Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo, Maphrian of the East

Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo

Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo (1226-1286), also known as Bar Hebraeus and Abulpharagius, was a prominent Syriac Orthodox scholar, writer, and religious figure. He served as a bishop and Maphrian (primate) of the Syriac Orthodox Church and is renowned for his wide-ranging intellectual contributions across various fields of knowledge. He's arguably was a great Syriac polymath and the last one.

Bar 'Ebroyo was born in 1226 in Melitene, in what is now modern-day Turkey. His father, a physician named Aaron, provided him with an early education in medicine and other subjects. His Syriac name "Bar 'Ebroyo" translates to "Son of 'Ebra," a village on the Euphrates close to Melitene where he was born. During his youth, a Mongol invasion led his family to relocate to Antioch. There, Bar 'Ebroyo continued his studies and, at the age of seventeen, became a monk. He furthered his education in Tripoli, where he studied rhetoric and medicine.

In 1246, he was ordained Bishop of Gubbos, near Melitene, Turkey, by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius III David. He was later transferred to Laqabin, also near Melitene, Turkey. In 1253, he was transferred to the diocese of Aleppo. In 1264, he was elevated to be Maphrian of the East by Patriarch Ignatius IV Yeshu.

As Maphrian, Bar Ebroyo traveled extensively, which allowed him to consult various libraries and engage with learned individuals. This contributed to his vast knowledge across diverse subjects. He died in Maragheh, Persia (modern-day Iran), on July 30, 1286, and was buried at the Monastery of Mar Mattai, near Mosul.

Bar 'Ebroyo was a prolific writer, producing works mostly in Syriac but he wrote in and translated his work to Arabic also. His writings cover a wide array of subjects, reflecting his encyclopedic knowledge and he left us close to 50 books and articles. Bar ‘Ebroyo was also proficient in the Armenian and Persian languages. 

Some of his major works include:

• Maktbonut Zabne (Chronicle): A two-part historical work comprising a secular history from the time of creation and an ecclesiastical history of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

• He'wath Hekhmatha (The Cream of Wisdom): An encyclopedia of philosophy, covering various branches of knowledge within the Aristotelian tradition.

• Awṣar Roze (Storehouse of Mysteries): A commentary on the Old and New Testaments.

• Menorat Qudshe (Candelabrum of the Sanctuary): A work of dogmatic theology.

• Ethicon: A book on moral philosophy.

• Grammar: He also wrote on Syriac grammar, including "Book of Splendors" and "Book of grammar in the meter of Mor Ephrem."

• Medicine: Given his early training, he authored medical texts, reflecting the knowledge of his time.

• Suloqo Hawnonoyo (The Ascent of the Mind): Bar 'Ebroyo also wrote on the "exact sciences," including astronomy, physics. medicine, and mathematics: 

His other works include treatises on logic, rhetoric, and other philosophical and theological topics. He also translated various Arabic works into Syriac, making Islamic scholarship accessible to Syriac-speaking Christians. A full list of his work in here

Significance and Legacy

Bar 'Ebroyo is considered one of the most important figures in Syriac literature. His contributions were significant in several ways:

• Encyclopedic Knowledge: His works demonstrate a remarkable breadth of knowledge, encompassing theology, philosophy, history, science, and linguistics.

• Cultural Synthesis: He played a crucial role in transmitting and synthesizing knowledge from both Greek and Arabic traditions within the Syriac intellectual context.

• Promotion of Syriac Literature: His extensive writings helped to enrich and revitalize Syriac literature.

• Interfaith Dialogue: Bar 'Ebroyo fostered a spirit of tolerance and dialogue between Christians and Muslims, living during a period of complex political and religious interactions.