Jump to content

Narsai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Narsai (disambiguation).
Saint

Narsai
Bornc. 399
‘Ain Dulba (ܥܝܢ ܕܘܠܒܐ)
(modern-day Iraq)
Diedc. 502
Nisibis, Sassanid Empire
(modern-day Nusaybin, Mardin, Turkey)
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Assyrian Church of the East
Ancient Church of the East
Syro Malabar Church
Chaldean Catholic Church

Narsai (sometimes spelt Narsay, Narseh or Narses; Classical Syriac: ܢܪܣܝ, romanized: Narsay, name derived from Pahlavi Narsēh from Avestan Nairyō.saȵhō, meaning 'potent utterance'; c. 399 – c. 502) was one of the foremost of the poet-theologians of the early Church of the East, perhaps equal in stature to Jacob of Serugh, both second only to Ephrem the Syrian.

Narsai is venerated in the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Church, in which he is known as the 'Flute of the Holy Spirit.' Although many of his works seem to have been lost, around eighty of his mēmrē (ܡܐܡܖ̈ܐ), or verse homilies are extant.

Life

[edit]

Narsai was born at ‘Ain Dulba (ܥܝܢ ܕܘܠܒܐ "Plane Tree Spring") in the district of Ma‘alləta (ܡܥܠܬܐ) in the Sasanian Empire (now in Duhok Governorate, Iraq).[1]: 2  Being orphaned at an early age, he was raised by his uncle, who was head of the monastery of Kfar Mari (ܕܝܪܐ ܕܟܦܪ ܡܪܝ) near Beth Zabdai (ܒܝܬ ܙܒܕܝ). Narsai spent ten years as a student at the School of Edessa and later returned there to teach (c. 437), eventually becoming head of the school. Perhaps in 471, Narsai left Edessa after disagreeing with the city's bishop Cyrus (471–498). With the help of his friend Barsauma, who was bishop of Nisibis (although Narsai and Barsauma's wife do not seem to have seen eye-to-eye), Narsai re-established the School of Nisibis.[1]: 3  When his former school was ordered closed by Zeno in 489, it seems that many of his faithful staff and students came to join Narsai in Nisibis. Evidence from the first Statutes of the School of Nisibis, drafted in 496, shows that Narsai was still alive, and he must have been a venerable old teacher in his nineties. Narsai died sometime early in the sixth century[2] and was buried in Nisibis in a church that was later named after him. Joseph Huzaya was one of his pupils.

Narsai's extant works belong to the distinctive Syriac literary genre of the mēmrā, or homily in verse. He employs two different metres — one with couplets of seven syllables per line, the other with twelve. The mêmrê were designed to be recited in church or religious school, each an exposition of a particular theme. The later Syriac writer Abdisho bar Berika of Nisibis suggests that Narsai wrote 360 mēmrē in twelve volumes along with prose commentaries on large sections of the Old Testament and a book entitled On the Corruption of Morals.[1]: 6  However, only eighty mēmrē remain, and none of his prose works.

Homilies

[edit]

Hundreds of works have been attributed to Narsai, but only just over 80 of his homilies (mēmrē) have survived. Some surviving sogitha are also attributed to Narsai, but they are considered spurious.[3] The homilies are all poetry, and most use 12-syllable metre, with a minority using 7-syllable meter. Most, if not all, of Narsai's homilies involve biblical exegesis across liturgical, moral, and theological subjects.[4]

In 1905, Alphonse Mingana published a two-volume work with the Syriac text of 47 of these homilies. In 1970, a photographic reproduction of a manuscript with 72 of Narsai's homilies was published by Patriarchal Press. Two numbering systems are used for Narsai's homilies: one by Mingana, and a second by Macomber,[5] in his 1970 inventory of Narsai's manuscripts.[6]

List of Narsai's homilies

[edit]
Name[7] Number (Macomber)[7] Number (Mingana)[6] Translations Additional notes
On Revelations to Patriarchs and Prophets (I) 1 1 English[8]
On Revelations to Patriarchs and Prophets (II) 2 2
On Revelations to Abraham 3 3 English[9]
On the Nativity 4 - English[10]
On Mary

(On the Incarnation)

5 - English[11][12]
On Epiphany 6 - English[13]
On John the Baptist 7 - English[14]
On Peter and Paul 8 4 English[15]

German[16]

On the Four Evangelists 9 -
On Stephen 10 5 English[17]
On the Three Doctors 11 - French[18]
On the Iniquity of the World 12 6 English[19]
On Supplication

(On Prayer)

13 7 English[20]
On Jonah 14 8 English[21][22]
On Reproof 15 9
On Human Nature 16 16 English[23]
For Any Saints Day 17 -
On the Departed and the Resurrection 18 - French[24][25]
On Works 19 -
On Lent I 20 10
On the Temptation of Christ (1) 21 - English[26]
On the Temptation of Christ (2) 22 -
On Lent III 23 11
On Lent IV 24 12
On Reproof 25 13
On Lent V 26 14
On the Parable of the Ten Virgins 27 15 French[27]
On the Raising of Lazarus 28 -
On Palm Sunday (1) 29 -
On Palm Sunday (2) 30 -
Against the Jews 31 18 Italian[28]
On the Canaanite Women 32 - English[29]
On the Prodigal Son 33 - French[30]
On Holy Week 34 19
On the Mysteries 35 17 English[31]

French[32]

Probable forgery[33]
On the Passion 36 - McLeod[34]
On the Repentant Thief 37 20 English[35]
On Mysteries and Baptism 38 21 English[36]

French[37][32]

On Baptism 39 22 English[38]

French[39]

On the Resurrection 40 - McLeod[40]
On the Confessors 41 24
On the Martyrs (1) 42 25
On the Martyrs (2) 43 - Probable forgery
On New Sunday

(On the New Creation)

44 26 English[41]
On the Ascension 45 - McLeod[42]
On Pentecost 46 27
On the Workers in the Vineyard 47 28 French[43]
On the Rich Man and Lazarus 48 28 French[44]
On Creation IV

(On the Forming of Adam and Eve)

49 29 English[45]

French[46][47]

On Humility 50 -
On the Antichrist 51 23
On the Second Coming 52 23 French[48]
On the Wheat and the Tares 53 - French[49]
On the Finding of the Cross 54 30
On the Bronze Serpent 55 - English[50]
On the Dedication of the Church 56 -
On the Tabernacle 57 - English[51]
On Isaiah's Vision 58 31 English[52]
On the Church and the Priesthood 59 32 English[53]
On the Dedication of the Church 60 33 English[54]

German[55]

On Creation II 61 34 French[56][57]
On Creation III 62 35 English[58]

French[59]

On Creation I 63 36 French[60][61]
On Creation V 64 37 French[62]
On Creation VI 65 38 French[63]

German[64]

On the Soul 66 39 German[65]
On the Blessing of Noah 67 - English[66]
On the Tower of Babel 68 - English[67]
On Job 69 40
On Joseph 70 41
On the Flood 71 - English[68]
On the Miracles of Moses 72 42
On Samson 73 43
On David and Saul 74 -
On Solomon 75 -
On Enoch and Elijah 76 - English[69]
On the Three Children 77 44
On Reproof of the Clergy 78 45
On Reproof 79 46
On Reproof of Women 80 47 English[70]
On John 1:14

(On Christology)

81 - English[71]
On the Feast of the Victorious Cross 82
(Title Unknown) 83
(Title Unknown) 84

Syriac editions

[edit]
  • Major collection of Narsai's works, containing the full text of 47 memre and the incipits of 34 more — Mingana, Alphonse (1905). Narsai Doctoris Syri Homiliæ et Carmina (in Syriac and Latin). Mosul.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Published translations

[edit]

English

[edit]

French

[edit]
  • Brouwers (1965). "Premier poème de Narsaï sur le Baptême". Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph. 41: 177–207.
  • Delly, E. (1959). "Le 23e 'Memra' de Narsai". Divinitas. 3: 514–553.
  • Frishmann, J., ed. (1992). Narsai's Memre on Old testament Topics. University of Leiden (dissertation).
  • Martin, F (1900). "Homélie de Narsaï sur les trois Docteurs". Journal Asiatique. 15: 469–525. Archived from the original on December 21, 2006.
  • Guillaumont, Antoine (1956). "Poème de Narsaï sur le baptême". L'Orient Syrian. 1 (2): 189–207.
  • Gignoux, Philippe, ed. (1968). Homélies de Narsaï sur la création: Édition critique du texte syriaque. Patrologia Orientalis 34, fasc. 3–4 (in French). Turnhout/Paris: Brepols.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1962). "Homélie de Narsai sur la création d'Adam et d'Eve et sur la transgression du commandement". L'Orient Syrian. 7: 307–336.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1962b). "Homélie de Narsai sur la création du monde". L'Orient Syrian. 7: 477–506.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1963). "Sur les mystères de l'église et sur le baptême". In Hamman, A. (ed.). L’Initiation chrétienne. Bernard Grasset. pp. 195–213.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1963b). "Sur l'exposition des mystères". In Hamman, A. (ed.). L’Initiation chrétienne. Bernard Grasset. pp. 214–247.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1963c). "Homélie de Narsai sur le mot 'au commencement' et sur I'Essence divine". L'Orient Syrian. 8: 227–250.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1966). "Les doctrines eschatologiques de Narsai". L'Orient Syrian. 11: 321–352, 461–488.
  • Gignoux, Philippe (1967). "Les doctrines eschatologiques de Narsai". L'Orient Syrian. 12: 23–54.
  • Kruger, Paul (1958). "Traduction et commentaire de l'homélie de Narsaï sur les martyrs. Contribution à l'étude du culte des martyrs dans le nestorianisme primitif". L'Orient Syrien. 3: 299–316.
  • Siman, Emmanuel Pataq, ed. (1984). Cinq homélies sur les paraboles évangéliques (in French). Paris: Cariscript.

German

[edit]
  • Allgeier, Arthur (1917). "Der König und die Königin des 44. (45.) Psalmes im Lichte des N. Test. und der altchristlichen Auslegung. Ein Beitrag zur Begriffsgeschichte der Sponsa Christi". Der Katholik. 19 (3): 145–173.
  • Allgeier, Arthur (1922). "Ein syrischer Memrâ über die Seele religionsgeschichtlichem Rahmen". Archiv fiir Religionswissenschaft. 21: 360–396.
  • Kruger, Paul (1952). "Die älteste syrisch-nestorianische Dokument über die Engel". Ostkirchliche Studien. 1: 283–296.
  • Kruger, Paul (1958b). "Ein Missionsdokument aus frühchristlicher Zeit. Deutung und Übersetzung des Sermo de memoria Petri et Pauli des Narsai". Zeitschrift für Missionswissenschaft und Religions wissenschaft. 42: 271–291.

Italian

[edit]
  • Mingana, Paul T. (2003). E saranno benedetti nel tuo seme tutti i popoli della terra : uno studio di Pshitta Gn 22, 15-18 nell'esegesi di Mar Narsai, tesi di laurea in Teologia Biblica / Paul T. Mingana. Pontificia Universitas Urbaniana.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Butts, Aaron Michael (2020). "Narsai's life and work". In Butts, Aaron Michael; Heal, Kristian S.; Kitchen, Robert A. (eds.). Narsai: Rethinking His Work and His World. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. pp. 1–8. ISBN 978-3-16-159349-9.
  2. ^ Lucas Van Rompay , "Narsai", Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage Electronic Edition, edited by Sebastian P. Brock, Aaron M. Butts, George A. Kiraz and Lucas Van Rompay (Gorgias Press, 2011; online ed. Beth Mardutho, 2018)
  3. ^ Butts, Heal & Brock 2021, p. V, including note 4.
  4. ^ Butts, Heal & Brock 2021, p. V–VI.
  5. ^ Macomber 1970.
  6. ^ a b Brock 2009.
  7. ^ a b Butts, Heal & Brock 2021.
  8. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 23–55.
  9. ^ Younan 2024, p. 92–108.
  10. ^ McLeod 1979, p. 36–69.
  11. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 129–154.
  12. ^ Younan 2024, p. 133–162.
  13. ^ McLeod 1979, p. 70–105.
  14. ^ Younan 2024, p. 163–183.
  15. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 81–111.
  16. ^ Kruger 1958b.
  17. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 113–128.
  18. ^ Martin 1900.
  19. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 155–184.
  20. ^ Younan 2024, p. 284–206.
  21. ^ Butts, Heal & Kitchen 2024, p. 57–79.
  22. ^ Younan 2024, p. 109–128.
  23. ^ Younan 2024, p. 227–244.
  24. ^ Gignoux 1966.
  25. ^ Gignoux 1967.
  26. ^ Younan 2024, p. 184–205.
  27. ^ Siman 1984, p. 6–22.
  28. ^ Mingana 2003, p. 397–415.
  29. ^ Walters 2021, p. 56–67.
  30. ^ Siman 1984, p. 23–29.
  31. ^ Connolly 1909, p. 1–31.
  32. ^ a b Gignoux 1963b.
  33. ^ Brock 1990.
  34. ^ McLeod 1979, p. 106–135.
  35. ^ Younan 2024, p. 206–222.
  36. ^ Connolly 1909, p. 46–61.
  37. ^ Brouwers 1965.
  38. ^ Connolly 1909, p. 32–45.
  39. ^ Guillaumont 1956.
  40. ^ McLeod 1979, p. 136–161.
  41. ^ Younan 2024, p. 260–283.
  42. ^ McLeod 1979, p. 162–187.
  43. ^ Siman 1984, p. 61–80.
  44. ^ Siman 1984, p. 40–60.
  45. ^ Younan 2024, p. 70–91.
  46. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 610–637.
  47. ^ Gignoux 1962.
  48. ^ Delly 1959.
  49. ^ Siman 1984, p. 81–106.
  50. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 2.109–122.
  51. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 2.93–106.
  52. ^ Kuzhuppil 2006, p. 171–189.
  53. ^ Connolly 1909, p. 62–74.
  54. ^ Harrak 2018.
  55. ^ Allgeier 1917, p. 151–163.
  56. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 556–581.
  57. ^ Gignoux 1963c.
  58. ^ Younan 2024, p. 49–69.
  59. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 582–609.
  60. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 526–555.
  61. ^ Gignoux 1962b.
  62. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 638–671.
  63. ^ Gignoux 1968, p. 672–705.
  64. ^ Kruger 1952.
  65. ^ Allgeier 1922.
  66. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 2.55–70.
  67. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 2.73–90.
  68. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 1.23–51.
  69. ^ Frishman 1992, p. 1.3–20.
  70. ^ Molenberg 1993.
  71. ^ Younan 2024, p. 245–259.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Brock, Sebastian (1990). "Diachronic Aspects of Syriac Word Formation: An Aid for Dating Anonymous Texts". In Lavenant, René (ed.). V Symposium Syriacum. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. pp. 321–330.
  • Brock, Sebastian (2009). "A Guide to Narsai's Homilies". Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies. 12 (1): 21–40.
  • Butts, Aaron; Heal, Kristian; Brock, Sebastian (2021). Clavis to the Metrical Homilies of Narsai. Peeters.
  • Macomber, W.F. (1970). "The manuscripts of the metrical homilies of Narsai". Orientalia Christiana Periodica. 39: 275–306.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Becker, Adam H (2006). Fear of God and the Beginning of Wisdom: The School of Nisibis and Christian Scholastic Culture in Late Antique Mesopotamia. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: University of Pennsylvania. ISBN 978-0-8122-3934-8.
  • Becker, Adam (2016). "The "Evil Inclination" of the Jews: The Syriac Yatsra in Narsai's Metrical Homilies for Lent". Jewish Quarterly Review. 106 (2): 179–207.
  • Brock, Sebastian P. (1997). A Brief Outline of Syriac Literature. Kottayam: St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute.
  • Van Rompany, Lucas (2011). Humanity’s Sin in Paradise: Ephrem, Jacob of Sarug, and Narsai in Conversation. Gorgias Press.
  • Vööbus, Arthur (1965). History of the School of Nisibis. Corpus scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium 266, subsidia 26. Louvain: Secrétariat du CSCO.
  • Witkamp, Nathan (2018). Tradition and Innovation: Baptismal Rite and Mystagogy in Theodore of Mopsuestia and Narsai of Nisibis. Brill.
  • Wright, William (2001) [1894]. A Short History of Syriac Literature. Piscataway, New Jersey, USA: Gorgias. pp. 58–59. ISBN 0-9713097-5-2.
[edit]
  • Volume 1 of the photographic reproduction of a manuscript of 82 of Narsai's works
  • Volume 2
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narsai&oldid=1288034488"