A BREIF TRANSLATION OF A LECTURE DELIVERED AS PART OF THE ST. EPHRAIM SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, PERTH AUSTRALIA'S ACTIVITIES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF V. REV. FR. BOUTROS TOUMA ISSA IN LINE WITH H.H. MORAN MOR IGANTIUS ZAKKA I IWAS'S APOSTOLIC MESSAGE OF MARCH 1999, WITH REGARDS TO THE COMMEMORATION OF MOR MICHAEL RABO AT THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTURE OF THIS SAINT FROM THIS EARTHLY LIFE TO THE HEAVENLY CHAMBERS.

 As part of the religious studies held by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa, whom we are blessed, since he arrived to this country ten years ago, as a spiritual father, prominent and distinguished scholar. V. Rev. Fr. Boutros is working on sharing his own historical and religious knowledge and faith, through exploring within us the virtue of consideration and contemplation of the Syriac culture that goes back to thousands and thousands of years.

To state facts, I do honestly consider V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa a true example and continuous extension of the Holy Apostolic School that delivered to us the great and distinguished scholars throughout the years from the beginning of Christianity.

From the time V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa arrived Perth together with his family members, he has exerted and continues to exert every effort to continue what he commenced overseas and from the beginning of his theological life {i.e. the commencement of his service in the Holy Church} that is approximately half a century. V. Rev. Fr. Boutros works restlessly to sail that vessel to the safe shores, and that what in itself he achieved in Perth. Despite our small number {the small folk - as we were described by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on His first visit to Perth}, he commenced the practice of holding the Holy Masses that always include an immense religious and theological lesson through the homely delivered during each of the Holy Masses held. Add to this his continuous social and spiritual support and activities.

Through listening to V. Rev. Fr. Boutros on different occasions, one can immediately notice the immense volume of knowledge; either that of historical, theological, social or religious nature. Thus, he has gained the great respect of all sorts of people, either the lay people, clergy, or politicians in Australia, as it is the case wherever V. Rev. Fr. Boutros goes.

NOW let us go back to the commencement of my talk, {the religious studies}. I was chosen to deliver this lecture to yourselves tonight on the history of Mor Barsoumo Monastery, located near Malatya, this is considered to be a subject of historical nature, thus I felt the ability to tackle the subject, although the clergy men would have plenty to add to this.

During the previous session V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa talked about the life of the Hermit Mor Barsoumo, where he advised us that this Saint was known during the fifth century, was gifted with the ability to do miracles, thus his name was mentioned amongst the great saints and disciples. Also V. Rev. Fr. Boutros advised us how he became the head of several of the Syrian Orthodox Monasteries, became a hermit in Syria, becoming a reference to all those seeking to explore further information on any of the subjects the deal with. Further V. Rev. Fr. Boutros showed us the map marking the important places within which was SHAMISHAT where this saint's Monastery is located.

After a life full of faith, virtuousness, righteousness and worshiping, he departed this earthly life to the eternal life in the year 457. May God the Almighty benefit us with the prayers of this saint.

Thus, today, we shall, and through a brief study talk about one of the most famous monasteries of the Syrian Orthodox Church, known as Mor Barsoumo Monastery, the head of The Syrian Hermits. 

1. LOCATION OF THIS MONASTERY

This Monastery is located on the top of a mountain that overlooks great meadows that surround the Euphrates banks. This was built during the golden era of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the year 790.

2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS MONASTERY

The history does not give us a thorough explanation on how exactly this great Monastery was first established, yet reading through the history books, we notice that in the year 790 a great Monastery was established, named after Mor Barsoumo thus was known as Mor Barsoumo Monastery. Parts of Mor Barsoumo's relics were kept in this Monastery {i.e. the right hand of Mor Barsoumo}. The miracles rendered by this saint through this right hand are evident in different sorts of history books.

3. THE FIRST BUILDINGS OF THIS MONASTERY

The Monastery is known of being a great castle on the top of the mountain. There are two churches with high ceilings and domes. One was built in the year 1034, whilst the other was built by Mor Michael Rabo in the year 1180. The construction of this second church was finalized in the year 1193, and was inaugurated and consecrated by Mor Michael Rabo on 25^th May 1193 {Sunday of Pentecost in that year}. The history also tells us about the unique decorations on the walls and within the Church.

Mor Barsoumo Monastery was hit with two great fires, the first in the year 1144 where the fire destroyed three of its rooms, and with great efforts it was controlled before damaging the rest of the Monastery. The other fire was in the year 1183 when one of the old monks who was at the Monastery forgot a candle lit in his room and went to work in the fields around the Monastery. The fire took the old Monk's wooden room, and destroyed the entire Monastery with whatever treasures and books inside.

As for the monks and the Patriarch at the time, they took refuge at the Monastery's tower and with them the right hand of Mor Barsoumo and some of the treasures that they were able to save. They were saved despite the fact that the Monastery and following this fire became a pile of dust and smoke continued to come up from it for a month following the fire, as history tells.

Although this was a great fire that destroyed almost everything, yet this did not keep Mor Michael Rabo from going ahead and reconstructing the Monastery, which he completed within three years. He constructed the first floors with the old Monastery's stones; it took him twelve years to build and another two years to decorate the interior of this Monastery.

A historian from Edessa also mentions that another two disasters affected the Monastery. In the year 1208 a great earthquake hit the area that led to the destruction of parts of the buildings of this Monastery, and two of those living in the Monastery were killed. The Monks once again reconstructed the destroyed parts of the Monastery. Yet, towards the end of the same year a flood hit the area that also destroyed everything, and even took part of the wall surrounding the Monastery. This too was rebuilt.

4. THE MONASTERY'S TREASURES

When Mor Barsoumo Monastery became the Holy See of Antioch; the Patriarchs received several gifts that were kept within the Monastery. The most significant gift was the golden box that contained Mor Barsoumo's right hand. This both and the other one that contained some of the relics of St. Peter were a gift to Patriarch Michael Rabo from Sultan Kaleej after the latter's visit to Malatya in the year 1181. During this visit Mor Michael talked, and through an interpreter, to the Sultan as a result of this talk the Sultan issued a decree to exempt the Monastery from the tribute {tax} to the Sultan.

5. THE MONASTERY'S FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

As the history tells us the Monastery had a great number of monks living in it. The Monastery was self-satisfied, as the monks used to work in the surrounding fields, and the Monastery owned cattle and sheep. They used to eat from the produce, and the remainder was sold with the proceeds utilized for the ongoing expenses of the Monastery. One of the great Arab Historians {Yakout Al-Hamawi} talks about this Monastery's several fields and the fact that people all around the place from Syria, Dyar Baker etc… approached the Monastery to comply with the requirements of their vows, and would pay their vows to this Monastery. Further, the Monastery used to pay Ten Thousand Dinars to the King of the Romans and the Muslims their tribute {tax} out of those vows. Thus, despite the fact that the history does not exactly tell us what was the annual income of this Monastery, looking at the tribute paid annually by this Monastery, this gives an indication, and one can judge how huge this Monastery's budge was.

6. THE MONASTERY'S MONKS

Once again the history does not exactly tell us the number of monks that used to live and worship in this Monastery. Yet, through the different incidents and events, indications can be given to the huge number of monks who used to live in the Monastery.

There were two types of Monks in the Monastery; one type that is totally occupied with research, studying, teaching and follow-up, whilst the second type was totally occupied with worshiping and working at the Monastery. From those monks there were the cooks, the guards, the bakers, the carpenters, the field workers, the stockmen etc…

7. THE MONASTERY'S MANAGEMENT

Usually the Patriarch would participate in the election of one of the Monks, who would be known of his immense knowledge, and management experience and capabilities to become the head of the Monastery and manage it.

The monks of the Monastery would take part in this election, and following the election a royal decree will be submitted to enable the elected monk to act officially as the head of Monastery; thus deriving the strength of the royal decree. The period of the elected monk's reign used to be three years that in some instances used to be renewed as much as it is needed.

The head of the Monastery used to enjoy great autonomy, and used to issue instructions that were adhered to by all with prior reference to the Patriarch.

The first Patriarch who took Mor Barsoumo Monastery as the Holy See of Antioch was Abu Al Faraj Bar Kamra of Amed, who studied in Malatya. He became a monk at Mor Barsoumo Monastery, then was installed Patriarch on Sunday of December 1091. During his reign, Abu Al Faraj used to stay part of the year at the previous Holy See of Antioch in Dyar Baker, thus part of his reign at Mor Barsoumo and the rest of the reign in Dyar Baker. Yet, he departed this earthly life to the eternal life in the year 1129 that was buried at Mor Barsoumo Monastery after 38 years of service.

Thus, following this first step by Abu Al Faraj, other Patriarchs did the same, spending part of their year at Mor Barsoumo Monastery and at Dyar Baker. This practice went on until the time when Mor Michael Rabo became Patriarch on 18^th November 1166, when he decided that the Holy See of Antioch be officially transferred and located at Za'faran Monastery {Mor Hananya Monastery} Mardeen.

Great celebrations were held on this occasion; during which the great scholar Mor Dyonosyous Bar Slaibi, the Archbishop of Amed delivered a speech through which he talked excessively about the great traits of Mor Michael Rabo. A copy of his speech was translated by Fr. Shabot {Chabot} into French - (1900). Yet, Mor Michael Rabo, and his predecessors continued to visit and spend parts of the year at Mor Barsoumo Monastery. This practice continued until the year 1292 when Mor Philoxinos Namroud the Patriarch died there.

8. THE MONASTERY'S LIBRARY - BOOKS

From its establishment, efforts were exerted to garner as much as possible books and resources into the Monastery. Towards the beginning of the second century H.H. Mor Athanasyous the Sixth the Patriarch 1129, had a great hobby of gathering books of different sorts. Yet, when Mor Michael Rabo became a Patriarch, he headed to this Monastery's library several of his hand-written books; and he was known of unique handwriting.

Mor Michael Rabo's famous written work is the poems of Mor Yacoub of Sroogh, poems of St. Ephraim the Syrian, and other great books. In addition he kept at the library several of the royal decrees issued for the Patriarchs and the Monastery's heads. Several of the correspondence between Mor Michael Rabo and other leaders and students form part of the contents of this Monastery's library.

When Patriarch Mor Youhanna the 16^th was installed in the year 1208, he also added several of the great books to the library. The most important and famous book is the Holy Gospel in his own handwriting. This was moved between several of the Monasteries at the time until it ended up at the Holy Cross-Monastery, Tor Abdeen.

9. THE MONASTERY'S SCHOOL

The Monastery's school was famous of its theological, historical, religious and other studies during the years 800-1300. Although this is a long period, yet the history does not specify what forms of education policies prevailed at the Monastery's school at the time. However, some of the students known to have been graduated from the Monastery's school were Patriarch Abu Al Faraj Bar Kamra 1129, Ignatius the third, Archbishop of Malatya 1094, and Mor Michael Rabo and several others. This in itself is a proof of the great education system that prevailed in this Monastery's school.

10. THE MONASTERY'S GRADUANDS

Very famous and very effective school of this monastery graduated several of the great scholars in the history: -

10.1. Patriarch Youhanna Bar Abdoun, born in Malatya 944.

10.2. Patriarch Baselyous became Patriarch in the year 1074.

10.3. Patriarch Dayonosyous Lazar became Patriarch in the year 1078

10.4. Patriarch Athanasyous Abu Al Faraj became Patriarch in the year 1091.

10.5. Patriarch Mor Michael Rabo became Patriarch on 8^th November 1166.

10.6. Patriarch Ignatius Daoud departed this earthly life to the heavenly chambers in the year 1222.

Patriarch Ignatius Daoud made an immense contribution, of building churches, monasteries, hospitals to all the people despite their origin and religion, even he built a mosque for the Moslem patients near the hospital to allow them to pray in. In addition he constructed several of the bridges to facilitate the arrival to the Monasteries. Further, he wrote several books.

11. THE CHURCH'S COUNCILS AT THE MONASTERY

As Mor Barsoumo Monastery became the Holy See of Antioch, during the eleventh century, most of the Churches Councils were held there. It used to be the place of the ordination of different ranks of clergy and even the place were the celebrations of the installation of Patriarchs took place.

Thus between the years 1034 and 1283 this Monastery hosed sixteen councils, some of those councils were merely for the election of Patriarchs, whilst others for theological debates, discussions and agreements on management procedures.

 

THE CRUSADES DESTRUCT MOR BARSOUMO MONASTERY

The history tells us about Jusleen the Crusade supported by great number of his soldiers attacked Malatya and Kloudya in the year 1148; and through deceive he was able to occupy the Monastery, took all the treasures including the right hand of Mor Barsoumo with him. Jusleen also worked on disgracing the monks, even taking them as prisoners, following their great suffering throughout the whole attack.

It is a lengthy story of suffering and disgrace of the whole occupants of the Monastery, even the Monastery itself and the treasures including the relics of St. Peter and right hand of Mor Barsoumo.

Mor Barsoumo appeared to the soldiers that accompanied Jusleen and told them to advise Jusleen to return all the items he took from the Monastery. Mor Barsoumo's right hand rendered great miracles that resulted in ending the occupation and the return of some of the treasures that were robbed from the Monastery by the Crusades.

Jusleen the Crusades end was at the hands of the Turks who surrounded him and his soldiers, thus taking him as a prisoner of war. He was jailed for nine, during which time he confessed that this is a direct result of the wrong doings at Mor Barsoumo Monastery. When he felt that he is about to die, he requested the he be allowed to visit the Syrian Orthodox church to repent between the hands of Ignatius the Archbishop of Aleppo. He died in the year 1185.

 THE ENDING OF MOR BARSOUMO MONASTERY

The attacks, calamities and misfortunes continued to hit the area that resulted in the destruction and the closure of several of the Monasteries, schools and seminaries. Mor Barsoumo Monastery stood firm in the face of those calamities and misfortunes. The history does not tell us beyond this, thus we do not have exact information on the exact ending of this Monastery. However, the history tells us on some of the attacks that Mor Barsoumo Monastery was faced with during this era.

However, Mor Barsoumo Monastery was mentioned in the history during the events of the year 1349, and it was not in its best until the midst of the seventh century.

Thank you

H.  B.

NB.: Several of the history books were utilized to come up with this lecture, and main the book of the History of Mor Barsoumo Monastery by Rev. Raban Boulos Bahnam {Archbishop Boulos Bahnam then}.