A little while ago I tweeted a recording of a short passage from Narsai (the 5th Century writer who is the subject of my next book). That tweet was originally a response to a strange footnote I saw that claimed Narsai’s poetic sermons (“memre”) do not have any poetic stress, but only counted syllables.* I […]
I saw this thing floating around years ago, and like a lot of crap, it’s floating around again, and I haven’t written anything on here in a while so I figured I’d make fun of it. Behold, The Worst Our Father Ever, allegedly “translated from the original Aramaic directly into English:” O cosmic Birther of […]
Response: Glory to the Child whose Father is of heaven, whose mother is of earth, and who is incomprehensible. 1. I saw a great wonder in Bethlehem ministered to before the eyes of all creatures, for the star ministered before the Divine Prince. The star runs, the star leads, the star directs, the star announces; […]
ANNOUNCEMENT The Seminary of Mar Abba the Great is organizing a complete translation of the seven-volume “Histories of the Martyrs and Saints,” edited by Paul Bedjan and printed in 1890 in Paris. If you would like to participate as a translator, editor, or in any other way, please email your current CV and a translation […]
For those interested, here’s a draft of a translation and short commentary on the 26th Letter of Patriarch Timothy I of the Church of the East. Enjoy, nerds.
The seminarians and I have been working on this Homily by Mar Narsai for a little while and it’s been pretty edifying, so I figured I’d post it.
With my typically perfect timing, here’s a Stations of the Cross I put together many years ago, based on hymns from the Chaldean liturgy. Way of the CrossContaining Scripture Selections, Spiritual Reflectionsand Chaldean Liturgical Hymns Opening Prayer To you, O Awakener of the sleeping, O Raiser of the fallen, O Encourager of the weary, O […]
English prayer text below. Monday of Ba’utha In pain and tears and fervent prayer, we cry to you, good Lord above! Be our healer and our wise guide: deep are our wounds; bitter our pain. We have no right to plead to you: our faults abound, our malice soars. The sea and […]
To you glory, radiant Son of virginity. 1. This, the month that is forever filled with blessings:slaves have freedom, free men glory,doors have crownings, bodies feastings,violet garments thrown with love as unto princes. 2. This, the month that will forever carry vict’ry:freed is spirit, flesh is tempered,mortal woman bears the Living:Godhead now is reconciled with […]
