Illuminated Syriac Bible

We begin to write the history of the events that took place in the land of the East, during the time of the persecution by the Persians. We record how the holy martyrs of our Lord were triumphant, and how they were crowned In Syriac hagiography, "crowned" refers to receiving the crown of martyrdom, a metaphor for spiritual victory through death. in the struggle of faith. First is the history of the holy Mar Simeon Bar Sabba’e, Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon original: Saliq w-Qatisphon. These were the twin capital cities of the Persian Empire, located on opposite banks of the Tigris River., and his companions, and how they were crowned.

In the year three hundred and thirty-nine of the kingdom of Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian This refers to the Seleucid Era (AG). The year 339 AG corresponds to approximately 341 AD., which is the thirty-first year of Shapur the King, son of Hormizd Shapur II, the Sasanian King of Kings who oversaw a long and severe persecution of Christians., a great wrath was stirred up against the churches of God in the land of Persia. There was great war and distress for all the believers in the land of the East.

There was sickness and pain for all the children of the holy church. There was darkness and gloom for all the lovers of truth. There was mourning and sighing for all who fear God. But there was joy and rejoicing for all the deniers and idol-makers. There was mockery and derision for all the Magians original: Magushe. Refers to the Zoroastrian priesthood, the state religion of the Sasanian Empire. and heretics. There was pride and haughtiness for all the wicked and the unjust. There was scorn and ridicule for all the worshippers of fire and water. There was confusion and turmoil for all the servants of demons. Power was given to all the lovers of evil.

A command went out from King Shapur: that the bishops, priests, and deacons should be imprisoned; that the houses of prayer should be uprooted; that the temples of God should be demolished; that the feasts and commemorations should be abolished. The treasuries of the church were to be seized, along with the archives of the holy ones, the books of life, the graves of the martyrs, the tabernacles of the holy ones, the dwellings of the righteous, the camps of the ascetics, the convents of the virgins, and the dwellings of the holy ones.

And the command came from the King that all the monks and nuns should be seized. And all the Sons of the Covenant and Daughters of the Covenant original: bnay qyama and bnat qyama. These were members of an early Syriac ascetic movement who took vows of celibacy and service but often lived within the local church community rather than in isolated monasteries. were to be seized. And all the believers, both men and women. And all the orphans and widows. And all the poor and the afflicted. And all the sick and the oppressed. And all the imprisoned and the bound. And all the foreigners and the strangers. And all those who are of the Christian race.

The command was given that all the Christians who are in the land of Persia be seized. And all those who confess Christ. And all those who worship the Cross. And all those who serve God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God.

And the command came from the King that all those who fear God should be seized. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God. And all those who fear God. And all those who believe in God. And all those who praise God. And all those who confess God. And all those who love God.