The Book of Admonitions to Hermits and Monks By ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā Ḥīrtāyā: a critical edition of the Syriac texts and English translation with introduction and critical notes

Present within this thesis is a critical edition of the works of ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā (10th century CE) written in Classical Syriac along with an accompanying English translation thereto. The edited and translated works consist of admonitions, epistles, and histories. These admonitions are attributed to ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā of Ḥīrtā and were written to hermits and monks in Classical Syriac. However, the question arises whether this work (attributed to ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā) is the complete full-text or simply an abridgement of the original. At this present time, it is quite difficult to make a conclusive argument.

ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā, or the various authors and scribes for that matter, compile the Admonitions in chapters beginning with a common formula (Syriac: ܐܚܝܫܡ ܕܒܥܕ ܗܠܝܕ ܕܟ ܗܠܝܕ). Generally, the Admonitions are addressed to hermits, monks, and brothers, with a focus on theological, Christological, pastoral, and philosophical teachings. Epistles and replies to Domitius the Confessor, Stephen, Simon, Bacchus, Būḳzīd, Sargīs, Abraham, Ksōsṭāros, Moses d’Beṭ Sayādē, and Būḳtīšoʿ are all evident within the Admonitions. Furthermore, they include themes such as: How one should depart the world to become a monk, faith, love, virginity, leadership, fear of God, anger, jealousy, dreams, drunkenness (of wine), prayer, and the interaction between monks and minors. Finally, ʿAḅed-Mšīḥā makes references to and quotes the gospel (partially paraphrased), Pauline letters, prophetical literature, and Eusebius of Caesarea with a general mention of the Egyptian Fathers.