Jacob of Serugh

Common questions

Who was Jacob of Serugh?

Jacob of Serugh (451–521) — Bishop of Batnae in Serugh and prolific Syriac poet-theologian. Author of hundreds of metrical homilies (memre). Generally regarded as miaphysite-leaning though irenic; venerated by Syriac Orthodox and Maronites.

Who did Jacob of Serugh correspond with?

Severus of Antioch.

Sources for biography

• Jacob of Serugh, Memre (Homiliae Metricae) primary
• Jacob of Serugh, Letters primary
• Jacob of Serugh, Homiliae Selectae (ed. Bedjan) primary
• ODCC s.v. James of Sarug secondary
• Sebastian Brock, A Brief Outline of Syriac Literature secondary

documented connections(1)

• cited Ephrem the Syrian
  Jacob writes in the metrical-homiletic Syriac tradition pioneered by Ephrem and explicitly invokes him.
  Jacob of Serugh, Memra on Ephrem · Sebastian Brock, A Brief Outline of Syriac Literature · ODCC s.v. James of Sarug

tradition connections(2)

• cited (incoming) Jacob of Edessa
  Jacob of Edessa works within the Syriac Orthodox literary tradition shaped by Jacob of Serugh; explicit citations are scattered.
  Jacob of Edessa, Letters
• corresponded Severus of Antioch
  A small corpus of letters attributed to Jacob includes correspondence with Severus's miaphysite circle; the authenticity of individual letters is debated but the broader correspondence is generally accepted.
  Jacob of Serugh, Letters (ed. Olinder) · ODCC s.v. James of Sarug