Theodosius, Patriarch of Antioch

Theodosius, Patriarch of Antioch

Patriarch Theodosius was Born at Takrit as Romanus from a Melikite family in the 9th century. He became a monk and studied at the Monastery of Qartmin. His Syriac style was majestic and he probably knew Greek too. He studied and mastered medicine and was considered a skillful physician. He was consecrated Patriarch of Antioch in 887 and ordained thirty-two metropolitans and bishops. He died at his monastery in 896. His works are:

• A lengthy commentary on Pseudo-Hierothios, dedicated to Lazarus, bishop of Cyrrhus. He finished the first and the second treatises of this work at Amid, where he resided for a long time. The third treatise was finished at Samosata. There is an ancient imperfect copy of this magnificent work in the Za'faran's library transcribed in 1290 by Abu Nasr of Bartelli and containing half of this commentary.

• He wrote a treatise addressed to the deacon George, explaining the maxims and proverbs of philosophers, most of which he translated from Greek into Syriac. He also included in this treatise a collection of one hundred twelve Pythagorian maxims. It was published in both Syriac and Arabic.

• He also wrote a medical syntagma {Kunnash) bearing his name, which was admired by Bar Hebraeus. This Kunnash is lost except for a fragment in the Vatican. 

• He also wrote a synodical epistle and a Lenten homily in Arabic.

Sources: 

• Patriarch Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum (2003), The Scattered Pearls, A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences, Translated and Edited by Matti Moosa, New Jersey