Ephrem

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Works

Commentary on the Diatessaron

Ephraem’s commentary on the Diatessaron survives in a Syriac manuscript, (which preserves about three quarters of the commentary), and two Armenian MSS, both dated AD 1195. G. Mösinger made a Latin translation of the Armenian Ephraemic commentary (Evangelii concordantis expositio [Venice: Libraria P. P. Mechitaristarum in Monasterio S. Lazari, 1876]) based on the two Armenian MSS and J.-B. Aucher’s 1841 Latin translation. There are also various Syriac fragments in later Syriac writers.

Commentary on Genesis and Exodus

This exists only in Ms. Vatican Syr. 110 and has been edited in CSCO 152.

Bibliography

Commentary on the Diatessaron

  • For Syriac and Armenian recensions (fourth cent.) of Ephraem’s commentary see L. Leloir, Saint Éphrem, Commentaire de l’Évangile concordant, texte syriaque (Chester Beatty Monographs 8; Dublin: Hodges Figgis, 1963); id., Saint Éphrem, Commentaire de l’Évangile concordant, version armenienne (CSCO 137, 145; Louvain: Imprimerie Orientaliste, 1954); and J. Rendel Harris, Fragments of the Commentary of Ephrem Syrus upon the Diatessaron (London: J. Clay, 1895). A Syriac Ms. was found: L. Leloir, Saint Éphrem Commentaire de l'Évangile concordant texte syriaque (manuscrit Chester Beatty 709) (CBM 8; Dublin, 1963). A further single folio was published by P. Ortiz Valdivieso, “Un nuevo fragmento siríaco del Commentario de san Efrén al Diatésaron (PPalau Rib. 2),” Studia papyrologica 5 (1966) 7-17. Between 1984 and 1986 forty-one folios of Ephraem’s commentary were acquired by the Chester Beatty Library; see L. Leloir, "Le commentaire d’Éphrem sur le Diatessaron. Quarante et un folios retrouvés," RB 94 (1987) 481-518. K.J. Cathcart, 'The Biblical and Other Early Christian Manuscripts of the Chester Beatty Library', Back to the Sources (FS D. Ryan; ed. K.J. Cathcart & J.F. Healey; Dublin, 1989) 137ff. Cathcart estimates that less than 30 leaves remain undiscovered.
  • English: Saint Ephrem's Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron: An English Translation of Chester Beatty Syriac MS 709 with Introduction and Notes Translated with introduction and notes by Carmel McCarthy. Oxford University Press (1994) 392 pages; halftone frontispiece; ISBN. 0-19-922163-4. Series: Journal of Semitic Studies Supplement, 2. Available from Amazon

Biblical commentaries

  • "In Genesim et in Exodum commentarii", Ed. Raymond Tonneau, CSCO vol. 152-153, Scriptores Syri t. 71-72. Louvain:L. Durbecq (1955) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; preface and translation in Latin.

Sermons

  • "Nachträge zu Ephraem Syrus", ed. Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 363-364; Scriptores Syri t.159-160. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1975). 2 vols. ISBN 2801700134; ISBN 2801700142 (version) Text in Syriac with translation and introductory material in German. Hymns and Sermons.
  • "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermo de Domino Nostro", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 270-271. Louvain: Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1966) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc.
  • "Sermones in Hebdomadam Sanctam", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 412-413, Scriptores Syri t. 181-182. Louvain:Corpussco (1979). 2 vols. ISBN 2801701181; ISBN 280170119X (trans.) Text in Syriac with translation, prefatory matter and notes in German. Sermons in Holy Week
  • "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermones de fide", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 212-213, Scriptores Syri t.88-89. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1961) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Sermons on the faith.
  • Sermons: "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermones", ed. Edmund Beck, Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation. 8 vols. CSCO vol. 305-306. (1973); CSCO vol.311-312, Scriptores Syri t. 134-135 (1970); CSCO vol.320-321, Scriptores Syri t.138-139 (1972); CSCO vol. 334-335, Scriptores Syri t. 148-149. (1973)

Hymns

  • On Nisibis -- "Des heiligen Ephraem des syrers Carmina Nisibena", ed. Edmund Beck, CSCO. Scriptores Syri v.218-219, 240-241, t.92-93, 102-103. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1961). 4 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German. Contents: vols 92/3. Carmen I-XXXIV. vols. 102-3. Carmen XXXV-LXXVII.
  • On Abraham Kidunaya und Julianos Saba -- "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen auf Abraham Kidunaya und Julianos Saba", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 322-323. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1972) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Hymns on the hermits Abraham of Kidun and Julian Sabas (ca. 300).
  • Contra haereses -- "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen contra Haereses", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 169-170, Scriptores Syri t. 76-77. Louvain:L. Durbecq (1957) 2 vols. Syriac text, German trans.
  • De ecclesia -- "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de ecclesia", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 198-199, Scriptores Syri t. 84-85. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1960) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German.
  • De fide-- "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de fide", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 154-155, Scriptores Syri. tom. 73-74. Louvain:L. Durbecq (1955) 2 vols. Syriac and German.
  • De ieiunio -- "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de ieiunio", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 246-247. Scriptores Syri t. 106-107. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1964) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Hymns on fasting.
  • De nativitate -- "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de Nativitate : (Epiphania)", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 186-187, Scriptores Syri t. 82-83. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1959) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; introd. and translation in German.
  • De Paradiso; Contra Julianum -- "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de paradiso und contra Julianum", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 174-175, Scriptores Syri t. 78-79. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1957) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German.
  • De pascha -- "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Paschahymen : de azymis, de crucifixione, de resurrectione", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 248-249, Scriptores Syri t.108-109. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1964) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introdutions, translation, etc. Easter hymns: de azymis, de crucifixione, de resurrectione.
  • De virginitate -- "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de virginitate", tr. Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 223-224, Scriptores Syri t. 94-95. Louvain : Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 1962 (1962) 2 vols. Syriac and German; introd. in German.

Links

  • Vatican Syriac Ms. 92 Available on CD and contains several of Ephraim's works. 8o Vellum codex containing 130 folios, dated to 823. The manuscript is written in a Serto hand seemingly by the same scribe as Vat. Syr. 93. The first ten leaves are missing. Formerly ms. 16 of the collection of the Syrian Monastery of St. Mary in the desert of Nitria in Egypt, purchased in 1707 for Pope Clement XI by Elias Assemani.
  • Vatican Syriac Ms. 110 Available on CD. Only ms. copy of Ephrem's Commentary on Genesis and Exodus. 4o vellum codex containing 95 folios written in two columns in a fine estrangela hand, dated to 523. The manuscript suffers from water damage and is illegible in several places, particularly at the beginning and the end. Formerly ms. 6 of the collection of the Syrian Monastery of St. Mary in the desert of Nitria in Egypt, purchased in 1707 for Pope Clement XI by Elias Assemani.
  • Vatican Syriac Ms. 111 Available on CD. The manuscript contains five complete collections of hymns of Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373): the Hymns on the Church; the Hymns on Virginity; the Hymns on Faith; the Hymns against Heresies; the Hymns on Paradise. Folio vellum codex containing 142 folios (240 * 310 mm) written in three columns in a neat estrangela hand, dated to 522. The manuscript suffers from water damage and is often illegible or difficult to read. Formerly ms. 7 of the collection of the Syrian Monastery of St. Mary in the desert of Nitria in Egypt, purchased in 1707 for Pope Clement XI by Elias Assemani.
  • Vatican Syriac Ms. 112 Available on CD. The manuscript contains two collections of the hymns of Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373): the Hymns on Paradise, and the Hymns on Nativity. 4o vellum codex containing 93 folios written in a single column in a bold estrangelo hand, dated to 551 (150 * 240 mm). The manuscript suffers from water damage particularly around the bottom edge, where it is occasionally difficult to read. Formerly ms. 8 of the collection of the Syrian Monastery of St. Mary in the desert of Nitria in Egypt, purchased in 1707 for Pope Clement XI by Elias Assemani.