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AD.04.01 HARRAK

The Syriac Orthodox Church of Mōr Gīwōrgīs, courtyard at the corner of the outer wall and the left gate leading inside the church. , Mōr Gīwōrgīs

Mōr Gīwōrgīs Nineveh
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ܒܡܪܝin (the metre of) Saintnounroot ܡܪܐ ܐܦܪܝܡEphremproper-noun
ܒܫܡܐin the namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܐܒܐof the Fathernounroot ܐܒ ܫܪܝܢܢwe beganverbroot ܫܪܐ ܘܒܫܡܐand in the namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܒܪܐof the Sonnounroot ܒܪ ܡܨܥܝܢܢwe reached halfwayverbroot ܡܨܥ ܘܒܫܡܐand in the namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܪܘܚܐof the Spiritnounroot ܪܘܚ
ܩܕܝܫܐ.the holy oneadjectivealso saintroot ܩܕܫ ܫܪܝܢܢwe beganverbroot ܫܪܐ ܐܦalsoparticlealso evenroot ܐܦ ܫܠܡܢܢ܀we endedverbroot ܫܠܡ ܒܫܡܐin the namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܐܠܗܐof Godnounroot ܐܠܗ ܚܝܐlifenounalso the livingroot ܚܝܐ ܬܠܝܬܝܐTrinityadjectivealso threefoldroot ܬܠܬ
ܘܠܚܘܕܝܐ.and Single Oneadjectiveroot ܚܕ ܚܦܪܢܢwe dugverbroot ܚܦܪ ܠܗܕthispronoun ܒܪܐthe Sonnounroot ܒܪ ܕܡܝ̈ܐof waternounroot ܡܝ ܕܥܠwhich is uponpreposition ܫܡܗhis namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܡܪܝof Saintnounroot ܡܪܐ ܒܗܢܡBehnamproper-noun ܓܐܝܐmagnificentadjectiveroot ܓܐܐ
ܒܫܢܬܐin the yearnounroot ܫܢ ܕܬܪ̈ܝܢ ܐܠܦܝ̈ܐthousandsnumeralroot ܐܠܦ ܘܚܡܫܝܢand fiftynumeralroot ܚܡܫ ܒܡܢܝܢby the computation ofnounroot ܡܢܐ ܝܘܢܝ̈ܐ ܒܨܠܘܬby the prayer ofnounroot ܨܠܐ ܡܪܝmy Lordnounalso saint (title)root ܡܪ ܒܗܢܡBehnamproper-noun
ܙܗܝܐ.venerableadjectiveroot ܙܗܐ ܢܦܩexpensenounalso costroot ܢܦܩ ܠܗܘܢto thempronoun ܡܝ̈ܐwaternounroot ܡܝܐ ܚܠܝ̈ܐ܀sweetadjectiveroot ܚܠܐ ܒܥܘܕܪܢwith the help ofnounroot ܥܕܪ ܐܠܗܐthe Godnounalso Godroot ܐܠܗ ܚܝܐlifenounalso the livingroot ܚܝܐ ܡܥܕܪܢܐthe helpernounroot ܥܕܪ
ܘܡܣܝܥܢܐand the assistantnounroot ܣܥ ܫܪܝܢܢwe beganverbroot ܫܪܐ ܒܗܢin thispronoun ܦܘܠܚܢܐ܀worknounroot ܦܠܚ ܘܚܦܪܢܢand we dugverbroot ܚܦܪ ܠܒܪܐthe wellnounroot ܒܪ ܗܢܐ:this (m.)demonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܒܚܘܒܐ.with lovenounroot ܚܒ
ܗܿܘ ܝܫܘܥܝܐ.Christian (of Jesus)adjective ܨ݁ܠܘ ܐܦalsoparticlealso evenroot ܐܦ ܥܠuponprepositionalso over, aboutroot ܥܠ ܚܛܝܐ.the sinnernounroot ܚܛܐ ܟܐܪܣKarasproper-noun ܕܒܫܡܐwho in namenounroot ܫܡ ܕܝܪܝܐ.the monknounroot ܕܝܪ
ܘܪܚܝܩand faradjectiveroot ܪܚܩ ܡܢfromprepositionalso ofroot ܡܢ ܫܡܐof namenounroot ܫܡ ܘܟܘܢܝܐ܀and titlenounroot ܟܢܐ ܐܢܐIpronounroot ܐܢܐ ܕܐܝܬܝwho amverbroot ܐܝܬ ܚܛܝܐ.the sinnernounroot ܚܛܐ ܐܝܘܐܢܢܝܣ.Ēwannīsproper-noun
ܒܨܝܪthe least ofadjectiveroot ܒܨܪ ܒܚܣܝ̈ܐ.among the bishopsnounroot ܚܣܐ ܟܐܪܣKarasproper-noun ܬܘܒagainadverbalso alsoroot ܬܘܒ ܟܘܕܝܕܝܐ.of Kudēdāadjective ܕܠܐwithoutparticle ܫ݀ܘܐ ܠܗܢ.thispronoun
ܟܘܢܝܐ܀appellationnounroot ܟܢܐ ܕܐܚܝܕwho holdsverbroot ܐܚܕ ܬܩܕܐstaffnoun ܪܥܝܝܐshepherdingadjectiveroot ܪܥܐ ܕܩܪܝܬܐof the villagenounroot ܩܪܐ ܕܟܘܕܝܕܝܐ.of Kudēdāproper-noun ܘܕܕܝܪܐand of the monasterynounroot ܕܝܪ ܐܬܘܪܝܐAssyrianadjective
ܡܪܝmy Lordnounalso saint (title)root ܡܪ ܒܗܢܡBehnamproper-noun ܪܡexaltedadjectiveroot ܪܘܡ ܒܓܒܝ̈ܐ܀among the electednounroot ܓܒܐ ܡܛܠbecauseconjunctionalso on account ofroot ܡܛܠ ܕܗܘwho ispronounroot ܗܘܐ ܝܗ݂ܒ ܢܦܩ̈ܬܐ.expensesnounroot ܢܦܩ ܘܟܠܗܝܢand alladjectiveroot ܟܠ
ܗܠܝܢthesedemonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܨܒܘ̈ܬܐ.thingsnounroot ܨܒܐ ܕܦܪܙܠܐof ironnounroot ܦܪܙܠ ܘܟܐܦ̈ܐand stonesnounroot ܟܐܦ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ.largeadjectiveroot ܪܒ ܦܣܝ̈ܠܬܐhewn (blocks)adjectiveroot ܦܣܠ ܘܣܩܝ̈ܠܬܐ܀and polishedadjectiveroot ܣܩܠ
ܘܩܪܡܝ̈ܕܐand burnt bricksnounroot ܩܪܡܕ ܐܘܟܝܬthat isconjunctionalso namely ܟܐܦ̈ܐ. ܫܓܝܪ̈ܬܐburntadjectiveroot ܫܓܪ ܘܐܓܪܐand the wagesnounroot ܐܓܪ ܕܦܥ̈ܠܐof workersnounroot ܦܥܠ ܘܒܢܝ̈ܐand masonsnounroot ܒܢܐ ܘܕܚܦܘܪ̈ܐand of diggersnounroot ܚܦܪ
ܗ݂ܘ ܝܗ݂ܒ ܐܢܘܢthempronoun ܡܢfromprepositionalso ofroot ܡܢ ܕܝܪܗ܀his monasterynounroot ܕܝܪ ܡܪܝܐthe Lordnounalso Lordroot ܡܪ ܐܠܗܐthe Godnounalso Godroot ܐܠܗ ܢܒܪܟmay he blessverbroot ܒܪܟ ܩܪܝܬܢour villagenounroot ܩܪܐ ܗܕܐthis (f.)demonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܘܥܡܘܪ̈ܝܗܿand its inhabitantsnounroot ܥܡܪ
ܕܠܐwithoutparticle ܢܥܘܠmay enterverbroot ܥܠ ܠܗܿhimpronoun ܣܛܢܐSatannoun ܘܪܡܿܐ ܒܓܘܗܿinside itprepositionroot ܓܘ ܚܪܝܢܐ܀disputenounroot ܚܪܐ ܒܨܠܘܬܗ.by her prayernounroot ܨܠܐ
ܕܛܘܒܢܝܬܐ.of the blessed (Virgin)adjectiveroot ܛܘܒ ܬܬܒܪܟܝmay be blessedverbroot ܒܪܟ ܗܕܐthis (f.)demonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܩܪܝܬܢ.our villagenounroot ܩܪܐ ܘܬܬܦܨܐand be sparedverbroot ܦܨܐ ܡܢfromprepositionalso ofroot ܡܢ ܒܝܫ̈ܬܐevildoingsnounroot ܒܐܫ
ܒܚܝܠܗܝܢby the might ofnounroot ܚܝܠ ܕܬܫܥof ninenumeralroot ܬܫܥ ܥܕ̈ܬܗܿ܀ ܡܪܝmy Lordnounalso saint (title)root ܡܪ ܒܗܢܡBehnamproper-noun ܘܣܐܪܐand Saraproper-noun ܚܬܗhis sisternounroot ܐܚ ܘܐܡܗand his mothernounroot ܐܡ
ܘܐܪ̈ܒܥܝܢand fortynumeralroot ܐܪܒܥ ܟܢܘ̈ܬܗ.his companionsnounroot ܟܢܐ ܢܗܘܘܢmay they beverbroot ܗܘܐ ܠܗ݁himpronoun ܫܘܪܐa wallnounroot ܫܘܪ ܪܡܐ.highadjectiveroot ܪܘܡ ܕܠܐwithoutparticle ܢܥܘܠmay enterverbroot ܥܠ ܠܗ݁himpronoun ܣܛܢܐ܀Satannoun
ܘܟܠand everyonenounroot ܟܠ ܐܚܐbrother (emphatic)nounroot ܐܚ ܘܪܝܫand leader ofnounroot ܪܝܫ ܗܢthispronoun ܕܝܪܐ.monasterynounroot ܕܝܪ ܢܗܘܐmay he beverbroot ܗܘܐ ܝܨܿܦ ܠܗܕthispronoun ܒܪܐ.the Sonnounroot ܒܪ ܒܝܘܡܐon the daynounroot ܝܘܡ ܐܚܪܝܐlastadjectiveroot ܐܚܪ
ܒܝܘܡon the dayphraseroot ܝܘܡ ܕܝܢܐ.judgementnounroot ܕܝܢ ܡܪܝܐthe Lordnounalso Lordroot ܡܪ ܢܬܠmay he giveverbroot ܝܗܒ ܠܗhimpronoun ܐܓܪܐ܀rewardnounroot ܐܓܪ ܠܐnonegationalso notroot ܠܐ ܚ݁ܕܐ ܬܘܒagainadverbalso alsoroot ܬܘܒ ܐܠܦܪܐthe sailornounroot ܐܠܦ ܒܐܠܦܗwith his shipnounroot ܐܠܦ
ܕܐܦܩܗthat he brings outverbroot ܢܦܩ ܠܠܡܝܢܐ.to the harbournounroot ܠܡܢ ܐܝܟlikeprepositionalso as, according toroot ܐܝܟ ܕܚܕ݁ܝܬ ܐܢܐ.Ipronounroot ܐܢܐ ܒܟܐܦܐwith stonesnounroot ܟܐܦ ܐܚܪܝܐlastadjectiveroot ܐܚܪ ܕܗܕ ܒܪܐ܀the Sonnounroot ܒܪ ܫܠܡpeacenounalso well-beingroot ܫܠܡ

Hover a word for its meaning. Glosses draw on Amir Harrak’s translations and the SEDRA 3 Syriac lexicon (Beth Mardutho), used for academic purposes.

(1-5) Metre of Mār Ephrem: We began in the name of the Father, reached half way in the name of the Son, and we began and ended in the name of the Holy Spirit. In the name of the living God, Trinity and Single One, we dug this well of water named after the name of Mār Behnam the sublime in the year two thousand and fifty according to the computation of the Greeks. Thanks to the prayer of Mār Behnam (6-10) the glorious, the water came out sweet. We began this work with the help of God the helper and the assistant. We dug this well with Christian love. Pray for the sinner Karas who is a monk in name only, and far from (deserving) a name and a title. I am the sinner Ēwannīs the most humble among the bishops, Karas of Kudēdā who does not deserve (11-15) this appellation. I am holding the shepherding staff of the village of Kudēdā and of the Assyrian monastery of Mār Behnam the most exalted among the elected ones. For he provided the expenses and all these things: Iron, blocs of stones—hewn and polished—burnt bricks, I mean stones, and the wages of workers, masons, and diggers; he (Mār Behnam) has granted (these) from his monastery. May the Lord God bless this village of ours and its inhabitants, (16-20) so that Satan may not enter it to cause disputes in it. Through the prayer of the blessed (Virgin) may our village be blessed, and with the might of the nine churches of our village may it be spared of evildoings. May Mār Behnam, his sister Sara, his mother, and his forty companions be for it a high wall, so that Satan may not enter it. Let every Brother or monastic leader of this monastery take care of this well; may the Lord reward him on the last day, (21-22) the Day of Judgement. The sailor does not rejoice when he brings his ship into the harbour more than I rejoiced with the last stone of this well. End.

Date 1739 AD
Language Syriac
Script Serto
Location Detail The courtyard at the corner of the outer wall of the church and the left gate leading inside the church.
Dimensions 1.2m x 0.82m
Poetic Metre Metre of Mar Ephrem
Abbots Karas, abbot/shepherd of Mār Behnam monastery and Kudēdā
Bishops Ēwannīs (Karas) of Kudēdā, bishop of Mār Behnam
Professions Workers, masons, diggers and their wages
Prayer Appeals for prayer for the sinner Karas
Trinity Trinity and Single One; Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Relics Mār Behnam, his sister Sara, his mother and forty companions invoked as protectors
Curses Wishes that Satan not enter the village to cause disputes
Monasteries Assyrian monastery of Mār Behnam
Churches & Shrines Named After The nine churches of the village
Building Materials Iron, hewn and polished stones, burnt bricks
Cross Ornamental cross inside a circle
Periods / Eras Year 2050 of the Greeks (Seleucid)
Countries & Cities (Foreign) Village of Kudēdā/Bēt-Kudēdā
Roads, Water Sources & Quarters Digging of a well of water named after Mār Behnam
Karas Ēwannīs Mār Behnam Sara
Harrak 2010, p.268-270
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