John of Ephesus

• A Syriac writer, missionary, bishop and historian.
• He was born in Amid in North Mesopotamia early in the 6th century.
• He was ordained deacon at the Monastery of Mar Yuhannan in Amid in 529.
• He stood high in the confidence of the Emperor Justinian, and was commissioned by him in 542 as ‘Teacher of the heathen’ in the four provinces of Asia, Caria, Phrygia and Lydia; hence the name John of Asia (‘Asia’ meaning the district of which Ephesus was the capital).
• On this missionary campaign in Asia Minor, John converted around 80, 000 people to Christianity.
• He built 99 churches and 12 monasteries together with Deuterius who was 35 years his fellow labourer, and successor at Caria.
• In the extant portion of his Ecclesiastical History he describes himself once as, “John, who is called superintendent of the heathen, and Breaker of Idols.”
• He was consecrated bishop of Ephesus probably ca. 558.
• He was afterwards recalled to Constantinople to combat the idolatry in and around the capital.
• Justinian died in 565, and under Justin II, from 571, John suffered a series of tribulations and persecutions of all kinds.
• He was described as an historian who sincerely loved truth, a bishop who was upright and devoted, and a man whose piety rested on a thorough knowledge of Scripture.
• John’s Ecclesiastical History, which is distinguished by his originality, is far ahead of similar contemporary works, and it is indispensable for the history of the 6th century.

Two important Syriac works by John survive: 1. The Lives of the Eastern Saints:

• Written while he was at the Monastery of Mar Yuhannan.
• It contains 58 short biographies of the most prominent holy men and women, all his contemporaries. 2. Ecclesiastical History:
• The most ancient history known to us by a Syrian Orthodox historian.
• Three volumes comprising of six chapters in each.
• Volume 1 covered the period beginning from the time of Julius Caesar until the sixth year of the reign of Justin II, son of the sister of Justinian.
• Volume 2 furnished much important matter from the reign of Justinian until 571.
• Volume 3 continues the history to ca. 585, in 418 pages. It covers the period between the 6th year of Justin II and the fourth of Maurice, and includes historical information about the Church and the world.
• Of the three volumes, only Part 3 survives. It was first edited from the unique MS. in the British Museum by Dr. Cureton (Oxford 1853). It was translated into English by Dr. Payne Smith(Oxford 1860).