Sergius of Rish 'Ayna

Sergius of Rish 'Ayna 

Sergius of Rish 'Ayna was a philosopher and a man of profound knowledge. He was also an efficient writer who had great command of language. He was a priest from a Syriac stock and the chief physician of Rish 'Ayna (Theodosiopolis) in the Jazira where he was probably born. He became famous for his eloquence. He studied sciences at Alexandria and both the Greek and Syriac sciences. His noble writings testify that he studied the philosophical and medical sciences extensively. Although he was orthodox, he avoided the theological disputes of his time and sometimes vacillated in his religious doctrine. To Theodore the Nestorian bishop of Maru, he dedicated two of his works. In 535, he journeyed to Antioch to lodge a complaint before the Patriarch Ephraim of Amid against Asylus, bishop of Rish 'Ayna. Ephraim delegated him to go to Rome to invite Agapetus of Rome to come to Constantinople. He went and brought Agapetus back with him. Agapetus and Ephraim collaborated against Anthimus of Constantinople and Severus of Antioch. During this time Sergius died at the capital in the spring of 536, followed by Agapetus who died a few days later. Most of our historians dispraise Sergius for his life and conduct.

His known works are a discourse on faith which he wrote about 485-488, but is now lost; fundamental treatises on logic in seven sections; a treatise on negation and affirmation; a treatise on the causes of the universe, according to the principles of Aristotle; a treatise on genus, species and individuality, which is imperfect; a book on De Simplicium Medicamentorum and a treatise on the purpose of the writings of Aristotle, both of which he dedicated to Theodore. This treatise, which covers two hundred ninety-four pages, was transcribed by the deacon Zeno, son of the priest Sulayman of the family of the priest Abu Salim in 1187, for the deacon and chief physician, Abu al-Hasan. However, the most conspicuous of the works of Sergius are his translations from the Greek into Syriac, the most well-known of which are the Isagoge of Porphyry; the Categories of Aristotle; the being of the world and a treatise on the soul in five sections as well as a portion of the works of Galen comprising three books on the treatise entitled “De Simplicum Medicamentorum Temperanentis ae Facultaiibus.”  It is, however, doubtful whether the translation of the treatises on Geoponica or agriculture ascribed to Galen belongs to him

These works contain a great deal of useful philological and geographical information as well as many botanical terms. Furthermore, the translation of the famous philosophical and theological book ascribed to pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite on the divine names, the celestial hierarchy and the priesthood, which he prefaced with an eloquent introduction, indicates the influence of his (Dionysius) mystical teaching on him.

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