.		 [33], p. 211
[38], p. 100
708 AD Died Ya`qob, (Jacob) who was for a few years, Monophysite bishop of Edessa. [24], p. 143
[33], p. 211
[38], p. 100
714 - 718 AD Giwargis, (George) Monophysite bishop of the Arabs wrote in a letter about the identity of the fourth century 'Persian sage' we know as Aphrahat.
724 AD End of the see of Giwargis, Monophysite bishop of the Christian Arab tribes. [38], p. 100
c. 740 AD Flourished the East Syriac Mystical writer Abraham Bar Dashandad. A letter of his survives in Mingana Syr 601 part C. [46], volume 1, column 1147
741 AD Mar Abha Bar Berikh-sebhyaneh of Kashkar bishop of Kashkar became East Syriac Catholicos. He sat until his death in AD 751 at an age of 110 years. He is quoted at least ten times by Isaac Shebadhnaya, also known as Asco in his sedras, see AD 1440 and Wright's catalogue of the Cambridge MSS, page 441. Mar Abha of Kashkar was succeeded by Sourin as catholicos of the east, [50]. [24], p. 186 f.
[50], p. 515 note 4
c. 754 AD Sourin catholicos of the east was deposed, [50]. [50], p. 515 note 4
Between
October 1st
759 AD and September 30th
760AD		 Ya`qob metropolitan of Gundi-Shapor was elected Ya`qob II catholicos of the east. His election ended a four year gap which began with the deposition of his predecessor, Sourin. [50], p. 515 note 4
759 or 760 AD A dated inscription in a stone sepulchre was found near Amida containing three quotations from an Old Syriac gospel. [38], pp. 110 - 111
760 AD Was born Job of Edessa. [33], p. 212
Between
October 1st
764 AD and September 30th
765AD		 Ya`qob II catholicos of the east was imprisoned and within two years, he died. After his death, there was no catholicos of the east for nine years until the election of Henanisho` II. [50], pp. 515, 515 note 4
767 AD An East Syriac copy of the Peshitta NT was copied in the convent of Rabban Mara Sabar Yeshua, or Beth Quqa near the river Zaba Rabba in Adiabene. Hatch 'Album', p. 214
773 or 774 AD Lazar of Qandasa, (or Kandasa), a Monophysite monk who lived in the mountains near Edessa wrote a commentary upon the gospels of Mark and John. From these it is clear that Lazar used the Peshitta text. [38], p. 113
774 - 779 AD When the Caliphs conquered the old Sassanid (Persian) metropolis of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and built their new capital Baghdad between the years 762 and 766, the East Syriac catholicos Henanisho` II (774-9) considered it expedient to move the Patriarchate in 775 to that city though still reserving the old title of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. As head of one of the richest and influential communities in the Islamic Empire, his position in the central administration became one