The Apology of Timothy the Patriarch before the Caliph Mahdi
The following is the “transcript” from a two day debate that took place in the year 781 between the Catholicos Timothy I, leader of the Christians in Mesopotamia and Persia, and the Caliph Mahdi, the Muslim ruler of these (and other) regions. Although it is highly unlikely that the transcript records their exchange verbatim, it was nevertheless compiled by Timothy very shortly after the debate took place, and thus very likely represents the gist of what took place. Below is the complete record of the second day of the debate, and the discussion centers around the Christian...
Read MoreINSCRIPTION OF THE NESTORIAN MONUMENT TRANSLATED BY A. WYLIE.
Tablet Eulogizing the Propagation of the lllustrious Religion in China, With a Preface; Composed by King-Tsing, A Priest of the Syrian Church. BEHOLD the unchangeably true and invisible, who existed through all eternity without origin; the far-seeing perfect intelligence, whose mysterious existence is everlasting; operating on primordial substance he created the universe, being more excellent than all holy intelligences, inasmuch as he is the source of all that is honorable. This is our eternal true lord God, triune and mysterious in substance. He appointed the cross as the means...
Read MoreThe three kinds of knowledge according to St. Isaac the Syrian
St. Isaac the Syrian teaches that there are three kinds of knowledge, which correspond to the division: body, soul and spirit. Naturally, this is not the so called tricomposite of man, because the spirit is not a particular energy of man, but it is the Holy Spirit. Just as the soul is the life of the body, so also the Holy Spirit is the life of the soul. Thus there is the bodily knowledge, the knowledge of the soul and the spiritual knowledge. B o d i l y k n o w l e d g e is closely connected with the study of human wisdom and knowledge; with the desire of the flesh, the satisfaction of...
Read MoreLight from the Theological Schools of Persian Christianity (An Early Asian Church) Dr. Y.C. Liong
Introduction Whether in the Roman Empire (Western) or Persian Empire (Asian), the growth and expansion of Christianity during the initial centuries AD were at best difficult. Often, Christians were persecuted by individuals, groups or rulers. Sozomen (A.D. 323~425), an early church historian, captured our hearts with the following report concerning the martyrdom of Christians in Persia: .. I think that I have said enough of … martyrs who suffered in Persia during the reign of Sapor; for it would be difficult to relate in detail every circumstance respecting them, such as their...
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