Narsai
Narsai (sometimes spelt Narsay, Narseh or Narses; Classical Syriac: ܢܪܣܝ, Narsai, name derived from Pahlavi Narsēh from Avestan Nairyō.saȵhō, meaning 'potent utterance'; c. 399 – c. 502) was one of the foremost of Assyrian poet-theologians, perhaps equal in stature to Jacob of Serugh, both second only to Mar Aprem of Nisibis. He is the most important writer of the East Syriac Christianity after Mar Aprem. Narsai is highly venerated in the Churches that descend from the Church of the East which are the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in which he is known as the 'Flute of the Holy Spirit'. Although many of his works seem to have been lost, around eighty of his mêmrê (ܡܐܡܖ̈ܐ), or verse homilies are extant.
Narsai of Nisibis | |
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Born | c. 399 ‘Ain Dulba (ܥܝܢ ܕܘܠܒܐ) (modern-day Iraq) |
Died | c. 502 Nisibis, Sassanid Empire (modern-day Nusaybin, Mardin, Turkey) |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church Assyrian Church of the East Ancient Church of the East Syro Malabar Church Chaldean Catholic Church |