Hagiography

Notes

  • We intend to populate this list of hagiographical writings with more of the numerous saints' Lives that are available in digitized form on the internet. This list represents only a foundation based on the major collections, especially of martyr acts.
  • Abbreviations: BHO = Bibliotheca Hagiographica Orientalis; ET = English translation; FT = French translation; GT = German translation; LT = Latin translation

 

Instrumenta

P. Peeters, Bibliotheca Hagiographica Orientalis (Brussels, 1910).

P. Peeters, ''Le martyrologe de Rabban Sliba'', Analecta Bollandiana 27 (1908): 129–200.

H. Delehaye, Synaxarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Brussels, 1902).

Menologion of Simeon Metaphrastes (PG 114, PG 115, PG 116)

Menologion of Basil (PG 117)

(NB: This latter three are not, strictly speaking, Syriac resources, but are, nevertheless, extremely important for the study of hagiography).

 

Collected Editions of Hagiographical Texts

(in alphabetical order by last name of editor or translator)

J.-B. Abbeloos, Acta Sancti Maris (Brussels, 1885). (= BHO 610, 1, 2) (And here.)


J.-B. Abbeloos, De vita et scriptis Sancti Jacobi, Batnarum Sarugi in Mesopotamia episcopi, cum ejusdem Syriacis carminibus duobus integris ac aliorum aliquot fragmentis, necnon Georgii ejus discipuli oratione panegyrica (Leuven, 1867). (= BHO 413)


A. Amiaud, ed. La légende syriaque de Saint Alexis, l’homme de Dieu (Paris, 1889). (= BHO 36–40)


S.E. Assemani, ed. Acta sanctorum martyrum Orientalium et Occidentalium in duas partes distributa, adcedunt Acta S. Simeonis Stylitae (Rome, 1748).


Volume 1: Eastern Martyrs

 

Volume 2: Western Martyrs

    Volume 2, continued: Martyrs of Palestine

    A French translation of the Latin translation in Assemani can be found in F. Lagrange, Les Actes des martyrs d’Orient, traduits pour la première fois en francais sur la traduction latine des manuscrits syriaques de Étienne-Evode Assemani (Paris, 1852).

    German translations of some of the martyrdoms in Assemani can be found in O. Braun, Ausgewählte Akten persischer Märtyrer (Munich, 1915).

    Braun also includes translations of the following Persian martyrs:

     

    P. Bedjan, ed., Acta martyrum et sanctorum, 6 vols. (Paris–Leipzig, 1890–1897).

    Volume 1:


      Volume 2:

      Volume 3:

      Volume 4:

      Volume 5:

      Volume 6:


      P. Bedjan, ed., Histoire de Mar-Jabalaha, de trois autres patriarches, d’un prêtre et de deux laïques nestoriens (Paris, 1893).


        E.W. Brooks, ed., Vitae virorum apud Monophysitas celeberrimorum: Pars prima. CSCO Syr. III.25 [7–8] (Paris, 1907).


          E.W. Brooks, John of Ephesus: Lives of the Eastern Saints. Patrologia Orientalis 17.1, 18.4, 19.2. Paris, 1923–1925.


          E.A.W. Budge, The Book of Paradise, Being the Histories and Sayings of the Monks and Ascetics of the Egyptian Desert by Palladius, Hieronymus and Others: The Syriac Texts, according to the Recension of ‘Anân-Îshô‘ of Bêth ‘Âbhê (London, 1904). (Syriac) (ET) (also here: Volume 1; Volume 2)


          F.C. Burkitt, ed., Euphemia and the Goth, with the Acts of Martyrdom of the Confessors of Edessa (London–Oxford, 1913).


          W. Cureton, History of the Martyrs of Palestine by Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, discovered in a very ancient Syriac Manuscript (London and Paris, 1861).


          J.-B. Chabot, ''Histoire de Jésus-Sabran, écrite par Jésus-Yab d’Adiabène, publiée d’après le ms. syr. CLXI de la Bibliothèque Vaticane'', Nouvelles archives des missions scientifiques et littéraires 7 (1897): 485–584. (= BHO 451)


          J.-B. Chabot, ed., La légende de Mar Bassus, martyr persan, suivie de l’histoire de la fondation de son couvent à Apamée, d’après un manuscrit de la Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris, 1893). (= BHO 174)

           

          J.-B. Chabot, ed. Documenta ad origines monophysitarum illustrandas. CSCO Syr. II, 37. (Paris, 1907). (Syriac text)


          H. Feige, ed., Die Geschichte des Mâr ‘Abhdîšô‘ und seines Jüngers Mâr Qardagh (Kiel, 1890). (= BHO 555)


          J. Gildemeister, ed., Acta S. Pelagiae syriace (Bonn, 1879). (= BHO 919)


          H.G. Kleyn, ed. Het Leven van Johannes van Tella door Elias: Syrische tekst en Nederlandsche vertaling (Leiden, 1882). (= BHO 524) (and here)

           

          P. A. de Lagarde, ed. Analecta syriaca. (Leipzig, 1858).


          T.J. Lamy, ‘Acta Abrahae Kidunaiae monachi,’ AB 10 (1891): 10–49. (= BHO 16–17)


          A.S. Lewis, ed., Acta Mythologica Apostolorum Transcribed from an Arabic Ms. in the Convent of Deyr-es-Suriani, Egypt, and from Mss. in the Convent of St Catherine, on Mount Sinai, Horae Semiticae 3 (London, 1904).

              • Palimpsest Fragments of the Acts of Judas Thomas (Syriac) (ET) (= BHO 1204 1,2)

           

          A.S. Lewis and M. Dunlop Gibson, ed., Palestinian Syriac Texts from Palimpsest Fragments in the Taylor-Schechter Collection (London, 1900).


          A. S. Lewis, ed. Apocrypha Syriaca: The Protevangelium Jacobi and Transitus Mariae, with Texts from the Septuagint, the Corân, the Peshitta, and from a Syriac Hymn in a Syro-Arabic Palimpsest of the Fifth and Other Centuries (London, 1902).

           

          A.S. Lewis, ed., Select Narratives of Holy Women from the Syro-Antiochene or Sinai Palimpsest as Written above the Old Syriac Gospels by John the Stylite, of Beth-Mari-Qanûn in A.D. 778, Studia Sinaitica 9–10 (London, 1900). (Syriac) (ET)

           

          G. Mösinger and P. Zingerle, eds., Monumenta Syriaca ex Romanis codicibus collecta, 2 vols. (Innsbruck, 1869, 1878).(Volume 1; Volume 2)

           

          A. Palmer, ed. Life of Gabriel of Qartmin.  From the microfiche supplement to idem, Monk and Mason on the Tigris Frontier: The Early History of Tur ‘Abdin, University of Cambridge Oriental Publications 39 (Cambridge, 1990).

          (Linked here by permission of the author, who holds the copyright.)

           

          A. Palmer, ed., Tašʻita d-qadiša Mar Šmuʾel w-Mar Šemʻon w-Mar Gabriʾel / maṣḥa wa-sriṭa men nuske ʻatiqe b-yad ʼAndrʼos Baʼlmar (Monastery of Mar Ephrem, Holland, 1983).

           

          G. Phillips, ed. The Doctrine of Addai, the Apostle, now First Edited in a Complete Form in the Original Syriac, with an English Translation and Notes. (London, 1876) (= BHO 24)

           

          J.-B. Pitra, Analecta sacra spicilegio solesmensi parata, Vol. 4 (Paris, 1883). (Syriac edited by J.P.P. Martin)

          Clement of Rome, From his Second Epistle to the Corinthians

          Polycarp

          Justin Martyr, On the Orthodox Faith

          Irenaeus of Lyon

          Melito, On Faith

          Hippolytos, Fragments

          Sextus Julius Africanus, Fragment on the Appearance of Moses and Elijah to our Lord

          Cyprian, Fragments

          Gregory the Wonderworker, Fragments

          Dionysios of Alexandria, Excerpts from Letters, including letters to several bishops of Rome and to Paul of Samosata

          Excerpts on the Condemnation of Paul of Samosata

          Peter of Alexandria, Fragments

          Alexander of Alexandria, Fragments

          Methodios, Philosopher, Bishop and Martyr, Fragments

          Eustathios of Antioch, Fragments

          Serapion, Bishop of Thmuis, Homily on Virginity

          Canons of the Council of Ancyra

          Canons of the Council of Neo-Cesarea

          Council of Nicaea, History and Canons

          Letter of Dionysios the Areopagite to Timothy, concerning the martyrdom of Peter and

          Paul


          R. Raabe, Die Geschichte des Dominus Mâri, eines Apostels des Orients: Aus dem Syrischen übersetzt und untersucht (Leipzig, 1893). (= BHO 610, 1, 2) (And here.)


          I.E. Rahmani, ed. Studia Syriaca, seu collectio documentorum hactenus ineditorum ex codicibus Syriacis, 5 vols. (Charfeh, 1904–1909).

          Volume 1:

           

          Volume 2:

           

          Volume 3:

           

          Volume 4:

          Volume 5:


          E. Sachau, ed., Inedita Syriaca: Eine Sammlung syrischer Übersetzungen von Schriften griechischer Profanliteratur, mit einem Anhang, aus den Handschriften des Brittischen Museums herausgegeben (Vienna, 1870).


          F. Schulthess, Probe einer syrischen version der Vita St. Antonii (Leipzig, 1894). (= BHO 68, 1, 2)

           

          Individual Saints' Lives

          (in alphabetical order by name of saint)

           

          Aaron of Sarug (d. 337)

          F. Nau, and L. Leroy, eds. Les légendes syriaques d’Aaron de Saroug, de Maxime et Domèce, d’Abraham, maître de Barsôma, et de l’empereur Maurice; Les miracles de Saint Ptolémée. PO 5 (Paris, 1910), pp. 703-749. (= BHO p. 273)

           

          Abraham of Antioch (d. 406)

          F. Nau, and L. Leroy, eds. Les légendes syriaques d’Aaron de Saroug, de Maxime et Domèce, d’Abraham, maître de Barsôma, et de l’empereur Maurice; Les miracles de Saint Ptolémée. PO 5 (Paris, 1910), pp. 768-773. ( = BHO, p. 274)

           

          Abraham Qidunaya (6th century)

          T.J. Lamy, ‘Acta Abrahae Kidunaiae monachi,’ Analecta Bollandiana 10 (1891), 10–49. (= BHO 16–17)


          Addai the Apostle

          G. Phillips, ed. The Doctrine of Addai, the Apostle, now First Edited in a Complete Form in the Original Syriac, with an English Translation and Notes (London, 1876). (= BHO 24)


          Ahudemmeh (d. 575)

          F. Nau, Histoires d’Ahoudemmeh et de Marouta, métropolitains jacobites de Tagrit et de l’Orient (VIe et VIIe siècles), suivies du traité d’Ahoudemmeh sur l’homme, Patrologia Orientalis 3.1 [11] (Paris, 1905), 15–51. (= BHO 35)


          Alexius, the Man of God (Fifth Century)

          A. Amiauded. La légende syriaque de Saint Alexis, l’homme de Dieu. (Paris, 1889).

          (BHO 36-40) (text)

          (BHO 41-42) (text)

           

          Anthony (d. 356)

          Bedjan, AMS, V, pp. 1-121. ( =BHO 68)

          Other editions

          F. Schulthess, Probe einer syrischen version der Vita St. Antonii (Leipzig, 1894), pp. 1-19.

          Fragments in A.S. Lewis and M. Dunlop Gibson, Palestinian Syriac Texts (London, 1900), pp. 89-104.


          The Doctrine of the Apostles

          W. Cureton, ed. Ancient Syriac Documents Relative to the Earliest Establishment of Christianity in Edessa and the Neighbouring Countries, from the Year after Our Lord’s Ascension to the Beginning of the Fourth Century. (London / Edinburgh, 1864). (ET) (Syriac) ( = BHO 81)

           

          Apphianus/Appian (d. 306)

          Bedjan, AMS I, pp. 220-209. (Syriac) (= BHO 94)

          Assemani, ASO II, 189-195 (Syriac) (FT) (= BHO 95)

           

          Dionysios the Areopagite

          M.-A. Kugener, ''Une autobiographie syriaque de Denys l’Aréopagite'', Oriens Christianus 1.7 (1907), 292–339. (= BHO 255a–255c)


          Ephrem the Syrian (d. 378)

          T.J. Lamy, Sancti Ephraem Syri hymni et sermones, vol. 2 (Malines, 1890), cols. 3–89. (= BHO 269)

          J.S. Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis, vol. 1 (Rome, 1719), 26–55. (= BHO 270)


          Isaac of Nineveh (7th century)

          I. E. Rahmani, ed. Studia Syriaca, seu collectio documentorum hactenus ineditorum ex codicibus Syriacis. vol. 1 (Charfeh, 1904). (lomadh-gomal) (= BHO 540)

          J.S. Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis, vol. 1, pp. 444–445 (Arabic) (= BHO 541)


          Jacob Baradaeus  (d. 578)

          1. Vita:

          Land, Anecdota Syriaca, vol. 2, pp. 364–383. (= BHO 392)

          2. How Jacob Baradaeus’ Bones Were Taken from the Monastery of Casion by the Monks of Pesilta, by Kyriakos of Amid

          M. A. Kugener, ed., Comment le corps de Jacques Baradée fut enlevé du couvent de Casion par les moines de Phesiltha, récit de Mar Cyriaque, Bibliothèque hagiographique orientale 3 (Paris, 1902) (= BHO 393)


          John Bar Aphtonia (d. 538)

          F. Nau, ed. Vie de Jean bar Aphtonia: texte syriaque, Bibliothèque hagiographique orientale 2 (Paris, 1902), 17–24. (= BHO 497)


          John Bar Penkaye (7th century)

          I.E. Rahmani, ed. Studia Syriaca, seu collectio documentorum hactenus ineditorum ex codicibus Syriacis, vol. 1 (Charfeh, 1904). (lomadh-he) (BHO 502)


          John of Dalyatha (8th century)

          I.E. Rahmani, ed. Studia Syriaca, seu collectio documentorum hactenus ineditorum ex codicibus Syriacis, vol. 1 (Charfeh, 1904). (lomadh-dolath) (= BHO 510)


          John of Tella (d. 538)

          H.G. Kleyn, ed. Het Leven van Johannes van Tella door Elias: Syrische tekst en Nederlandsche vertaling (Leiden, 1882). (= BHO 524) (and here)

           

          Maccabean Martyrs

          R.L. Bensly, and W. E. Barnes, eds. The Fourth Book of Maccabees and Kindred Documents in Syriac First Edited on Manuscript Authority (Cambridge:, 1895), 104–115. (= BHO, p. 276)


          Marutha (d. 649)

          F. Nau, Histoires d’Ahoudemmeh et de Marouta, métropolitains jacobites de Tagrit et de l’Orient (VIe et VIIe siècles), suivies du traité d’Ahoudemmeh sur l’homme, Patrologia Orientalis 3.1 [11] (Paris, 1905), 61–96. (= BHO 719)


          Qardag (d. 367)

          I.B. Abbeloos, “Acta Mar Kardaghi Assyriae praefecti, qui sub Sapore II martyr occubuit,” Analecta Bollandiana 9 (1890), 11–103. (= BHO 556)

          H. Feige, ed. Die Geschichte des Mâr ‘Abhdîšô‘ und seines Jüngers Mâr Qardagh (Kiel, 1890).

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