{"slug":"dsc-627","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-627","title":"Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","author":"Ishoʿyahb III of Adiabene","genre":"letter","date":"7th century CE (before 659)","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T00:59:30Z","cost_usd":0.001706},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-627","work_id":"dsc-627","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"},"stats":{"passages":2,"english_words":530,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":11,"commentary_kinds":5,"derived_notes":1,"ambiguities":3,"work_notes":5,"external_links":0,"timeline":4},"summary":{"work":"dsc-627","abstract":"Letter 50 of Ishoʿyahb III, Catholicos of the Church of the East (ca. 649–659), addresses Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, a lay leader in Erbil, Adiabene. The letter discusses ecclesiastical order, evangelism, and the authority of clergy over lay leaders. It survives only in the manuscript tradition of Ishoʿyahb's collected correspondence, with no independent witness, and is cited in later East Syriac canonical collections as a precedent for episcopal authority. The addressees' roles are not fully defined; 'leader of the faithful' is not a standard office. The text contains uncertain readings that may affect interpretation.","historical_context":"Ishoʿyahb III served as Catholicos of the Church of the East from ca. 649 to 659, a period of significant change following the Arab conquest of Mesopotamia. The Church of the East was expanding eastward while facing internal challenges to episcopal authority. Adiabene, a region in northern Mesopotamia (modern Iraqi Kurdistan), had a long Christian history, possibly dating to early missionary activity. The letter reflects tensions between clerical and lay leadership in local communities. It survives only in the manuscript tradition of Ishoʿyahb's collected correspondence, with no independent witness; the source edition is based on a single manuscript family without a critical apparatus, limiting textual analysis. The letter was later excerpted in East Syriac canonical collections to support episcopal authority over lay leaders.","significance":"This letter provides insight into the internal governance of the Church of the East in the mid-7th century, particularly the relationship between clergy and lay leaders. It is a primary source for understanding the exercise of episcopal authority in a period of transition after the Arab conquest. Its selective use in later canonical collections shows its enduring relevance for ecclesiastical discipline.","timeline":[{"date":"ca. 649–659","event":"Ishoʿyahb III serves as Catholicos of the Church of the East; Letter 50 likely written during this period."},{"date":"7th century","event":"Arab conquest of Mesopotamia; Church of the East adapts to new political context."},{"date":"7th–8th centuries","event":"Letter 50 transmitted in manuscript collections of Ishoʿyahb's correspondence."},{"date":"Later centuries","event":"Letter cited in East Syriac canonical collections as precedent for episcopal authority."}],"relations":[{"work":"Ishoʿyahb III, Letter 49","relation":"Part of the same correspondence collection; similar themes of ecclesiastical order.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Ishoʿyahb III, Letter 51","relation":"Another letter in the collection, possibly addressing similar issues in Adiabene.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Synodicon Orientale","relation":"Later canonical collection that may cite this letter.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"History of the Church of the East","relation":"Provides broader context for Ishoʿyahb's patriarchate and the region of Adiabene.","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["The letter's date is approximate, based on Ishoʿyahb III's tenure (ca. 649–659); no more precise date is available.","The letter survives only in a single manuscript family; textual variants cannot be assessed due to lack of critical apparatus.","The title 'leader of the faithful' for Teʿi is not a standard office; its exact meaning is unclear.","The name Sīfīqā is obscure and may be a personal name or toponym; its significance is uncertain.","The letter's use in later canonical collections is selective and often excerpted, which may affect interpretation of its original context."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000448,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:23:11Z"},"checks":{"work":"dsc-627","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":2,"translated":2,"commentary_passages":2,"commentary_units":11,"english_words":530,"source_letters":1292,"commentary_kinds":5},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Ishoʿyahb III was Catholicos of the Church of the East ca. 649–659. This letter belongs to his correspondence with communities in Adiabene, likely from the mid-7th century.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The letter survives only in the manuscript tradition of Ishoʿyahb’s collected correspondence, with no independent witness. The source edition is based on a single manuscript family.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This letter is cited in later East Syriac canonical collections as a precedent for episcopal authority over lay leaders, but its use is selective and often excerpted.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The addressees are named as priest and lay leader, but their exact roles in Erbil’s church hierarchy are unclear from the letter alone; the title 'leader of the faithful' is not a standard office.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The source edition does not provide a critical apparatus for variant readings among manuscripts, so textual uncertainties in this letter cannot be assessed from the present edition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: letter in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 2 narrative."},{"kind":"caution","severity":"caution","text":"1 passage(s) are fragmentary in the source; the English bridges each break and says so in the note."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":2},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-627":{"label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܝܢ܀ ܠܪ̈ܚܡܝ ܐܠܗܐ ܐܚ̈ܝ ܚܒܝ̈ܒܐ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܘܐܪܟܝܕܩܘܢ. ܘܛܥܝ ܪܫ ܡܗܝ̈ܡܥܐ ܕܐܪܒܝܠ. ܘܟܠܗܘܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܡܗܘܢ ܟܬܒܘ ܠܝ. ܝܫܘܥܝܗܒ ܒܡܪܢ ܫܠܡ܀ ܩܒ̇ܠܬ ܘܩ̇ܪܝܬ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܟܬܒܬܘܢ ܠܝ. ܘܥܠ ܚܦܝܛܘܬܟܘܢ\nܕܒܪܚܡܬ ܛܒܬܐ: ܘܬܚܘܝܬܐ ܕܚܘܒܟܘܢ ܕܠܘܬ\nܒܨܝܪܘܬܝ܆ ܐܘܕܝܬ ܠܡܪܢ. ܒܪܡ ܠܝܬ ܢܩܝܦܘܬܐ\nܠܬܐܪܬܐ ܕܒܨܝܪܘܬܝ: ܠܘܬ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܢܟܘܢ ܟܐܡܪ\nܐܬܕܝ̈ܢܝܢ ܕܦܩ̈ܚܢ. ܒܐܝܕܐ ܓܝܪ ܡܤܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢ\nܐܢܫ ܫܦܝܪ ܡܬܒܩܐ: ܡܫܟܚ ܕܡܥܕܪ ܒܙܒܢܐ ܗܢܐ:\nܫܘܢܝܐ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܢܐ. ܐܘ ܓܝܪ ܡܛܠ ܤܒܪܐ ܕܝܘܬܪ̈ܙܐ\nܪ̈ܘܚܝܐ ܡܬܬܙܝܥ ܐܢܫ ܠܘܬ ܝܫܘܢܝܐ ܕܗܘܦܘ̈ܗܝ. ܐܘ\nܒܡܬܝܐܒܢܘܬܐ ܕܠܚ̈ܝܐ ܦܓܪ̈ܢܝܐ: ܘܫܪܟܐ ܕܠܗܠܝܢ\nܕܠܥܘܡܪܐ ܐܢܫܝܐ ܒܝܬܝܪܘܬ ܡܨܠܚܢܘܬܐ ܡܨܒ̈ܬܢ. ܘܟܕ ܤܓܕ ܐܢܐ ܠܛܝܒܘܬܗ ܕܡܪܢ ܡܘܕܐ ܐܢܐ. ܕܒܟܡܝܘܬܐ ܡܡܫܚܬܐ ܐܝܬܝ ܬܢܢ ܒܗܠܝܢ. ܘܠܐ\nܐܪܦܝܬ̤ ܒܛܝܠܘܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܠܒܨܝܪܘܬܝ. ܠܡܬܢܘܓܘ\nܒܤܒܪܐ ܕܝܬܝܪ̈ܬܗ ܕܙܒܢܐ: ܗܠܝܢ ܕܒܕܘ̈ܟܝܬܐ ܟܐܡܬ\nܐܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܫܟܝܚ̈ܢ. ܘܕܐܢܫ ܢܪܦܐ ܝܫܘܪܬܚܐ ܕܥܡܠܗ:\nܘܛܘܟ̈ܤܐ ܡܡܫ̈ܚܐ ܕܒܒܛܝܠܘܬܐ ܢܓܝܪܬܐ\nܐܬܬܩܝܡܘ: ܘܫܘܚܠܦܐ ܕܥܝܕ̈ܐ ܛܒ̈ܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܠܡܚܤܢ\nܐܬܩܢܝܘ: ܘܡܬܬܩܝܡܢܘܬܐ ܕܒܐܓܘܢܐ ܐܡܝܢܐ\nܕܗܪ̈ܤܝܘܛܐ ܘܕܚܢ̈ܦܐ. ܘܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܕܡ̣ܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܬܟܢܫ\nܠܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܕܚ̈ܝܐ ܪ̈ܘܚܝܐ: ܥܡ ܝܫܪܟܐ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܠܗܝܢ\nܡܬܢܩ̈ܦܢ ܒܛܘܦܤ̈ܐ ܝܫܦܝܪ̈ܐ: ܘܢܫܲܢܐ ܠܡܫܪܝܘ ܒܐܝܠܝܢ\nܕܡ̣ܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܒܨܝܪ̈ܢ: ܠܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ̇ ܐܝܟ ܕܤ̇ܒܪ ܐܢܐ:\nܕܓܒܪܐ ܕܫܦܝܪ ܡܦܪܫ: ܝܫܘܡܗܐ ܓܝܪ ܤܝܦܩܐ܆ ܠܐ\nܡܕܡ ܡܘܬܪ ܠܐܢ̈ܫܝܢ. ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܗܟܝܠ ܝܫܦܝܪܐ ܗܝ̣:\nܕܟܠܢܫ ܒܩܪܝܬܐ ܕܐܬܩܪܝ ܒܗ ܢܩ̇ܘܐ.","english":"To the lovers of God, my beloved brothers, Yoḥanan the priest and archdeacon, and Teʿi, head of the faithful of Erbil, and all those who with them wrote to me: Ishoʿyahb in the Lord, greeting. I have received and read what you wrote to me. And concerning your zeal in love of goodness, and the demonstration of your affection toward my lowliness, I gave thanks to the Lord. Yet there is no negligence for the sake of the lowliness of my person toward those who are with you, as the saying goes, \"the disciples of the apostles.\" For by which evangelism or by which fair person is it possible to help at this time? A comparison like this: either on account of the hope of spiritual benefits a person is moved toward the Christianity of his own region, or by the desire for bodily life and the rest of those things that pertain to the human way of life, especially successful undertakings, they are zealous. And when I bow to the grace of the Lord, I confess that in measured quantities I am able to be occupied with these things. And I have not neglected, by the power of God, my lowliness to be troubled by the hope of the additional things of the time: those things that in other places are found, and that a person may take up the inheritance of his labor, and measured orders that in vain were established by force, and the change of good customs that were established for correction, and the establishments in a secure vessel of heretics and pagans, and the fruits that with these are mixed for the benefit of spiritual life, along with the rest of those things that are strengthened by good examples, and it is fitting to begin with those that are with these lesser ones. It is not as I thought: that a person who is well distinguished—for the name \"Sīfīqā\" does not benefit people at all. Therefore, it is good that each one remain in the village to which he was called.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܪܟܝܕܩܘܢ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ʾarkīdīqōn (archdeacon) is a Greek loanword (ἀρχιδιάκονος) and denotes a senior clerical office, here held by Yoḥanan alongside his priesthood.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܛܥܝ","severity":"info","text":"The title ṭaʿy (head, leader) applied to Teʿi indicates a lay or monastic leadership role among the faithful of Erbil, distinct from the clerical rank of the addressee Yoḥanan.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܕܝ̈ܢܝܢ ܕܦܩ̈ܚܢ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'disciples of the apostles' (talmīdē d-paqqāḥē) likely alludes to a traditional saying or a known group, possibly referencing the early Christian missionary heritage in the region of Adiabene.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܤܝܦܩܐ","severity":"info","text":"The name Sīfīqā (Συφικά?) is obscure; it may be a personal name or a toponym. Ishoʿyahb states it 'does not benefit people at all,' suggesting a negative exemplum or a figure associated with misguided action.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The letter opens with a formal salutation and thanksgiving, then moves to a reflection on the challenges of evangelism and ecclesiastical order, concluding with an exhortation to remain in one's assigned village.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains several uncertain readings (e.g., ܢܩܝܦܘܬܐ, ܡܬܬܩܝܡܢܘܬܐ) that may affect the precise interpretation of Ishoʿyahb's critique of ecclesiastical innovations.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of Sīfīqā is unclear; it may be a personal name, a place, or a symbolic figure. The phrase 'disciples of the apostles' could be a proverbial expression or a reference to a specific group. The exact nature of the 'measured orders' and 'establishments' criticized by Ishoʿyahb is not fully specified."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܟܕ ܡܬܚܦܛ\nܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܫܦܪ̈ܢ ܠܡܪܢ ܟܕܘ ܠܗ [.] ܒܪܡ ܐܝܟ\nܡܥܕܪ̈ܢܐ ܕܚܕܘܬܟܘܢ ܐܢܗܘ ܕܬܒܥܘܚܝ ܠܡ̣ܠܟܐ: ܐܝܬ\nܠܝ ܠܡܚܘܝܘܬܟܘܢ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܚ̇ܫܚ ܠܬܫܡܫܬܐ ܕܥܕܬܟܘܢ\nܘܠܩܝܘܡܘܬܐ ܕܓܘܐ ܟܕ ܡܪܝܐ ܢܨܒܐ. ܐܝܬ ܗ̣ܘ ܓܝܪ\nܒܛܝܒܘܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܠܗܕܐ ܚ̇ܫܚܝܢ ܐܦܢ ܛܒ\nܡܙܠܗܙܝܢ ܘܝ̇ܕܥ ܡܪܝܐ ܠܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܕܝܠܗ ܐܢܘܢ. ܘܤ̇ܥܪ\nܒܚܢܗ ܠܥܕܬܗ ܒܩܝܘܡܐ ܕܚ̇ܫܚ܆ ܘܡܫ̇ܟܢ ܠܓܘܐ ܕܟܠܢ\nܡܘܗܒܬܐ ܕܥܘܕܪܢܗ. ܐܬܚ̇ܦܛܘ ܗܟܝܠ ܒܬܫܡܫܬܐ\nܕܥܝܕܟܘܢ ܐܘ ܐܚ̈ܝ ܚܒܝ̈ܒܐ. ܘܤܘܟܝܐ ܕܤܒܪܟܘܢ\nܠܘܬ ܪ̈ܚܡܘܗܝ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܗܦܟܘ. ܕܗܘ ܒܚܢܢܗ\nܢܤܥܘܪܟܘܢ ܒܟܠ ܨܒܘ. ܘܚܛܪܟܘܢ ܕܠܐ ܪܫܝܢ. ܘܢܡ̇ܠܐ\nܚܤܝܪܘܬܟܘܢ ܒܪ̈ܚܡܐ ܕܛܝܒܘܬܗ. ܘܥܠ ܒܨܝܪܘܬܝ ܕܝܢ\nܨܠܘ. ܕܫܪܟܢܐ ܕܝܘ̈ܡܝ ܒܚ̈ܝܐ ܕܫ̇ܦܪܝܢ ܠܨܒܝܢܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ\nܐܥܒܕ܀ ܫܠܡܬ܀","english":"... while striving in the works that are fitting for our Lord, as it were with the help of your joy, that you might seek from me a king. I have to show you who is suitable for the service of your church and for the internal administration, if the Lord wills. For there are, by the grace of God, those who are suitable for this, and moreover they are well-known, and the Lord knows who are his own. And he acts with his wisdom for his church in the administration that is suitable, and he finds within all the gifts of his help. Therefore, be diligent in the service of your office, my beloved brothers. And let the purpose of your hope be turned towards the friends of God. For he, by his wisdom, accomplishes your work in every desire. And your staff is not negligent. And he fills your deficiency with the mercy of his grace. And concerning my insignificance, pray that the remainder of my days may be spent in a life that is pleasing to the will of God. Completed.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡ̣ܠܟܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac word malkā (ܡ̣ܠܟܐ) can mean 'king' or 'counsel/advice'. Here the English draft takes 'king', but the context of ecclesiastical appointment suggests 'counsel' may be intended, as the addressees seek guidance on a suitable leader.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܝܘܡܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term qyōmūṯā (ܩܝܘܡܘܬܐ) refers to 'administration' or 'governance', often used in Syriac ecclesiastical contexts for internal church order. It parallels the Greek oikonomia.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Ishoʿyahb III (c. 649–659) was patriarch of the Church of the East. This letter to clergy in Erbil reflects his pastoral authority and concern for proper ecclesiastical appointments amid the early Islamic period.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts from a discussion of suitable candidates for church service to an exhortation for the addressees to be diligent, turning their hope toward the 'friends of God' (rḥmawhy d-alāhā), a phrase denoting faithful Christians.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This letter is preserved in a single manuscript (DSC 627) and was edited by Paul Bedman in the 20th century. It is rarely cited in modern scholarship, but it provides insight into the ecclesiastical governance of the Church of the East.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-627","label":"source edition: Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/627"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The word ܡ̣ܠܟܐ (malkā) is ambiguous: it can mean 'king' or 'counsel'. The English draft opts for 'king', but the context of seeking a suitable church leader suggests 'counsel' is more plausible.","The phrase ܐܝܟ ܡܥܕܪ̈ܢܐ ܕܚܕܘܬܟܘܢ (ayk mʿadrānē d-ḥdūṯkōn) is obscure; the English draft renders 'as it were with the help of your joy', but the syntax is difficult and may be corrupt."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]}]}