Complete Works of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Volume 1

...ume original: "mum"; the concluding syllable of "tomum" (volume) from the previous page., which now likewise appears under the auspices of YOUR HOLINESS original: "SANCTITATIS VESTRÆ". This [volume] contains the commentaries on Holy Scripture of that most holy and famous Father, whose [understanding of] its mysteries Saint Gregory of Nyssa Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395 AD) was a prominent Greek theologian and one of the Cappadocian Fathers; his encomium of Saint Ephrem is a major historical source for Ephrem's life. testifies was illuminated by the light of the Spirit. It presents the Syriac text—namely, the very language of the Syrian Doctor A traditional title for Saint Ephrem, highlighting his authority as a teacher of the Church.—of which learned men formerly had no hope of obtaining, their wishes extending only so far as to enjoy at least the Greek versions. Therefore, by right and merit, MOST BLESSED FATHER, your Vatican Library, the care of which you entrusted to me, may greatly boast that it now produces the most abundant edition of Saint Ephrem, namely in Greek and Syriac with Latin translations.

This is a significant advancement, whereas that edition which Gerard Vossius Gerardus Vossius (1547–1609), Provost of Tongeren, published a multi-volume Latin translation of Ephrem's works in Rome between 1589 and 1598., Provost of Tongeren, undertook in Rome about one hundred and fifty years ago—and published from the Vatican Press original: "Vaticana Typographia" by the command or favor of three Roman Pontiffs—showed Saint Ephrem speaking only in Latin. Furthermore, that edition which was undertaken after the middle of the seventeenth century by the order of the French Clergy assembled according to custom in General Assemblies, failed in its very attempt, not reaching beyond sixty leaves. And finally, that edition which appeared in England at the beginning of the present century, although adorned with the larger types of the Sheldonian Theatre The Sheldonian Theatre is the official press of the University of Oxford; this refers to the 1709 edition by Edward Thwaites, which contained only Greek texts., represents only the Greek text, being devoid of the Syriac and even the Latin translations.

Since, however, to each is due their own praise, YOUR HOLI- original: "SANCTI-"

original: "TATI"; the concluding syllables of "SANCTITATI" (Holiness) appearing on the next page.