NESTORIAN GRAVE INSCRIPTIONS

[from: Alphonse Mingana, The Early Spread of Christianity in  Central Asia and the Far East: A New Document (Reprinted from The  Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1925), 41-42 and John  Stewart, Nestorian Missionary Enterprise: The Story of a Church on Fire (Edinburgh: T &T Clark, 1928), 204-213]

• This is the grave of Pasak -- The aim of life is Jesus, our redeemer.
• This is the grave of chorepiscopus⁽¹⁾ Ama. In the year 1566 (AD 1255)⁽²⁾ he departed from this world in the month of July on Sabbath. May our  Lord unite his spirit with those of the pious and upright. Amen.
• In the year 1583 (AD 1272) that is the ape year. This is the grave of the  priest and general, Zuma -- a blessed old man, a famous Emir, the son of General  Giwargis. May our Lord unite his spirit with the spirits of the fathers and  saints in eternity.
• In the year 1584 (AD 1273). This is the grave of the church visitor  Pag-Mangku, the humble believer.
• In the year 1612 (AD 1301) the bull year. This is the grave of the priest  Taki who was very zealous for the church.
• In the year 1613 (AD 1302). This is the grave of the priest Isaac, the  blessed old man. He worked much in interests of the town.
• In the year 1616 (AD 1305) which is that of the Turkish snake. This is the  grave of Sabrisho, the archdeacon, the blessed old man and the perfect priest.  He worked much in the interests of the church.
• In the year 1618 (AD 1307), which is the year of the sheep. This is the  grave of Jeremiah, the believer.
• In the year 1618 (AD 1307) that is the sheep year. This is the grave of the  charming maiden Julia, the betrothed of the chorepiscopus Yohannan.
• In the year 1623 (AD 1312), which is the year of the pig. This is the grave  of the priest Peter, the venerable old man.
• In the year 1627 (AD 1316) which is the year of the dragon. This is the  grave of Shliha the celebrated commentator and teacher, who illuminated all the  monasteries with light, son of Peter the august commentator of wisdom. His voice  rang as high as the sound of a trumpet. May our Lord mix his pure soul with the  just men and fathers. May he participate in the heavenly joys.
• In the year 1639 (AD 1328) that is the dragon year. This is the grave of  Pesoha the renowned exegetist and preacher who enlightened all cloisters through  the light -- extolled for wisdom and may our Lord unite his spirit with the  saints.
• In the year 1650 (AD 1339) the hare year. This is the grave of Kutluk. He  died of plague with his wife Mangu-Kelka.

¹ The Syriac term used for a visitator, similar  to an archdeacon, a bishop's assistant. The Syriac word sa'ora and the  Greek word periodeutes were also used to describe this office. "The  duty of the bearer of these titles was to visit the churches and see that all  was well with them and to build up congregations that had fallen off. It was  also part of his duty to visit villages and smaller congregations, to gather  elders around him, to admonish them, and remind them of their duties, to read  the scriptures, to gather the children together, pray with them and arrange for  their education. The person appointed to this office was chosen because of his  piety, his uprightness and his incorruptibility." (Stewart, 205-206).

² Many of the dates given on these grave  inscriptions follow the Syriac custom of dating events according to the Seleucid  Era (i.e. beginning with the inauguration of Seleucid rule in Syria and  Palestine in 312/311 BC). Dates using AD are in parentheses.