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FOREWORD.

An ornate decorative initial 'L' featuring floral and vine motifs marks the start of the preface.

The volume we are publishing today contains: 1) the Liber Superiorum by Thomas of Marga, 2) the Liber Fundatorum by Ischo-Dnah, 3) the Homiliæ Mar-Narsetis in Joseph original: Homilies of Mar Narsai on Joseph, 4) the Documenta Patrum de quibusdam veræ fidei dogmatibus original: Documents of the Fathers concerning certain dogmas of the true faith. We believe we are being agreeable to the reader by providing, in the form of a foreword, some indications regarding each of these works.

I. Liber Superiorum or Monastic History.

(¹) Beth-Mawtabe. See page 107.

Thomas of Marga, son of a certain James of Beth-Scharonayés (¹) from the district of Salakh, entered the famous monastery of Beth-Abé in 832. A few years later, in 837, we find him near the Patriarch Abraham, for whom he became secretary. This patriarch later appointed him Bishop of Marga and, later, Metropolitan of Beth Garmaï. It was in this capacity that Thomas attended the consecration of his own brother Theodosius, who was first named Bishop of Anbar, then Metropolitan of Goundé-Schabor, and finally Patriarch in 852. From his youth, Thomas showed himself to be a passionate lover of edifying lives, particularly of...