Back to the Library
The Church Fathers · c. 480–521
The Verse Homilies
Jacob of Serugh · c. 451–521
Read elsewhere
What it is
Hundreds of long homilies in twelve-syllable metre, called the flute of the Holy Spirit, meditating on biblical scenes with unhurried imaginative sympathy.
Why it lasted
With Ephrem, the greatest of the Syriac poets, and a bridge between the Miaphysite and Chalcedonian worlds.
Where to read it
Public domain and free to read in full, though not held here. The archives below have it.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
Read next