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Document Details : Title: Restoring the ABC in Ephraim's Cycles on Faith and Paradise Author(s): PALMER, Andrew Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Volume: 55 Issue: 3-4 Date: 2003 Pages: 147-194 DOI: 10.2143/JECS.55.3.504416 Abstract : Many works are attributed to Saint Ephraim the Syrian, but only some of them are by him. Scholars to date have concentrated on identifying his genuine works, among which are the fifteen Madroshe (often called Hymns) on Paradise and the eighty-seven Madroshe on Faith. Both cycles contain acrostic compositions, many of which are anomalous. These anomalies can be divided into intentional anomalies, which are enigmas to be solved by the reader, and anomalies which have resulted from the interpolation of stanzas by other authors. These stanzas, which can be identified by the painstaking application of a series of criteria proposed in this article, were originally marginal glosses and embroideries, indexed to Ephraim’s stanzas by a shared initial letter. |
