Ignatius Abraham bar Garib


Ignatius Abraham bar Garib was the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Mardin from 1382 until his death in 1412.

Biography

Abraham was born in the 14th century, and was the son of Quryaqos, son of Gharīb of Amid. He had a brother named Joseph. Abraham became a monk at the Monastery of Saint Ananias, near Mardin, and had been ordained a priest by 1355. He succeeded his brother Joseph as Archbishop of Amid on his death in 1375, and assumed the name Cyril. Abraham was appointed as Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Mardin in 1382.
He attempted to ensure the office of patriarch remained under the control of his family by designating his brother as his successor, but he predeceased Abraham. In 1396, Mardin was sacked by Timur, and the door, wall, and cells of the Monastery of Saint Ananias were destroyed. With donations and funds raised from the sale of the monastery's vessels, furniture, and manuscripts, Abraham spent 50,000 coins on the monastery's restoration. He served as patriarch of Mardin until his death in 1412.

Works

Abraham wrote a book of propitiatory prayers for the morning service of Lazarus Saturday, and compiled a liturgy of anaphoras of Church Fathers, including a 13-page anaphora written by his brother Joseph.