St. Barsawmo Monastery School and Library

St. Barsawmo Monastery School and Library

The school:

Theological, linguistic, and religious sciences flourished at the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo from the eighth century to the mid-thirteenth century, indicating that a thriving school existed throughout this period. However, detailed information regarding the school's specific systems, curricula, or student enrollment remains limited, as these administrative details were often overlooked by historians of our early scientific institutions.

The school provided the fields of science and religion with a distinguished group of brilliant minds who held significant academic and administrative standing throughout history.

The Relationship with the Melitene School:

A close relationship existed between the Melitene (Malatya) School and the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo. Several monks from the monastery were educated at Melitene, including Patriarch Athanasius Abu al-Faraj ibn Kamara. The Melitene School flourished with its own scholars and teachers, producing graduates such as Yuhanna ibn al-Sabuni, the martyred Metropolitan of Melitene (d. AD 1095); his brother Abu Ghalib, Metropolitan of Edessa (d. AD 1129); and Ibn al-Salibi, Metropolitan of Amid (d. AD 1171).

In AD 1102, Dionysius son of Modiana, the Metropolitan of Melitene, revived the school after being transferred from the destroyed See of Jobas. He personally taught the Holy Scriptures of both Testaments and renewed the study of science, poetry, and literature. Before his appointment as Metropolitan, he had founded the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo, where he taught for a period and introduced the liturgical method of the Monastery of Ibn Jaji. This Metropolitan was a disciple of Patriarch John, son of Shushan, and a teacher of Patriarch Athanasius Abu al-Faraj

Among the teachers of the Melitene school was the priest Abdu Kos al-Mati, a distinguished linguist who taught Syriac and its grammar there, most likely in the first half of the twelfth century. He authored a book on Syriac grammar called "The Rules of Readings."

Also renowned was the priest Saliba al-Qarikri (1164 AD), who hailed from one of the villages of Melitene. He was ordained a priest and became a monk after his widowhood and devoted himself to learning, acquiring considerable knowledge, and taught at the Malitene school. Among his written works are his refutation of John, the Metropolitan of Mardin, and his explanation of the unusual words in the homilies of Mor Ephrem. He loved knowledge immensely and requested most of the writings of Ibn al-Salibi. He died in 1164 AD.

Distinguished Graduates:

This school, where ecclesiastical and secular sciences and knowledge flourished, produced a a group of outstanding scholars who adorned the Syriac church history with their knowledge and virtue. Many Patriarchs, bishops, presidents, and scholars emerged from this school, the most famous of whom are:

• Patriarch John ibn Abdun

• Patriarch Basil: A monk and former head of the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo known for his shrewdness.

• Patriarch Dionysius Almazer: He became a monk in the Monastery of Mar Barsoum, and became its abbot for some time.

• Patriarch Athanasius Abu al-Faraj ibn Kamra: An Amid native who became a monk at the Monastery of Mar Barsoum and studied in Melitene under Dionysius ibn Modiana. 

• Patriarch Michael Rabo (the Great): A native of Melitene who received his education and embraced the ascetic life at the monastery. 

• Theodore Ibn Wahbun: He was a disciple of Patriarch Michael the Great.

• Patriarch Athanasius Saliba: A monk and administrator who served as head of the monastery. He was well-versed in administrative matters, but weak in the sciences.

• Maphrian Gregory Jacob: A nephew of Patriarch Mor Michael Rabo.

• Joshua al-Ahdal: Brother of Maphrian Gregory Jacob and nephew of Patriarch Michael Rabo

• Patriarch Ignatius Daoud I: A man of vast knowledge and ambition who was a disciple of Abbot Rabban Barsawmo. 

The library:

As a center of learning and the See for Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs, the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo amassed a magnificent library. Over time, it was stocked with hundreds of precious volumes and illustrious works.

Historical records of the collection become clearer in the twelfth century during the reign of Patriarch Athanasius VI Bar Khamoro (1091–1129). A passionate collector, he added many volumes acquired during his travels. The anonymous Edessan chronicler (History of 1234) noted that the Patriarch elevated the status of the See with rare treasures, including magnificent books on the Old and New Testaments and collections of the Syriac Fathers.

When Mor Michael Rabo (the Great) became Patriarch (1166-1199) and head St. Barsawmo monastery, he adorned the library with his precious manuscripts as he was one of the most famous calligraphers/scribes of his time. The anonymous historian of Edessa mentioned that this patriarch left in the Monastery of Mor Barsawmo many magnificent books on different subjects, all in his own handwriting, because he had great perseverance in writing. He would stay up all night writing his letters and patriarchal orders to all the cities under his apostolic see. He would also spend the whole day writing various books that were rare for his time.

The most famous of his manuscripts are the book of homilies of Mor Jacob of Serug, in which he collected all the homilies of this scholar, and the book of homilies of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, in which he also collected all his homilies, and the book of annual sermons, to which he added many sermons of his own composition for some feasts and seasons.

However, the most precious manuscript he left from his pen was a magnificent copy of the Holy Gospel, whose letters he decorated with gold and silver ink, and adorned with various pictures of the works of the Lord and His wonders, then he placed it in a gilded silver box.

The library also held a complete collection of phanqithu (liturgical volumes) written by the calligrapher Mor Yohanna ibn Shushan (1058–1072). Originally dedicated to the Monastery of the Strangers in Mount Edessa, these were later transferred to the Monastery of Saint Barsawmo.