Anthology of Metrical Discourses and Homilies

Be it known to you that after we departed from you due to this severe and frightening mawtana plague/pestilence that has occurred, we commanded Mar Hananya the bishop to go to the region of Gezarta and to all the regions surrounding it, and to all the churches therein, and to the monasteries and the faithful people, so that they might perform fasting, prayer, and supplication before God, that He might show mercy upon the race of mankind and stay this scourge of wrath from them. And when he departed from us on Sunday, he went to the monastery of Mar Yohanan of Arab and prayed there. Afterwards, he went to the region of Gezarta. And when he arrived at the village called Beth Zabday, he fell ill there and departed from this world on the twenty-fourth of Elul September, on a Sunday. He was buried in the monastery of Mar Yohanan of Arab. And when we heard these things, we were greatly distressed, and we mourned for him as for a beloved brother, and you also should mourn for him and pray that God may grant rest to his soul.

As for you, let it be your hope that this plague which has occurred in the region is from our sins, and perhaps if we repent, God will turn away from us and show mercy upon us. You know that all the prophets, the apostles, and the teachers of the Church have taught thus: that when people sin against their Lord, He strikes them, and if they repent, He removes the scourge from them. And we also, therefore, brothers, let us repent of our sins and call upon our Lord with tears and supplications, for He is the healer of our souls and of our bodies, and He cures all our infirmities. And you also, beloved brothers, as you know, God has chosen us and we have performed the shepherd’s duty for His flock, and we have no desire to see the destruction of any one of you. Rather, let us all pray and entreat the Lord that He might pass this plague from us. And you also, fathers and brothers who are in the monasteries and in the churches, pray for the region and for the people, that God may establish peace in the region and remove from it wrath, plague, and all evil scourges. And we have commanded all the priests in the region to perform fasting and prayer to the Lord on all days, so that wrath may turn away from us. And the God who was with our fathers will be with you and protect you from all things that are hateful, and we also pray for you. Amen.

And let this also be known to you: that after Mar Hananya the bishop departed from this world, all the bishops, the heads of the monasteries, and the faithful people gathered together, and they sought and looked to see who was worthy for this rank of episcopacy. And they found a man named Mar Yohanan, who was from the monastery of Mar Yohanan of Arab, and he became bishop over the region of Gezarta and over all the regions surrounding it. And you also, receive him with joy and honor, and be obedient to him in all his commands, for he is the shepherd of your souls. And the God who was with the former shepherds will be with him and help him in all his labors. And you also, beloved brothers, pray for him that he may have help from God, and that he may lead his flock in peace and harmony. And we also pray for him and for you, that God may protect you with His right hand and bless you with all the blessings of the Spirit, and establish peace and harmony in the region and in the holy churches. And we also pray for you. Amen. And you also, beloved brothers, pray for us.