The Patriarch's Blessings

Welcome Message

In Syriac, Margoneetho means 'a pearl'. Syriac Christian literature depicts the pearl variously, as a symbol of our Lord, faith and the human soul. Like an exquisite pearl hidden in an oyster, the spiritual heritage of the Syriac Orthodox Church, one of the most ancient Christian churches, remains obscure to much of the world today. The Margoneetho: Syriac Orthodox Resources web site attempts to illuminate this rich and ancient heritage.

SOR is not an "official" web Site of the Syriac Orthodox Church, but receives encouragement and support from its hierarchy.

 Recent Publications

The New Syriac Primer
An excellent introduction to the Syriac language for beginners by George Kiraz and published by Gorgias Press.

The Scattered Pearls 2nd ed.
Revised English translation of the definitive work on the literary heritage of the Syriac Orthodox Church by the eminent scholar and late Patriarch Mor Aphrem I Barsoum published by Gorgias Press.

The Hidden Pearl: The Syrian Orthodox Church and Its Aramaic Heritage
A three volume encyclopaedic work on the Aramaic heritage—language, history, and culture with a focus on the Syriac Orthodox Church in two volumes. Videocassettes accompany each volume.

Tur Abdin: Living Cultural Heritage
This magnificently illustrated book by Rev. Hans Hollerweger with over 400 color photographs is a pictorial guide to Tur Abdin in SE Turkey where the Syriac Orthodox faith flourished from the earliest days of the Christian Church until the beginning of the 20th century.

Rev. Stephen Griffith Reports
The Anglican minister Rev. Griffith visited Tur `Abdin while serving as the apocrisiarus of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Patriarchate in Damascus and reported on the state of the Syriac Orthodox community. Reports of his visits from 1999-2003 are published here.
Jun 2003 · Jun 2002

Prayers & Fasts according to Bar Ebroyo
Based on the doctoral thesis of Rev. Dr. Biji Chirathilattu, the book presents a theology of prayers and fasts from the oriental perspective based on the works of Maphryono Bar `Ebroyo.

The Indian Church of St. Thomas
First published in 1908, E.M. Philip's widely acclaimed work has been re-published by Mor Adai Study Centre.