Anthology of Metrical Discourses and Homilies

A woodcut depicts a vertical Syriac script written in the bottom margin, perpendicular to the main text columns.
that they may have life, joy, and light that does not pass away; and may they be deemed worthy of the kingdom of heaven; amen.

Order for the Deceased

Head of the Canon

He who was before the worlds, and in the end of times became man from the holy Virgin Mary; and by His own will suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. And He rose from among the dead on the third day; and He raised up with Him Adam, the head of our race, and all his children from the corruption of death. Do You, O Lord, grant rest to this Your servant who? has fallen asleep in Your hope. And make him worthy of Your kingdom and of life eternal, through the prayer of Mary who bore You and of all Your saints, amen.

He is the light that is not grasped, who went down to the temple of death and enlightened those who were lying in darkness from of old. Enlighten, O Lord, this Your servant with Your light that does not pass away. And make him worthy of the joy of Eden and of the kingdom of heaven, through the prayer of Mary who bore You and of all Your saints, amen.

Through the prayer of the Mother of God, Mary, and of Saint John the Baptist, and of Saint Stephen the head of the deacons, and of Saint George the victorious martyr, and of Saint Anthony the head of the monks, and of Saint Ephrem the teacher of the faith, and of Saint Jacob the interpreter of the Holy Scriptures, and of Saint Isaac the teacher of the Church, and of Saint Philoxenos the teacher of orthodoxy, and of Saint Bar Sauma the head of the mourners a title for heads of ascetic communities, and of Saint Simeon the Stylite, and of Saint Gabriel of Qartmin, and of Saint John of Kafra, and of Saint Abhai the martyr, and of Saint Ahudemmeh the martyr, and of Saint Marutha of Maipherqat, and of Saint Severus the Patriarch of Antioch, and of Saint Cyril the Patriarch of Alexandria, and of Saint Athanasius the Patriarch of Alexandria, and of Saint Basil the Bishop of Caesarea, and of Saint Gregory the Bishop of Nazianzus, and of Saint Gregory the Bishop of Nyssa, and of Saint John Chrysostom Golden-Mouthed, and of Saint Epiphanius the Bishop of Cyprus, and of Saint Ignatius the light of Antioch, and of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, and of Saint Clement the Bishop of Rome, and of Saint Paul the Bishop of Antioch, and of Saint Peter the Bishop of Alexandria, and of Saint Timothy the Bishop of Alexandria, and of Saint John the Bishop of Alexandria, and of Saint Gregory the Bishop of Armenia, and of Saint Isaac the Bishop of Nineveh, and of Saint Philoxenos the Bishop of Mabbug... The text repeats the list of saints multiple times, likely a ritual repetition for the liturgy of the dead.