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George, Bishop of the Arabs

April 13, 2024

George (Syriac Giwargi; died 724) was the Syriac Orthodox bishop of the Arabs around Aleppo and the upper Euphrates from 686 or 687 until his death. A polymath steeped in ancient Greek philosophy, his writings are an important source for Syriac history and theology.

George was born in the vicinity of Antioch around 640[1] or 660.[2] His native language was Syriac, but he learned Greek and perhaps Arabic.[3] He began his education as a small child with a periodeut named Gabriel.[4] He became associated with the monastery of Qenneshre, where he studied under Severus Sebokht and may have acquired Greek.[2][5][6] He was a disciple of Patriarch Athanasius II of Antioch and a personal friend of Jacob of Edessa and John of Litharb.[2][7] Shortly before his death, Athanasius ordered Bishop Sargis Zakunoyo to ordain George as bishop of the Arab[a] nations.[2][7] This took place in November 686[7] or 687.[2] The nations or tribes[b] that George served as bishop were the Tanukāyē, Ṭūʿāyē and ʿAqulāyē. They were generally bilingual in Syriac and Arabic.[2] The heartlands of these tribes and thus George's diocese lay in northern Syria and Upper Mesopotamia.[9] His seat was at ʿAqula.[1] He died in 724.[1][2][7][10][c]

George wrote on a variety of topics, but his most important works are his translations of Aristotle from Greek into Syriac.[10] He translated—or revised earlier translations of[7]—the Categories, On Interpretation and the first two books of the Prior Analytics, adding original introductions to each.[2] He completed the seventh and final book of Jacob of Edessa's encyclopaedic Hexaemeron, a treatise on the six days of Creation, after Jacob's death in 708.[2][7][10] He also wrote a commentary on the West Syriac liturgy for baptism and communion, and scholia (explanatory notes) to the orations of Gregory of Nazianzus.[2][7] Among the poems attributed to him are a sermon on the life of Severus of Antioch and treatises on the monastic life, Palm Sunday, the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and funeral services for bishops. The poem Myron has been attributed to him, but also to Jacob of Serug.[7] Eleven of George's letters are preserved.[2] They deal with matters of philosophy, astronomy, theology, literary criticism, liturgy and asceticism.[1][7] They are an important source for the early development of Islamic kalām (philosophical theology).[2] The nomocanon of Bar Hebraeus attributes to George the ruling that "a priest or a deacon who gives the Eucharist to the heretics shall be deposed".[11]

George was celebrated as a saint by the Maronites, who kept his feast on Saint George's Day (23 April). The Syriac Orthodox patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I gave him the honorific mar, but there is no record of his being treated as a saint otherwise.[6]

Editions of works edit

  • Connolly, Robert H.; Codrington, Humphrey W., eds. (1913). Two Commentaries on the Jacobite Liturgy by George Bishop of the Arab Tribes and Moses Bar Kepha, together with the Syriac Anaphora of St. James and a Document Entitled The Book of Life. London. pp. 11–23, 3*–15*.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • McVey, Kathleen E., ed. (1993). George, Bishop of the Arabs: A Homily on the Blessed Mar Severus. Peeters.
  • Varghese, Baby (2006). "George, Bishop of the Arabs (†724), Homily on the Consecration of Myron". Harp. 19: 255–280.

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Syriac word is ṭayyāyē, from Banū Ṭayy, and means either Arabs or nomads.[8]
  2. ^ The Syriac word is ʿammē. In some cases, George is referred to as "bishop of the Arab nations and the Ṭuʿāyē and ʿAqulāyē" or simply as "bishop of the nations".[8]
  3. ^ Barsoum 2003, p. 354, and Fiey 2004, p. 83, give his date of death as 725 and 725 or 726, respectively.
  1. ^ a b c d Cross & Livingstone 2005.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Tannous 2018a.
  3. ^ Tannous 2018b, pp. 57, 172.
  4. ^ Tannous 2018b, p. 183.
  5. ^ Barsoum 2003, pp. 354–358.
  6. ^ a b Fiey 2004, p. 83.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Brock 2011.
  8. ^ a b Tannous 2018b, p. 529.
  9. ^ Albert 2002: "Syro-occidental Bishop of the Arab tribes of the Euphrates"; Tannous 2018a: "Noted polymath and bishop for the Arab tribes in the area of Aleppo"; Cross & Livingstone 2005: "bishop of the Arab nomads in Mesopotamia".
  10. ^ a b c Albert 2002.
  11. ^ Tannous 2018b, p. 103.

Bibliography edit

  • Albert, Micheline (2002). "George of the Arabs". In André Vauchez (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. James Clarke & Co. ISBN 9780227679319.
  • Barsoum, Ignatius Aphram (2003). The Scattered Pearls: A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences. Translated by Matti Moosa (2nd rev. ed.). Gorgias Press.
  • Brock, Sebastian P. (2011). "Giwargi, bp. of the Arab tribes". In Sebastian P. Brock; Aaron M. Butts; George A. Kiraz; Lucas Van Rompay (eds.). Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition. Beth Mardutho. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  • Brock, Sebastian P. (2018). "George, Bishop of the Arab Tribes, Mimro on the Myron (British Library, Add. 12,165)". Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Journal. 56: 1–28.
  • Cross, F. L.; Livingstone, E. A., eds. (2005). "George". George (c. 640–724). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd rev. ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3.
  • Fiey, Jean Maurice (2004). Saints Syriaques. Darwin Press.
  • Miller, Dana (1993). "George, Bishop of the Arab Tribes, on True Philosophy". Aram. 5: 303–320.
  • Rilliet, F. (1992). "George, Bishop of the Arabs". Encyclopedia of the Early Church. James Clarke & Co. pp. 343–345.
  • Schrier, Omert J. (1991). "Chronological Problems Concerning the Lives of Severus bar Mašqā, Athanasius of Balad, Julianus Romāyā, Yohannān Sābā, George of the Arabs and Jacob of Edessa". Oriens Christianus. 75: 62–90.
  • Tannous, Jack B. (2008). "Between Christology and Kalām? The Life and Letters of George, Bishop of the Arab Tribes". In George A. Kiraz (ed.). Malphono w-Rabo d-Malphone: Studies in Honor of Sebastian P. Brock. Gorgias Press. pp. 671–716. doi:10.31826/9781463214814-032. ISBN 9781463214814.
  • Tannous, Jack B. (2018a). "George, Bishop of the Arab Tribes". In Oliver Nicholson (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. pp. 653–654. ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8.
  • Tannous, Jack B. (2018b). The Making of the Medieval Middle East: Religion, Society, and Simple Believers. Princeton University Press.
  • Võõbus, Arthur (1973). "The Discovery of New Important memre by Giwargi, the Bishop of the Arabs". Journal of Semitic Studies. 18 (2): 235–237. doi:10.1093/jss/XVIII.2.235.
  • Watt, John W. (2015). "The Prolegomena to Aristotelian Philosophy of George, Bishop of the Arabs". In Sidney Harrison Griffith; Sven Grebenstein (eds.). Christsein in der islamischen Welt: Festschrift für Martin Tamcke zum 60. Geburtstag. Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 141–163.
  • Watt, John W. (2018). "George, Bishop of the Arabs". In David G. Hunter; Paul J. J. van Geest; Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte (eds.). Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online. Brill. doi:10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00001411.

April 13, 2024
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George Syriac Giwargi died 724 was the Syriac Orthodox bishop of the Arabs around Aleppo and the upper Euphrates from 686 or 687 until his death A polymath steeped in ancient Greek philosophy his writings are an important source for Syriac history and theology George was born in the vicinity of Antioch around 640 1 or 660 2 His native language was Syriac but he learned Greek and perhaps Arabic 3 He began his education as a small child with a periodeut named Gabriel 4 He became associated with the monastery of Qenneshre where he studied under Severus Sebokht and may have acquired Greek 2 5 6 He was a disciple of Patriarch Athanasius II of Antioch and a personal friend of Jacob of Edessa and John of Litharb 2 7 Shortly before his death Athanasius ordered Bishop Sargis Zakunoyo to ordain George as bishop of the Arab a nations 2 7 This took place in November 686 7 or 687 2 The nations or tribes b that George served as bishop were the Tanukaye Ṭuʿaye and ʿAqulaye They were generally bilingual in Syriac and Arabic 2 The heartlands of these tribes and thus George s diocese lay in northern Syria and Upper Mesopotamia 9 His seat was at ʿAqula 1 He died in 724 1 2 7 10 c George wrote on a variety of topics but his most important works are his translations of Aristotle from Greek into Syriac 10 He translated or revised earlier translations of 7 the Categories On Interpretation and the first two books of the Prior Analytics adding original introductions to each 2 He completed the seventh and final book of Jacob of Edessa s encyclopaedic Hexaemeron a treatise on the six days of Creation after Jacob s death in 708 2 7 10 He also wrote a commentary on the West Syriac liturgy for baptism and communion and scholia explanatory notes to the orations of Gregory of Nazianzus 2 7 Among the poems attributed to him are a sermon on the life of Severus of Antioch and treatises on the monastic life Palm Sunday the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and funeral services for bishops The poem Myron has been attributed to him but also to Jacob of Serug 7 Eleven of George s letters are preserved 2 They deal with matters of philosophy astronomy theology literary criticism liturgy and asceticism 1 7 They are an important source for the early development of Islamic kalam philosophical theology 2 The nomocanon of Bar Hebraeus attributes to George the ruling that a priest or a deacon who gives the Eucharist to the heretics shall be deposed 11 George was celebrated as a saint by the Maronites who kept his feast on Saint George s Day 23 April The Syriac Orthodox patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I gave him the honorific mar but there is no record of his being treated as a saint otherwise 6 Editions of works editConnolly Robert H Codrington Humphrey W eds 1913 Two Commentaries on the Jacobite Liturgy by George Bishop of the Arab Tribes and Moses Bar Kepha together with the Syriac Anaphora of St James and a Document Entitled The Book of Life London pp 11 23 3 15 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link McVey Kathleen E ed 1993 George Bishop of the Arabs A Homily on the Blessed Mar Severus Peeters Varghese Baby 2006 George Bishop of the Arabs 724 Homily on the Consecration of Myron Harp 19 255 280 Notes edit The Syriac word is ṭayyaye from Banu Ṭayy and means either Arabs or nomads 8 The Syriac word is ʿamme In some cases George is referred to as bishop of the Arab nations and the Ṭuʿaye and ʿAqulaye or simply as bishop of the nations 8 Barsoum 2003 p 354 and Fiey 2004 p 83 give his date of death as 725 and 725 or 726 respectively a b c d Cross amp Livingstone 2005 a b c d e f g h i j k l Tannous 2018a Tannous 2018b pp 57 172 Tannous 2018b p 183 Barsoum 2003 pp 354 358 a b Fiey 2004 p 83 a b c d e f g h i Brock 2011 a b Tannous 2018b p 529 Albert 2002 Syro occidental Bishop of the Arab tribes of the Euphrates Tannous 2018a Noted polymath and bishop for the Arab tribes in the area of Aleppo Cross amp Livingstone 2005 bishop of the Arab nomads in Mesopotamia a b c Albert 2002 Tannous 2018b p 103 Bibliography editAlbert Micheline 2002 George of the Arabs In Andre Vauchez ed Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages James Clarke amp Co ISBN 9780227679319 Barsoum Ignatius Aphram 2003 The Scattered Pearls A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences Translated by Matti Moosa 2nd rev ed Gorgias Press Brock Sebastian P 2011 Giwargi bp of the Arab tribes In Sebastian P Brock Aaron M Butts George A Kiraz Lucas Van Rompay eds Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage Electronic Edition Beth Mardutho Retrieved 1 October 2019 Brock Sebastian P 2018 George Bishop of the Arab Tribes Mimro on the Myron British Library Add 12 165 Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Journal 56 1 28 Cross F L Livingstone E A eds 2005 George George c 640 724 The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 3rd rev ed Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 280290 3 Fiey Jean Maurice 2004 Saints Syriaques Darwin Press Miller Dana 1993 George Bishop of the Arab Tribes on True Philosophy Aram 5 303 320 Rilliet F 1992 George Bishop of the Arabs Encyclopedia of the Early Church James Clarke amp Co pp 343 345 Schrier Omert J 1991 Chronological Problems Concerning the Lives of Severus bar Masqa Athanasius of Balad Julianus Romaya Yohannan Saba George of the Arabs and Jacob of Edessa Oriens Christianus 75 62 90 Tannous Jack B 2008 Between Christology and Kalam The Life and Letters of George Bishop of the Arab Tribes In George A Kiraz ed Malphono w Rabo d Malphone Studies in Honor of Sebastian P Brock Gorgias Press pp 671 716 doi 10 31826 9781463214814 032 ISBN 9781463214814 Tannous Jack B 2018a George Bishop of the Arab Tribes In Oliver Nicholson ed The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity Vol 1 Oxford University Press pp 653 654 ISBN 978 0 19 866277 8 Tannous Jack B 2018b The Making of the Medieval Middle East Religion Society and Simple Believers Princeton University Press Voobus Arthur 1973 The Discovery of New Important memre by Giwargi the Bishop of the Arabs Journal of Semitic Studies 18 2 235 237 doi 10 1093 jss XVIII 2 235 Watt John W 2015 The Prolegomena to Aristotelian Philosophy of George Bishop of the Arabs In Sidney Harrison Griffith Sven Grebenstein eds Christsein in der islamischen Welt Festschrift fur Martin Tamcke zum 60 Geburtstag Harrassowitz Verlag pp 141 163 Watt John W 2018 George Bishop of the Arabs In David G Hunter Paul J J van Geest Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte eds Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online Brill doi 10 1163 2589 7993 EECO SIM 00001411 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Bishop of the Arabs amp oldid 1196845866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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