Maphryono Mor Gregorius Bar `Ebroyo (1286)

Maphryono Mor Gregorius Bar `Ebroyo (1286)

July 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar'Ebroyo +1286 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known as Gregory Abu'l Faraj or bar Hebraeus, he was the son of Deacon Tajal-Din Ahroun who was a physician. Many historians mistakenly considered them Jewish converts to Christianity because of the name bar'Ebroyo (son of a Hebrew) & Aaron. However, Mor Gregorios himself has refuted the claim in a poem. On his Chrismation, he was given the name John. He was raised in Melitene, the birth place of many of our great Syriac scholars, philosophers, & historians. Their family had to leave Melitene because of Tatar raids against the city in 1243 AD, settling in the great city of Antioch, sadly even Antioch was ransacked by the Tartars after a few years. At the age of 18, bar'Ebroyo became a monk. He was then consecrated Metropolitan with the title Gregorios for the diocese of Gubos, later he was given the charge of Laqabin & then Aleppo. He was extremely fond of learning since his childhood. He learnt medicine from his father, studied the available Holy books with interpretations. After becoming a bishop, his zeal for learning from sources outside his own Church & nations increased as he encountered leaders & scholars of different peoples & Churches & had to debate them on matters of theology, politics etc. He completed his studies in medicine, then further went on to study the natural sciences of the Greeks, logic, & rhetoric (from the teacher, Nestorian bishop Jacob) from a multitude of the brightest minds of his time. Mor Gregorios was a polyglot who mastered Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Persian. During this time he never neglected his duties to his Archdioceses, where tremendous growth was recorded under his tenure. Devastatingly, in 1258AD Aleppo was attacked by the Tartars, Mor Gregorios pleaded with the Tartar King to stop, but sadly countless people were killed in the massacre. HH Patriarch Mor Ignatius IV Yeshu took notice of this bright star of the Church. In 1264 Mor Gregorios Yuhannon Bar'Ebroyo was consecrated as Maphryono of the East (Catholicos) in an elaborate ceremony held in the city of Sis, of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. The event was attended by thousands of faithful, Armenian King Hethum, countless religious & political dignitaries. His headquarters was Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh however he would frequently visit Tabriz & Maragh, Iran. During his 22 year reign as Maphrian, bar'Ebroyo built countless churches, ordained many bishops, initiated many monastic orders. He worked tirelessly for the interests of the Syriac Orthodox Church & entered into dialogue with numerous political & religious leaders to secure the position of the Church & her faithful in society. Mor Gregorios was a scholar par excellence. He is the Doctor of the Syriac Church for all times, ages & generations. The World History, Secular History, & Church History (Chronicon Ecclesiasticum) are his most acclaimed works which have been praised by countless scholars, Orientalists & historians. Bar'Ebroyo also wrote the magnum opus Ktobo d-Awsar Roze (The Book of the Storehouse of Mysteries) which is a commentary of the entire Holy Bible. His books Mnorath Kudshe (Lamp of the Sanctuary) & Ktobo d-zalge (Book of Rays) were heavily referenced by Dionysius Geevarghese Vattasseril in his book Mathopadesa Sarangal, & the books written by late Kadavil Thirumeni of blessed memory. In addition, bar'Ebroyo also wrote the Nomocanon (Ktobo d-hudoye or The Book of Directions) which is the official Canon Law of the Syriac Orthodox Church. A full list of his works can be found on https://goo.gl/FesZTD & in 'The History of Syriac Literature and Sciences' by late HH Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of blessed memory. His abridged version of the St. James liturgy is currently followed by all the West-Syriac churches today. On a visit to Maragha (Iranian Persia), Mor Gregorios fell ill with fever. He reposed in the Lord at the age of 60. Countless faithful, important political dignitaries & prominent religious leaders came to pay their respects at his funeral. In attendance was Nestorian Catholicos Mar Yahballaha III who recently moved his seat to Maragha. Bar'Ebroyo was buried in the Church of Maragha, but his remains were later transferred to Dayro d-Mor Mattai. Maphryono Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar'Ebroyo is described as "The Ocean of Wisdom," "The Light of East & West," "The Prince of Learning Men," "The Greatest Sage," "The Holy Father," "The Most Learned Man Possessing Divine Knowledge," & "The Encyclopedia of the 13th Century."  He is the Syriac Orthodox Church's greatest & boldest knight that could never be challenged or matched in all branches of learning, theological & otherwise. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' and Syriac Orthodox Resources (SOR website). Oh Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar'Ebroyo! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen.http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/BarcEbroyo/Budge.htmlLecture Series - Life and Works of Mor Gregorios Bar Ebroyo (courtesy Hymonutho): https://bit.ly/3E1oksMFixed Feast