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A BRIEF TRANSLATION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE CHRONICLE JOURNAL BY
MOR MICHAEL RABO THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPANTS
IN THE GATHERINGS AND ACTIVITIES OF ST. EPHRAIM SYRIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH, PERTH – WESTERN AUSTRALIA UNDER THE SUPERVISION
OF V. REV. FR. BOUTROS TOUMA ISSA IN LINE WITH H.H. MORAN
MOR IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS APOSTOLIC BULL TO CELEBRATE THE
800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTURE OF H.H. MOR
MICHAEL RABO FROM THIS EARTHLY LIFE TO THE HEAVENLY CHAMBERS Mor
Michael Rabo, the Patriarch of Antioch’s chronicle
journal – translated into Arabic from Syriac by Mor
Gregarious Saliba Shamoun – the Archbishop of Mosul
– edited and presented by Mor Gregarious Youhanna
Ibrahim – Metropolite of Aleppo in the year 1996,
published by Mardeen Publishing House, Aleppo, Syria. This
book was presented to the three shining moons in the sky
of Antioch the glory, to their Holinesses Mor Ignatius Afram
I Barsoum (1957+), Mor Ignatius Yacoub III (1980+) and Mor
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas the current Patriarch of Antioch –
the successors of Mor Michael Rabo. |
Throughout the LIGHT
Mor Michael Rabo wrote this chronicle journal in Syriac; and this was
translated in different other foreign languages; in line with
what Mor Gregarious Youhanna Ibrahim mentioned in his preface
to this chronicle journal
As for the handwritten Syriac journal; this was written by Michael
Al-‘Orbeishi at the time he was a monk in the year 1558.
This same copy continues to be held at the library of St. Georges
Syrian Orthodox Church, Syrian Quarter –
Mor Michael Rabo’s references for this chronicle journal on several
resources of Greek origin
According to the oriental scholars, and as mentioned in the preface
written by H.E. Mor Gregarious Youhanna Ibrahim, that our forefathers,
and when they became Christian they sacrificed everything to ensure
that they, and after them their children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren will continue to be Christians; they destroyed everything
they used to own prior to becoming Christians including the books
that were written by our forefathers and scholars. They acted
in this manner in order not to have the non-believers ideas included
therein impacting on their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
in any way. However, those successors were able to learn, benefit
from their studies and even write several of the books that became
great reference in any topic in science; literature etc…
Therefore, we should consider ourselves as lucky to have such
a great reference
The Arabic translation of Mor Michael Rabo’s chronicle journal
comes in three volumes: -
VOLUME (1): Includes eight articles of 24 chapters
that talk about the historical events from creation until Marikyan.
This volume is of 446 pages. Please find to follow a brief of
the contents therein: -
The First
Article: of eight chapters that talk about
the historical period from creation until the year 2416
The
Second Article: of eight chapters that talk about the flood. The division of properties
amongst the children of Noah. Babylon Tower, and how they spoke
different languages when they were on the tower, yet Noah insisted
on keeping his mother tongue thus preserved the Syriac
The Third Article: of eleven chapters that covers
the period from Abraham
The
Fourth Article: of
21 chapters that covers a period of 835 years {i.e. towards the
end of the year 5000. Throughout those chapters Mor Michael Rabo
talks on how to periods of different periods of history were calculated.
Thus, this articles talks about the judges the first of whom was
Joshua the son of Nun and other judges and kings who followed.
Further this article talks about Prophets Micah, Daniel, Habakkuk,
Ezekiel, Haggi, Zechariah, and Malachi whom we read about in the
Old Testament.
The
Fifth Article: of
ten chapters that were gathered from very well known sources.
This article covers the period from the year 20 of Darius the
Persian’s reign, the first of Alexander of Macedonia which
coincides the beginning of the Romans reign, and the return of
the Jew People who were detained by Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria;
until the death of Caesar Tiberius. Thus this article covers the
period of 476 years through which Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered.
In the last chapter of this article Mor Michael Rabo lists the
names of the Seventy Evangelists, and the Disciples as extracted
from the book of Mor Yacoub Bar Sleibi.
The
Sixth Article: of ten chapters that start with the period following the resurrection
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus
Christ to the heaven {i.e. the year 5534 from Adam, the year 349
according to the Greek Calendar. Through this article Mor Michael
Rabo lists the names of the Roman Kings who ruled during this
period, the destruction of
The
Seventh Article: of nine chapters. Commences in the year 6817 from creation.
Talks about 84 years
The
Eighth Article: of eight chapters, that talks about MOR Ivanius, the commencement of
the reign of King Theodosius; King Theodosius the second. The
first and second Councils of
Thus comes the end of the first volume of MOR Michael Rabo chronicle
journal.
VOLUME (2): Includes four articles of 29 chapters,
and some unnumbered chapters that talk about the historic events
from the commencement of the reign of King Leo until the commencement
of reign of Ma'moun the Prince of Islam. This volume is of 464
pages. Please find below a brief of the contents therein: -
The
Ninth Article: of
29 numbered chapters and eleven unnumbered chapters. This article
is of 168 pages that talks about the period of 118 years through
which six Roman Kings ruled, and five Persian kings. That was
the year 6703 from Adam
1.
The first chapter of this article talks about the
reign of King Leo quoting extracts from correspondence between
our forefathers and some of the kings that ruled during that period.
2.
The events that took place during Leo ruling. Then
talks to us about the young Leo; King Zeno, King Anastasius who
ruled for 27 years. The events after Anastasius.
3.
The building of the city of
4.
The work of St. Severius the Great
5.
Mor Michael Rabo advises us about Makdonyous the
Heretic and Archbishop Shamoun AlArshami
6.
Youhanna
7.
The departure from this earthly life to the eternal
life of Mor Yacoub the Bishop of Batnan, and the evil doings of
the heretic towards the faithful at the time.
8.
The flood accompanied the persecution that took
place in
9.
What happened to Justanian with the kings of
10.
Mor Michael Rabo also talks about the Indian, Ethiopian
and Hemyareen kingdoms at the time; and those who became martyrs
in the year 835
11.
Mor Michael Rabo tells us about the final days of
Justanian the first and the marriage of Justanian the second to
Empress Theodora the daughter of a Syrian Orthodox Priest at the
time.
12.
Mor Michael Rabo advises us in this article about
the different and several meetings that were held between the
heads of the churches and some of those meetings were at the request
of the ruling King at the time.
13.
The contents of the letters exchanged between Severius
and Theodosius and other forefathers in the Church at the time
that deal with the important issues threatening the church at
the time.
14.
The events that took place during the reign of Justanian
the second.
15.
Several innovations in relation to misleading faithful
from the right track became apparent during this same period,
and Mor Michael Rabo mentioned those innovations in this article.
16.
The pestilence that spread in the areas at the time
17.
The reign of Justanian the second, the destruction
of
18.
The Fifth Council that was held by Justanian the
second in Constaninopole
19.
The other persecution against the orthodox.
20.
The fact that Justanian became attached to some
of those belief innovators, and the Church's scholars and leaders
testimony against those innovators.
The
Tenth Article: of
twenty-three unnumbered chapters, and one numbered chapter that
is known as "Chapter Six". Of 122 pages, it starts with
the strange events where the Romans support the Armenians. Justanian's
attempt to spread peace in the Holy Church; and other events that
took place in between until the submission of the Apostolic Bull
of Patriarch Athanasius the Syrian to the Archbishops of the East,
and a part of the Alexandrian Pope's letter to Patriarch Athanasius
that talked about the union between the Churches of Syria and
Egypt. All these events were over a period of 43 years
1.
The results of the visit of Patriarch Youhanna to
the East
2.
The struggle that erupted between the Archbishops
of Severius; and the mess that resulted from their disagreement
with regards to the Fast.
3.
The Royal Decree submitted by King Justanian in
relation to the Heretics; and what the Orthodox people suffered
as a result of the persecution led by Justanian who was, with
regret, assisted by some of the Archbishops who were misled by
power; yet following their dreadful actions they asked for repentance
from the Church and wanted to join the Orthodox again.
4.
Mor Michael Rabo also talks to us about the persecution
against the Christian soldiers and faithful in
5.
The second year of Justanian's reign and the several
events that took place between the Persian and the Romans.
6.
Mor Michael Rabo also tells us about the misfortune
that hit Youhanna Sarmi, Justanian and others who played a great
role in persecuting the faithful and through them the
7.
Then he goes back to tell us about the different
sorts of persecution that took place during this period; such
as that story about the Christian Virgins who were presented as
a gift to the Persian King; yet they threw themselves in the huge
river to run away from what they were about to face
8.
Mor Michael Rabo tells us here about the events
that took place during the illness of Justanian the second; at
which time Caesar Tiberius used to run the affairs of the Romans.
9.
The doubt that was inherited from Peter of
10.
The Council of Domian Pope of
11.
The reign of Tiberius the first King of
12.
The deceive of the Romans to the Arab Christians.
The death of Tiberius, and what impact all this had on the Churches
and their Holy Leaders.
13.
The wars between the Persian and Barbarics. The
history of the Patriarch who was nicknamed Talmahri.
14.
The reign of Moriki the second Greek King.
15.
The differences that surfaced in our Church due
to Domian Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch Boutros of Antioch
disagreements during the reign of Moriki
16.
The Peace with the Persians, and all the events
that took place in the
17.
The actions of Moriki, the events that took place
between him and the Church and also Mor Michael Rabo tells us
about the killing of Moriki.
18.
The ruling of Youka the Roman. The war that was
led by Chosroes King of
19.
The union that was reached by Patriarch Athanasyous
the Syrian with Anastasius Pope of
The
Eleventh Article: of 26 chapters that talks about the events that took place
over a period of 145 years
1.
Mor Michael Rabo commences this article with the
events that took place during the reign of King Herceulus the
Roman King.
2.
The appearance of Mohammad
3.
The reply of Patriarch Athanasius to Herceulus
4.
The Persian's situation following their successful
war against the Romans that resulted in occupying their property.
Yet, the Persians became divided and lost all the reward of their
successful war against the Romans.
5. The Persecution against our
6. The commencement of the Arab Kingdom
7. Then moves to tell us about how the Moslems moved
around the Roman and Persian areas.
8.
The unity between our Patriarch Athanasius and the
People of
9. Then he moves to tell us about the events that took
place with the commencement of the
10.
The events that led to the
11.
The death of Hereculus. The killing of Yazbarjad
the King of
12.
The destruction of Ceaseriah in
13.
The first translation into Arabic of the Holy Bible.
14.
The exchange of correspondence between Patriarch
Youhanna and Marootha Bishop of Tickrit
15.
The innovation of Makimanous; and how this was accepted
in the Capital then. How he was denied faith and expelled from
the Church.
16.
The reign of the grandson of Constantine the Roman,
and Othman the Moslem Khalifah.
17.
The occupation of Moslem to Ceaseriah, Kabadokya
and the islands
18.
The departure from this earthly life to the heavenly
chambers of Mor Youhanna, and other Church's affairs. Then he
goes on telling us on the different attacks
19.
The Sixth Council that was held in Constantinpole.
20.
The killing of Kastas. The commencement of the reign
of the sons of Kastas for the Romans and the reign of Mo'aweah
the Moslem Khalifah. The differences that erupted between the
Patriarch and the Archbishops. Extracts from the exchange of correspondence
between Patriarch Severius and other Archbishops with regards
to the differences that erupted between them.
21.
The death of Mo'aweah the Moslem Khalifah; when
the
22.
The installation of Athanasyus as Patriarch. The
return of Justanian after being exiled for ten years; he ruled
for another six years. The death of Abdel Malek, Moslem Khalifah,
and others who succeeded him. The Christian Arab Martyrs. The
Moslem war against
23.
The Seventh Council in Constaninopole. The situation
of the Orthodox Church and all the events that took place at the
time. The disagreement that the Church inherited from Athanasius.
The commencement of the reign of Abu Ja'far, Moslem Amir. The
departure from this earthly life to the heavenly chambers of Patriarch
Georgie who was exiled for a period from his Holy See. The building
of
24.
This article comes to its end with the talk about
the death of
The
Twelfth Article: This article starts in the year 1088 according to the Greek
Calendar, which is the year 131 for the Arab Moslem kingdom, the
year 6260 from Creation and the year 758 from Christ. This article
is of nine chapters that start with the reign of Leo the Roman,
the Mahdi the Moslem Amir, the release of Mor Georgie the Confessor
from the jail in
1.
The division in the Church in relation to the phrase
"we break a heavenly bread".
2. The commencement of the reign of Haroon
3.
Mor Michael Rabo tells us about who succeeded Mor
Georgie, and other events that took place around the church during
this period.
4.
The end of King Constantine and his mother's ruling.
The end of King Nickfore, and what was done by Haroon the Moslem
Amir.
5.
The treasure that was discovered in
6.
The miracle in Maboog and other events that took
place during this time.
7. The divisions in the Arab Moslem kingdom following
the death of Haroon. A division echoed that in the
8.
Mor Michael Rabo then tells us about the wars that
were led by the Moslems. The killing of two Roman Kings.
9. The building of the walls of
10.
The revolution against Moslems; and other events
during that period.
11.
This article ends talking about Ma'moun the Moslem
Amir. The killing of Leo. The council that was held to discuss
the issue of "we break the heavenly bread". The installation
of Patriarch Historian Dyonosyous.
Thus comes the end of the second volume of Mor Michael Rabo chronicle
journal.
VOLUME (3): This volume differs from the other
two; and it includes things that are somehow different in their
presentation than what we read about in the first two volumes
and goes as follows:-
1.
The recommendation and decisions taken in Kalynyoukos
Council; the letter for the installation of Sotateekoon; add to
this the different events that took place during this same period
in the Moslem and Roman Kingdoms that had their impact on the
Holy Church.
2.
The commencement of Thawofelous, Roman King. The
corruption that was spread in
3.
The war led by Thawofelous against
4.
The Turkish ruling
5.
The Turkish attacks and occupation of
6.
Romanos reign and his defeat by the Turkish. The
reign of Michael the son of Constantine Roman King. The commencement
of the Turkish ruling. The actions against Abdoon by the Archbishops.
The reign of Alex the Roman King and the deterioration of the
Church's situation at the time. The story of the construction
of Fisqeen Monastery. The visit of Patriarch Athanasyous to the
Khalifah in
7.
The commencement of the reign of Eiwani the Greek
King. The attack on Albeer. The death of Baleq. The ruler of
8.
The death of Jusleen the first and the installation
of Jusleen the son. The death of Baghodeen King of
9.
The seventeenth chapter talks about the attack on
10.
The Turkish occupation to all the surrounding areas
that were ruled by foreigners. The end of Jusleen.
11.
The return of the right hand
12.
The period following Jusleen's attack, and the ruling
of the Turks on all the areas. The Church that was built and named
after Mor Barsawmo. The miracle of Mor Barsawmo in
13.
The death of Yacoub and Catholicos Ignatius. The
death of
14.
The death of Nour Eddine, and King Amri. The departure
from this earthly life to the heavenly chambers of Catholicos
Narsees.
15.
Chapter Twenty: the perish of the ruling of the
Tonshmans in Kabadokya. The ruling of Sultan. The killing of
16.
The death of Najmeddine the ruler of Mardine. The
war between Sultan Megharslan, and Manu'eel the Greek King. The
defeat of Manu'eel by Megharslan who later ruled
17.
Chapter twenty-one, the death of Manu'eel the Greek
King. The astrologists at the time predicted that there will be
a strong storm that will destroy the land.
18.
The wars between the Turks and Kurds and its impact
on the Church. The cleansing of
19.
The death of the king of the Turks. The Aramean
Kingdoms the sons of
20.
Mor Michael Rabo and towards the end of this article
lists the names of all the Patriarchs, Archbishops, heads of parishes
and others who had their impact on the events during that period.
For full lists please refer to the end of volume 3 of Mor Michael
Rabo's chronicle Journal.
Thus comes the end of the third volume of Mor Michael Rabo Chronicle
Journal. This excellent encyclopedia according to the Arabic translation
that we have handy.
Thank you.
St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church, Perth - Western Australia - October
1999; this brief translation forms part of the handouts distributed
to the participants in the gatherings and activities of the Church
on the 800th anniversary of Mor Michael Rabo's departure
from this earthly life to the heavenly chambers. May God benefit
us with the prayers of this great saint in our Church.
© 1995 - 2008 Syrian Orthodox Church
File last modified: 28-Apr-2008 10:45 AM