London, BL, Add. 12151
source date: eighth cent.
edition published: 2023-04-21-05:00
language: ar; ar-Syrc; ar-Syrn; cop; de; en; fr; grc
availability: Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

United Kingdom, London, British Library, Oriental Manuscripts, https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/26, Add. 12,151, London, BL, Add. 12,151, BL Add MS 12151, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, 625, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, DCXXV

[This manuscript contains: Phocas of Edessa. The works commonly, though erroneously, ascribed toDionysius the Areopagite, with an introduction and notes byPhocas bar Sergius of Edessaand other writers. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 13 items.]

Syriac

Foll. 1b-177
author: Phocas of Edessa
title: The works commonly, though erroneously, ascribed to Dionysius the Areopagite, with an introduction and notes by Phocas bar Sergius of Edessa and other writers
See Assemani, Bibl. Orient., t. i., p. 468. He flourished in the eighth cent., as appears from his mention of Athanasius II., and Jacob of Edessa.
rubric: ܥܠ ܚܝܠܗ ܕܡܪܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܡܫܪܝܢܢ ܕܢܟܬܘܒ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢ̣. ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܕܡܢ ܕ̇ܝ̈ܢܐ ܕܐܪܝܘܣ. ܐܦܝܣܩܘܦܐ̣ ܕܐܬܝܢܣ. ܩܕܡܐܝܬ̣ ܫܘܪܝ ܡܡܠܠܐ ܕܥܒ̣ܝܕ ܠܦܘܩܐ ܒܪ ܣܪܓܝܣ ܐܘܪܗܝܐ ܡܛܠ ܦ̇ܘܫܩܐ ܘܢܘ̇ܗܪܐ ܕܣܟ̈ܘܠܝܐ ܕܐܫܟܚ ܗܘܐ ܠܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ. ܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܢ ܕ̇ܝ̈ܢܐ ܕܐܪܝܘܣ ܦܓܘܣ.
See additions.
  Foll. 1b-8
  author: Phocas of Edessa
  title: An introduction and notes by Phocas bar Sergius of Edessa and other writers
  From the introduction of Phocas it appears that the translation of these works into Syriac was executed by the famous physician (ἀρχίατρος)Sergius of Rās'ain. See Assemani, Bibl. Orient., t. ii., pp. 315, 323; and Assemani, Bibl. Orient., t. iii., pars 1, p. 87.
  ܗܠܝܢ ܐ̇ܡܪܬ ܒܦܣ̈ܝܩܬܐ̣. ܟܕ ܐ̇ܬܒܩܝܬ ܒܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܩܕܡ ܐ̈ܝܕܝ̇ܢ. ܕܩܕܝܫܐ ܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܢ ܐܪܝܘܣ ܦܓܘܣ. ܐܝ̇ܕܐ ܕܡܦܫܩܐ ܗܘܬ ܡܢ ܙܒܢܐ ܢܓܝܪܐ ܡܢ ܠܫܢܐ ܝܘܢܝܐ ܠܒܪܬ ܩܠܐ ܕܣܘ̈ܪܝܝܐ̣. ܠܢܟܦܐ ܘܡܗܝܪܐ ܣܪܓܝܣ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܘܐܪܟܝܛܪܣ ܒܗ̇ܝ ܕܟܠܢ ܣܘܪ̈ܝܝܐ ܕܩ̇ܪܝܢ ܗܘܝܢ ܒܗ̇܆ ܛܒ ܡܬܕܡܪܝܢ ܘܗܝܢ ܘܡܩܠܣܝܢ̇. ܡܛܠ ܡܥܠܝܘܬܐ ܕܣ̈ܘܟܠܝܗ̇ ܟܬܝ ܘܐܠܗܝܘܬܗ̇܇ ܗ̇ܝ ܕܐܝܟ ܕܒܫܪܪܐ ܫ̇ܘܝܐ ܠܕܘܡܪܐ.
  The scholia are in great part a translation of the παραθέσεις of Joannes Scholasticus of ܒܝ̇ܫܢ, , or Scythopolis
  ܟܕ ܕܝܢ ܗܫܐ ܝܟ ܡܐ ܕܐ̇ܡܪܐܬ: ܕܡܢ ܒܥܬܐ ܘܗܪ̈ܓܐ ܕܒܟ̈ܬܒܐ ܩ̈ܕܝܫܐ: ܢܘܗ̣ܪܐ ܚ̣ܕܬܐ ܢܒ̇ܥ ܟܠܝܘܡ ܠܕܗܡ̇ܣܝܢ ܒܗܘܢ: ܡܢ ܒܛܝܠܘܬܐ ܐܠܗܝܬܐ̣. ܐܬ̣ܐ ܠܐܝ̈ܕܝܐ ܕܒܨܝܪܘܬܝ̇. ܗ̣ܘ ܗܢܐ ܟܬܒܐ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܕܐܡܝܪ: ܕܟܬܝܒ ܡ̇ܢ ܒܟܬ̈ܝܒܬܐ ܝܘ̈ܢܝܬܐ: ܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܕܝܢ ܣܟ̈ܘܠܝܐ ܐܘܟܝܬ ܢܘܗܪ̈ܐ ܬܡ̈ܝܗܐ ܕܡ̈ܠܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܥܣ̣ܩ ܣܘܟܠܗܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܕܢܢ ܠܡܐܡܪ.ܕܥܒ̇ܕܝܢܠܐܢܫ ܬܪܝܨ ܫܘܒܚܐ. ܫ̇ܘܐ ܠܕܘܟܪܢܐ ܛ̇ܒܐ: ܣܟܠܣܛܝܩܐ ܡ̇ܢ ܒܐܡܢܐ: ܝܘܚܢܢ ܕܝܢ ܒܫܡܐ: ܡܢ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܒ̇ܝܫܢ̣ܢ. ܐܬܚ̇ܦܛܬ ܐܝܟ ܠܐ ܣܦܩܐ ܡ̇ܢ: ܕܡܬܝܐ̇ܒ ܕܝܢ ܕܢܫܬܘܬܦ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܠܗ ܒܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܓܘ̇ܢܝܐ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܢܐ̣. ܠܡܦܫܩܘܬܗܘܢ ܠܗܘܢ ܠܣ̈ܟܘܠܝܐ. ܡܢ ܠܫܢܐ ܝܘܢܝܐ ܠܣܘܪܝܝܐ. ܒܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܝܢ ܐܦ ܠܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܐ̇ܫܟܚܬ ܒܗ ܒܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܣܪܓܝܣ ܕܩܕܝܡ̇. ܕܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܥܡ ܚܬܝܬܘܬܐ ܡܦܫ̈ܩܢ.
  On Syriac translations from the Greek, and on his own method,Phocas makes the following observations:
  ܘܗܕܐ̣. ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܐܝܟ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܠܡܬܚܙܘܙܝܘ ܒܕܐܝܟ ܗܠܝܢ ܝܨ̇ܦ ܐܢܐ: ܐܘ ܠܪܕܝܘܬܗ ܕܗ̇ܘ ܠܡܩܛܪܓܘ: ܠܐ ܬܗܘܐ̣. ܐܠܐ ܕܐ̇ܚܘܐ ܢܗܝܪܐܝܬ݂. ܕܐ̇ܘ ܥܕ ܡܬܢܚ̇ܬ ܥܡ ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ: ܘܒܟܠܡܕܡ ܡܬܚ̇ܦܛ ܕܢܣ̇ܟܠܝܘܗܝ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܬܐܡܪ̈ܢ: ܫܚܡܗ̇ ܒܕܘܟ ܕܘܟ ܠܡܠܬܗ: ܕܐܠܐ ܟܕ ܡܢܗ ܕܫܘܪܝ ܫܡܥܗ̇ ܕܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܘܐܝܟ ܕܠܡܐܡܪ ܡܢ ܦܓܥ̣ܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ: ܢܓ̣ܗܪ ܗܘܐ ܗܘܢܗ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܢܫܬܟܚ ܠܗ ܩܪܝܢܗܝ̣ܢ. ܐ̇ܘ ܟܒܪ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܣ̣ܬܒܪܐ ܠܝ̇. ܕܐܦ ܡܛܠ ܕܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܦܬܝܐܝܬ ܥܕܟܝܠ܇ ܐܬܕܪܫܘ ܗܘܘ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ ܒܐܘܡܢܘܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܡܢ ܠܫܢܐ ܝܘܢܝܐ ܒܗ̇ܘ ܙܒܢܐ̇. ܥܕܡܐ ܕܟܕ ܡܫܬܘܫܛ ܗܘܐ ܙܒܢܐ̇. ܘܒܝ̈ܘܒܠܘܗܝ ܠܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܪ̈ܚܡܝ ܥܡܠ̣ܐ ܡ̇ܝܬܐ ܗܘܐ̇. ܐܟܙܢܐ ܕܩ̈ܕܝܫܐ ܘܛܒ̈ܝܒܐ̇. ܐܬܢܣܝܘ ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܟܝܘܟܝܐ̇. ܘܝܥܩܘܒ ܐܦܝܣܩܘܦܐ ܕܐܘܪܗܝ̇. ܗ̇ܢܘܢ ܕܒܣܦܩܘܬܗܘܢ ܢܩ̇ܠܘܗ̇ ܠܐܘܪܚܐ ܗܕܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܨܝܐ̇. ܘܗܘ̣ܘ ܒܙܢܐ ܡܕܡ ܡ̈ܙܘܓܢܐ ܕܬܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܠܫ̈ܢܐ̇. ܘܡܢ ܢܩ̣ܦܗܘܢ ܐܘܠܕܘ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܡܘܬܪ̈ܢܐ̇. ܥܡ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܬܘܒ ܠܐ ܡܫ̈ܡܗܐ ܕܩܕܡܝܗܘܢ̣. ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܡܬܡܪܩܐ ܘܡܬܢܗܪܐ ܐܘܡܢܘܬܐ̇. ܘܡܩ̣ܢܝܢ ܒܚܦܝܛܘܬܗܘܢ ܡܢ ܚܬܝܬܘܬܗ ܕܝܘܢܝܐ ܩ̇ܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܠܐ ܡ̈ܥܝܕܬܐ ܠܣܘܪ̈ܝܝܐ.
  Athanasius II.; See Assemani, Bibl. Orient., t. ii, p. 335.
  After some farther explanations regarding the arrangement of the scholia,Phocas concludes his own preface with the following words, introducing two lengthy extracts from the prefaces of the above-mentioned John of Scythopolis and of George, also of Scythopolis, a priest of the Great Church of Constantinople, in defence of the authenticity of these works.
  ܣ̇ܡܬ ܕܝܢ ܬܘ ܒܬܪ ܫܘܪܝ ܡܡܠܠܐ ܗܢܐ: ܘܩܕܡ ܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܕܐܡܝܪܐ̣ ܐܦ ܡܡܠܠܐ ܡܕܡ ܚܫ̇ܚܐ. ܕܥܒ̣ܝܕ ܠܗ ܠܕܚ̇ܠ ܐܠܗܐ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܣܟܠܣܬܝܩܐ ܕܩ̇ܕܡ ܐܫܬܡܗ̇. ܗ̇ܘ ܕܐܦ ܣܟ̈ܘܠܝܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܥܒ̣ܕ ܕܝܠܗ̇ ܕܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ. ܘܒܬܪܗ ܬܘܒ̣ ܕܐܢܫ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܡܢܗ̇ ܕܒܝ̇ܫܢ ܢܟܦܐ ܘܬܪܝܨ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܓܐܘܪܓܝ ܩܫܝܫܐ.
    Foll. 2b-4
    author: John of Scythopolis
    title: In defence of the authenticity of these works
    rubric: ܬܘܒ ܫܘܪܝ ܡܡܠܠܐ ܕܡܦܩ ܒܪܘܚܐ̣. ܕܝܘܚܢܢ ܣܟܠܣܛܝܩܐ ܕܡܢ ܒܝ̇ܫܢ. ܕܚܠܦ ܦܪܓܡܛܝܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܩܝ̇ܡܐ̣ ܕܕܡܢ̣ܘ ܐܝܬܝܗ̇. ܕܗ̇ܘ ܕܐܝܬܝܗܘܢ̣. ܐܦ ܣܟ̈ܘܠܝܐ ܕܒܗ̇
    The original Greek may be found, under the name of Maximus, in the works of Dionysius, edited by Lansselius and Corderius, Venet. 1755—56, t. ii., pp. ix.-xiii., as far as ους τέως εἰς τὰς ἐμὰς ἐλθεῖν συμβέβηκε χεῖρας, or in Migne, Patrol. Gr., t. iv., coll. 15-21.
    Foll. 4b-8
    author: George of Scythopolis
    title: In defence of the authenticity of these works
    rubric: ܬܘܒ ܡܦܩ ܒܪܘܚܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܕܡܛܠܬܗܝܢ ܕܡܟ̈ܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܛܘܒܢܐ ܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ. ܕܐܬܐܡܪ ܡܢ ܓܐܘܪܓܝ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܕܩܘܣܛܢܛܝܢܦܘܠܝܣ܇ ܘܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܡܢ ܒܝ̇ܫܢ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ̇. ܘܐܬܬ̣ܣܝܡ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܬܘܣܦܬܐ ܒܬܪ ܡܐܡܪܐ̇ ܕܩܕܝܡ ܣܝ̣ܡ ܕܡܦܩ ܒܪܘܚܐ ܕܝܘܚܢܢ ܣܟܘܠܣܛܝܩܐ̇. ܡܛܘܠ ܡܟܬܒ̈ܢܘܬܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܡܬܩܛܪ̈ܓܢ ܡܢ ܐ̈ܢܫܝܢ ܦܛܥ̈ܐ̇. ܐܝܟ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܠܐ ܐܝܬܝܗܝܢ ܕܝܠܗ ܕܡܠܦܢܐ ܪܒܐ̇. ܐܠܐ ܕܐܢܫ ܡܢ ܗܪ̈ܛܝܩܘ ܕܐܦܠܝܢܐܪܝܘܣ ܐܡ̇ܪ ܐ̇ܡܪ ܐܢܐ̇. ܘܕܐܚܪܢܐ ܡܢ ܗ̇ܢܘܢ ܚ̣̈ܕܬܐ ܘܕܠܐ ܝܕܝܥܝܢ
      Foll. 5a-8
      author: Dionysius of Alexandria
      title: Extracts from a letter of Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, to Xystus, pope of Rome, in which the testimony of Dionysius the Areopagite is used
      rubric: ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܐܦܝܣܩܘܦܐ ܕܐܠܟܣܢܕܪܝܐ̣. ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ ܟܣܘܣܛܘܣ ܦܦܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ. ܗ̇ܝ ܕܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܫܘܪܝܗ̇ ܩ̇ܒܠܬ ܠܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܝܠܟܘܢ.
  Foll. 8a-172b
  author: Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
  title: The works of Dionysius the Areopagite
  Each of the works of Dionysius the Areopagite is preceded by an index of chapters,ܩ̈ܦܠܐܐ.
    Foll. 8a-38
    title: περὶ τῆς οὐρανίας ἱεραρχίας, in 15 chapters
    rubric: ܥܠ ܪܝܫܘܬ ܟܗܢܘܬܐ ܫ̇ܡܝܢܝܬܐ
    Foll. 38a-79
    title: περὶ τῆς 'εκκλησιαστικῆς ἱεραρχίας, in 7 chapters
    rubric: ܥܠ ܪܝܫܘܬ ܟܗܢܘܬܐ ܥܕܬܢܝܬܐ
    Foll. 79a-151
    title: περὶ θείων ὀνομάτων, in 13 chapters
    rubric: ܥܠ ܫܘܡ̈ܗܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ
    Foll. 151b-156
    title: περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας, in 5 chapters
    rubric: ܥܠ ܬܐܘܠܘܓܝܐ ܪܐܙܢܝܬܐ
    Foll. 156a-172b
    title: The ten Epistles
    rubric: ܐܓܪ̈ܬܐ ܡ̈ܫܚܠܦܬܐ ܥܣܪ̈
    Fol. 172b
    title: A table of contents
  Foll. 173a-176
  title: The narrative of Dionysius the Areopagite, concerning the vision which he saw at Heliopolis in Egypt
  incipit: ܬܘܒ ܏ܬܫܥܝܬܐ ܏ܕܝܠܗ ܏ܕܩܕܝܫܐ ܏ܕܝܘܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܏ܗ̇ܘ ܕ܏ܡܢ ܏ܕ̇ܝ̈ܢܐ ܕ܏ܐܪܢܘܣ ܏ܦܐܓܘܣ. ܐܢܐ ܐܘ ܪ̈ܚ̇ܡܝ ܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܕܚܟܡܬܐ ܡܢ ܟܪܣܗ̇ ܕܐܡܝ ܐ̇ܬܢܕܪܬ ܕܐ̇ܗܘܐ ܕܒܚ̣ܐ ܠܐܪܟܘܢܛܐ ܕܫܐ̈ܕܐ. ܏ܘܫ.
  Cf. Add. 14,645, no. 3 [...]

Vellum, about 10 3/4 in. by 7 3/8 leaves, one of which (fol. 29) is much stained and torn. The quires are signed with letters. From fol. 91 b to the end, the pages are divided into two columns. There are from 30 to 35 lines in each full page or column. The writing of the text is a fine regular Estrangělā, but the notes are in a smaller, cursive character. Leaves are wanting after foll. 31, 32, and 33. This volume is dated A. Gr. 1115, A.D. 804

Vellum

177 ff. 10 3/4 × 7 3/8

The quires are signed with letters.

- One of the leaves (fol. 29) is much stained and torn.

- Leaves are wanting after foll.31, 32, and 33.

There are from 30 to 35 lines in each full page or column.

From fol. 91 b to the end, the pages are divided into two columns.

The writing of the text is a fine regular Estrangělā.See the works of Dionysius the Areopagite and the additions.

The notes are in a smaller, cursive character.See the introduction by Phocas and the additions.

See additions.

See additions.

See additions.

[N.B., items below may have been listed out of folio order in Wright's catalogue.]

- Colophon

At the end of the last epistle, fol. 172b, after a doxology and table of contents, we read the following note, giving the date of the manuscript and the name of the scribe,George the deacon.

ܐܫܬܠܡ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܫܢܬ ܐܠܦܐ ܘܡܐܐ ܘܚܡܫܥܣܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܡܢܝܢܐ ܕܝܘ̈ܢܝܐ ܒܐܝܪܚ ܢܝܣܢ ܒܥܣܪܝܢ ܒܗ ــ . ܡܪܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܚܘܢ ܒܪ̈ܚܡܝܟ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ ܠܚܛܝܐ ܓܝܪܓܐ ܡܫܡܫܢܐ ܕܟܬ̣ܒ. ܟܠ ܕܩ̇ܪܐ ܢܨ̇ܠܐ. ܐܡܝܢ.

- On fol. 173a there is another note by the commentator,Phocas of Edessa, stating that he finished and copied out this work in the space of a year, without help of any kind from any person.

ܐܢܐ ܦܘܩܐ ܒܨܝܪܐ ܘܚ̇ܛܝܐ ܩܦܪܒܬ ܠܐܝܩܪܐ ܕܠܬܠܝܬܝܘܬܐ ܡܪܡܪܡܬܐ ܘܘܣܓܝܕܬ ܡܢ ܟܠ ܘܕܪܚܝܡܐ ܠܗ̇ ܗ̇ܝ ܕܐܝܟ ܚܝܠܐ̣. ܥܡ̣ܠܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܝܠܝ. ܗ̇ܘ ܕܐܦܢ ܗ̇ܝ ܕܫܘܝܐ ܠܪܒܘܬܐ ܕܝܠܗ̇ ܠܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܗ̣. ܐܠܐ ܒܪܡ ܡܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܝܠܝ̣ ܠܐ ܒܨ̣ܝܪ. ܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܛܠ ܢܘ̈ܬܦܐ ܣ̈ܒܝܣܐ ܕܣܘܥܪ̈ܢܐ ܥܠܡ̈ܢܝܐ̣. ܒܡܬ̣ܚܐ ܚܕܐ ܕܫܢܬܐ ܟܠܗ̇ ܐܫܬ݀ܡܠܝ. ܟܕ ܣܟ ܠܐ ܬܐܥ̇ܕܪܬ ܡܢ ܐܢܫ. ܠܐ ܒܠܟܣܝܣ̣ ܘܠܐ ܒܟܬܒܐ. ܐܠܐ ܒܝܕ ܫܩܠܛܥܢܐ ܕܡܬܚ̇ܝܠ ܡܢ ܐܠܗܐ. ܡܫܟܢܢܐ ܕܛܒ̈ܬܐ̣. ܛ̇ܥܢܬ ܝܘܩܪܐ ܕܦܘܫܩܗ ܕܓܘܫܡܐ. ܘܕܣܟ̈ܘܠܝܐ ܕܝܠܗ. ܘܕܣܪܛܗܘܢ ܕܥܠ ܠܘܚ̈ܐ̣. ܘܕܡܣܩܗܘܢ ܕܥܠ ܩ̈ܠܦܐ. ܐܠܐ ܟܠ ܕܡܬܒ̇ܣܡ ܡܢ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܒܗ̣. ܡܛܠ ܚܘܒܗ ܕܡܪܢ. ܢܨ̇ܠܐ ܐܦ ܥܠܝ̣. ܕܐܫ̇ܟܚ ܪ̈ܚ̣ܡܐ ܡܢ ܛܝܒܘܬܗ̇ ܕܐܠܗܘܬܐ ܒܝܘܡ ܕܝܢ̣ܐ ܕܟܐܢܘܬܗ̇ ܐܡܝܢ .. .. ..

- Colophon

On fol. 176b is a note in the handwriting of the scribe George, from which it appears that this volume was written for John and Elisha, the sons of one Mahīr of Tagrīt , at the expense of their father.

ܐܬܚܦܛܘ ܘܩ̣݅ܢܘ ܠܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܝܘܐܢܢܝܣ ܘܐܠܝܫܥ ܕܝܪ̈ܝܐ ܒܢ̈ܝܐ ܕܡܗܝܪ ܬܓܪܝܬܢܝܐ. ܡܛܠ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ ܘܕܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ܇ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܒܗ ܘܡܢܗ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܘܡܬܟܐܪ. ܗ̇ܢܘܢ ܟܝܬ ܕܐܦ ܝܬܝܪ ܚܦܝܛܐܝܬ ܫܐ̇ܠܝܢ: ܡܢ ܟܠ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܢܝܫܐ ܕܫܦܝܪܘܬ ܕܚܠܬܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܗ܆ ܕܨ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܥܠ ܐܒܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ ܘܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܢܣܪܚ. ܘܥܠ ܗ̇ܘ ܡ̇ܢ܆ ܡܛܠ ܕܡܢ ܕܝܠܗ. ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܕܝܢ܆ ܐܝܟ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܚܦܝܛܘܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܙܥܘܪܝܐ ܐܥ̣ܠܘ ܠܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܠܘ ܗܟܢܐ: ܐܫܠܡ̣ܘ ܠܕܝܢ̣ܐ ܕܬܐܪܬܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ܆ ܐܢ ܟܝܬ ܣ̇ܥܝܢ ܕܢܥܕܘܢ ܠܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ܇ ܘܟܕ ܬܟܝܠܝܢ ܕܐܦܢ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܚ̇ܙܐ ܠܗܢܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܗܘܢ̇. ܠܪܘܚܩܐ ܡܩ̣ܝܡ ܡܢ ܗ̇ܝ ܐܝܟ ܟܐܢܘܬܐ ܕܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܬ݂ܚܙܐ.

- Another note on the same page, of somewhat later date, states that this volume was purchased by three brothers, the priest Tābā, Basil, bishop of Bagdad , (probably Lazarus bar Sābtā, or Philoxenus, who was deposed A. Gr. 1140, A.D. 829; See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. ii., pp. 123, 346;Le QUIEN, Or. Christ., t. ii., col. 1571) and Paul, and their sister's son the priest Mark, who gave it and other books in a present (ܒܘܪܟܬܐ) to the convent of Mār John of ܩܘܪܕܝܣ at Dara . This note was written by one Timothy, probably abbat or librarian of the said convent.

ܐܬܚܦܛܘ ܘܩ̣ܢܘ ܠܟܬܒܐ ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ. ܛܒܐ ܕܝܪܝܐ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܩܒܐܣܝܠ܏ܘ ܐܦ܏ܝܣ ܕܒܓܕܕ ܘܦܘܠܘܣ ܐܚ̈ܐ. ܘܡܪܩܘܣ ܕܝܪܝܐ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܒܪ ܚܬܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ. ܒܫܩܠܛܥܢܐ ܣܓܝܐܐ. ܐܝܟ ܕܠܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܕܩܢܘܡܗܘܢ. ܘܠܥܘܗܕܢܐ ܫܦܝܪܐ ܘܠܚܘܣܝܐ ܕܢܦܫ̈ܬܗܘܢ. ܘܠܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܘܗܓܝܢܐ ܕܚ̈ܝܐ ܪ̈ܘܚܢܝܐ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܦܓܥܝܢ. ܘܒ̈ܚܝܝܗܘܢ ܘܟܕ ܚܠܝܡܝܢ ܘܢܛܝܪܝܢ ܒܢܦܫܐ ܘܒܦܓܪܐ ܘܒܗܘܢܐ. ܫܟܢܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܥܘܡܪܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܛܒܝܒܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ ܕܡܪܝ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܕܩܘܪܕܝܣ ܕܕܐܪܐ. ܒܘܪܟܬܐ ܠܗܢܐ ܟܬܒܐ ܘܠܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܪ̈ܝܫܐ ܕܡ̈ܠܦܢܐ. ܗܠܝܢ ܕܡܢ ܥܘܗܕܢܗܘܢ ܡܬܝܕܥܝܢ܀ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܛܠ ܚܘܒܗ ܦܪܫ̣ܘ ܘܫ̣ܟܢܘ ܘܝܗ̣ܒܘ̣. ܗܘ ܢܗ̇ܘܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܡܚܣܝܢܐ ܏ܘܫ. ܘܥܠ ܡܚܝܠܐ ܘܚܛܝܐ ܛܝܡܬܐܘܣ ܕܣܪܛ̣. ܢܗܘܘܢ ܪ̈ܚܡܐ ܐܡܝܢ.

- On fol. 177a there is a third note, recording that this book belonged to a priest named George, who had it in a present from the niece of the deceased Abraham, patriarch of Egypt. As Ephraim or Abraham, patriarch of Alexandria, was consecrated A.D. 977, and died between three and four years after (See Le Quien, Or. Christ., t. ii., col. 479;Renaudot, Hist. Patr. Alexandr. Jacob., p. 366), this note was probably written about A.D. 982 or 983.

ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܕܝܢ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܕܓܐܘܪܓܝܣ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܘܕܝܪܝܐ ܕܫܟܢܬܗ ܠܗ ܒܪܬ ܚܬܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܐܒ݊ܪܗ݊ܡ݊ ܦܐܛܪܝܐܪܟܐ ܕܡܨܪܝܢ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܥܘܗܕܢܗ ܥܡ ܩܕܝ̈ܫܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܢܩܪܐ ܒܗ ܘܢܬܥܗܕ ܠܡܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܐܡܝܪܝܢ ܘܠܐ ܫܠܝܛ ܠܚܕ ܡܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܕܢܟܘܡ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܏ܘܫ.

- Lastly, on fol. 176a, there is a note, dated A. Gr. 1505, A.D. 1194, from which we learn that this volume and about a hundred others were repaired and bound by a certain monk (name erased), who came to the desert of Scete in that year:

ܒܫܢܬ ܕܐܠܦ ܏ܘܫܪܗ ܐܬ݂ܐ ܠܕܝܪܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܒܡܕܒܪܐ ܕܐܝܣܩܝܛܝܣ ܕܝܪܝܐ ܚܕ ܥܡ ܚܒ̈ܪܘܗܝ ܣ̈ܓܝܐܐ ܡـ . . . ܒܕܘܒܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܢܟܦ̈ܐ ܗܢܐ ܫܘܐ ܒܙܕܩܐ ܠܕܘܟܪܢܐ ܛܒܐ ܟܕ ܥܡܠܐ ܪܒܐ ܫܩ̣ܠ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܒܚܘܕܬܐ ܘܬܘܩܢܐ ܕܗܠܝܢ ܟ̈ܬܒܐ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܕܐܬܦܣܩ ܗܘܘ ܘܐܬܩܛܥܘ. ܡܢ ܥܠܬ ܥܬܝܩܬܐ ܘܬܫܡܫܬܐ ܕܐܚ̈ܐ. ܗ̣ܘ ܕܝܢ ܗܢܐ ܐܚܐ ܕܐܡ̣ܪܢܢ ܡܢ ܥܡܠܐ ܕܐܝ̈ܕܘܗܝ ܡܩܝܡ ܗܘܐ ܠܗܢܐ ܚܘܣܪܢܐ ܘܐܝܟ ܡܐܐ ܟܬܒ̈ܐ ܕܡܦܣܩܝܢ ܘܡܒܕܪܝܢ ܣܘܓܐܐ ܕܩ̈ܠܦܝܗܘܢ ܟܘܢܫܐ ܡܬܩܢܐ ܘܐܣܪܐ ܠܟܠܗܘܢ ܥܒܕ ܗܘܐ. ܘܗܢܐ ܥܒܕܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܥܒܕ ܗܘܐ ܠܐ ܐܬܡܨܝ ܐܢܫ ܡܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܠܗܪܟܐ ܐܬ̣ܐ ܕܢܥܒܕܝܘܗܝ. ܘܗܠܝܢ ܡ̇ܢ ܣܘܪ̈ܛܐ . . . ܡܛܠ ܢܝܫܐ ܥܕܝܠܐ ܐܬܟܬܒ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܘܕܠܐ ܦܘܕܐ ܘܐܠܗܐ ܣܗܕܐ ܢܗܘܐ.

AG 1115 AD 804

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 DCXXV 2:493-497