This is one of the great masterpieces of the Hudhra, exemplifying the best aspects of Aramaic as a language, combining Scripture and theology, salvation history, symbolism and poetry. As such, it’s one of the most difficult and frustrating things I’ve ever translated. It’s so compact that, on average, I need 3 English words to translate […]
There are two Madrashe for today. The first recounts Christ’s commands to the apostles to prepare for his entry to Jerusalem, focusing on his humility and gentleness. Instead of a king entering in military splendor and glory, in the might of arms, he comes humbly on a donkey. The second Madrasha focuses on King David, […]
There are three important elements of a meal blessing: So I was looking at some old manuscripts (apparently from 1496) and found this: On top (after the title) is a version of the standard meal blessing used by Chaldean and Assyrian priests: Below it is one I haven’t heard before, which fulfills the first two […]
Some of you know I have a volume on Narsai (d. 503ish) forthcoming from Paulist Press. I figured I’d share a draft of one of the chapters now, at the beginning of Sawma/Lent. Enjoy.
Blest is the Fruit who dawned from you, O blessed woman. – No one knows what to call your mother, O Lord: if one calls her a virgin, her Son appears; if married, no man has known her. And if your mother is incomprehensible, who could know you? – She alone is your mother, and […]
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 […]
