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Lectionary of the East Syrian Monastery of Mār `Azīzā´el

This lectionary relates the biblical texts read throughout the church year at the Monastery of 
Mār `Azīzā´el in Tur Abdin, a region currently in southeastern Turkey, near the headwaters of 
the Tigris).  The manuscript dates to ???? AD.

The lectionary is divided into essentially six cycles of varying lengths of time:
    First Cycle:  Nativity (Dec 25) through the last Sunday before Lent
    Second Cycle:  First Sunday of Lent through Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday)
    Third Cycle:  Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday
    Fourth Cycle:  Resurrection Sunday through Pentecost
    Fifth Cycle:  First Sunday after Pentecost through the Eighth
    An unnumbered cycle or appendix of various readings for autumn feasts; ending with various lessons

This lectionary and the lectionary from the Church of the Forty Martyrs are so similar that I have 
provided a comparison chart, displaying the readings of both lectionaries side by side.  Note that the 
6th century East Syrian lectionary described by Burkitt preserves a much fuller description of the 
various readings and psalms for each day, even though the lectionary is fragmentary.  The other
East Syrian lectionary of Maclean I've included apparently preserves practices contemporary with 
Maclean, circa 1894, in the East Syrian Church.

For further information and a facsimile of the lectionary, see my source:
Lectionary of the monastery of `Azīzā´el in Tur Abdin, Mesopotamia:  
a startling repository of Syro-Hexapla texts: a facsimile edition of Ms.MardinOrth.47.
Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, v.466
ed.: Arthur Vööbus Lovanii: In aedibus E. Peters, 1985

FIRST CYCLE

1.

Nativity of our Lord

Rom 8.28-39

2.

Circumcision

Ex 4.19-28

Rom 15.1-3

3.

After the Nativity

Ezek 37.15-20; 
Isa 8.1-4; 
Isa 9.6-7

Heb 4.14-5.6

4.

Holy Feast of the Epiphany

Ex 15.22-16.1; 
Job 36.22-37.1; 
Jgs 7.4-7; 
Prov 7.24-8.6; 
Zech 6.9-15; 
2Ki 2.19-25

Heb 10.15-39

5.

After the Epiphany, the second (Sunday)

Ezek 47.1-12; 
Isa 10.33-12.6

1Ti 3.1-13

6.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Ex 14.26-31

2Cor 4.1-6

7.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Jgs 6.34-40; 
2Ki 5.9-15

2Cor 1.8-12

8.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Ezek 36.22-28; 
Isa 4.2-6

Tt 2.11-3.7

9.

Commemoration of John the Baptist

Dt 18.13-22; 
Isa 42.1-7

2Ti 3.16-4.8

10.

Feast of the Martyr Mār Stephen

Jgs 16.25-30; 
Mal 2.17-3.4; 
Mal 4.4-6

Gal 1.11-24

11.

Holy Feast of the Entry of our Lord into the Holy Temple

Ex 4.21-31; 
Isa 38.10-20

Rom 4.1-12

12.

Holy Feast of Mār Barşaumā

Ex 32.11-16; 
Ex 34.29-31; 
Jer 10.12-16; 
Jer 51.20-29

1Cor 12.28-13.10

13.

Rogations [intercessions] for Monday of the Nineveh Fast

Zeph 1.2-14; 
Jer 14.15-22

Heb 12.3-11

14.

Tuesday in the Rogations

Gen 19.1-14; 
Dan 3.25-40

1Ti 2.5-15

15.

Wednesday in the Rogations

Zeph 2.11-3.4; 
Jonah 4.2-11

Eph 5.15-21

16.

Holy Mār Severus, the Elect

Wis 3.1-10; 
Isa 26.1-9

2Ti 1.1-7

17.

Sunday on which is celebrated the commemoration of the priests, deacons and the righteous and the rest -- which is the memorial of the fathers

Num 20.23-29; 
Jos 24.29-33; 
Prov 10.7-25; 
Ps 142.1-12; 
Isa 38.1-8

1Cor 15.1-19

18.

Sunday on which is celebrated the commemoration of the faithful dead, in general

Dt 32.48-33.5; 
Job 14.7-22; 
Hos 13.9-14; 
Jer 22.11-16; 
Isa 26.16-19

1Cor 15.34-37

SECOND CYCLE

19.

Holy Sunday which enters the Fast

Lev 23.23-32; 
Joel 2.12-20; 
Dan 1.3-21

Rom 12.1-20

20.

Monday of the first week in the Fast

Gen 2.15-24; 
Lev 4.1-12

1Ti 2.1-15

21.

Tuesday of the first week in the Fast

Dt 4.1-14; 
Jos 21.43-22.6

Rom 13.11-14.8

22.

Wednesday of the first week in the Fast

Job 11.13-14; 
Jer 3.22-25

23.

Thursday of the first week in the Fast

Wis 1.1-7

Heb 11.32-12.2

24.

(Saturday in the Holy Fast: only the end of these Saturday lessons has survived from he two folios which have fallen out. Friday is completely lost.)

Gal 5.14-26

25.

Second Sunday in the Holy Fast

Gen 32.24-32; 
Prov 3.1-18; 
Jer 36.21-31

2Cor 6.11-16

26.

Third Sunday in the Holy Fast

Gen 18.20-33; 
Pr 15.33-16.15; 
Jer 11.1-10

Eph 6.10-20

27.

Fourth Sunday in the Holy Fast

Gen 9.1-14; 
Jos 20.1-6; 
Prov 3.27-36

28.

Monday of the middle week of the Fast

Ezek 36.22-29

2 Cor 6.2-7.1

29.

Tuesday of the middle week of the Fast

Dt 15.1-8

2Ti 5.24-6.12

30.

Wednesday in the week which is the midpoint of the Fast

Gen 1.14-19; 
Isa 58.1-6

2Cor 9.1-2

31.

Thursday of the fourth week

Sir 1.17-26

2Cor 1.23-2.11

32.

Day of `arūbtā [=Friday] of the middle week of the Holy Fast

Gen 1.24-31; 
Isa 58.6-10

1Cor 6.12-20

33.

Saturday of the middle week of the Holy Fast

Jer 3.14-18

2Cor 5.1-10

34.

Fifth Sunday of the Fast

Gn 15.1-20; 
Prov 8.10-21; 
Ezk 18.23-32

Gal 5.16; 
Eph 4.25-5.2

35.

Sixth Sunday in the Holy Fast

Gn 31.55-32.21; 
Prov 10.27-11.9; 
Jer 11.18-23

36.

Holy Forty Martyrs

Jos 22.21-27, 29, 31; 
Prov 10.27-11.9; 
Jer 11.18-23; 
Isa 40.27-41.4

2Cor 4.7-18

37.

Friday of the Forty Days

Isa 52.13-53.12

Heb 12.18-13.3

38.

This is for the Saturday of the day of the revival of Lazarus

Eph 1.15-2.3

THIRD CYCLE

39.

First, at vespers for Palm Sunday

Gn 49.1-28; 
Lev 23.33-44

40.

Lessons for the morning of Palm Sunday

Dt 8.6-20; 
2Sam 6.1-11; 
Zech 9.9-17; 
Nah 2.1-7; 
Dan 8.1-10; 
Song 2.7-17; 
Song 7.7-10; 
Isa 40.9-17

Rom 11.13-29

41.

Monday of the Passion

Isa 5.1-3, 5-7

Heb 2.5-14

42.

Tuesday of the Salvatory Passion

Jer 15.5-12

Heb 7.18-8.1

43.

Wednesday of the Passion

Wis 1.8-2.1

Heb 9.24-10.3

44.

Thursday of the Mystery

Ezek 13.17-22; 
Isa 3.9-15

Heb 10.4-12

45.

The Great Service of the Consecration of the Divine Myron

Gn 28.18-22; 
Lev 8.1-13; 
2Ki 9.1-10; 
Isa 54.1-6

1Cor 2.12-17; 
1Cor 3.4-7

46.

Service of the Mysterious Washing (of Feet)

Isa 44.1-8

Heb 10.15-25

47.

Offering [=qūrbānā] on the Thursday of the Mystery, at vespers of the Friday [=`arūbtā] of the Crucifixion

Job 38.2-7, 12-15; 
Jgs 6.19-24; 
Wis 1.1-6; 
Wis 3.10; 
Jer 15.15-21; 
Ezk 45.18-25

1Cor 11.23-34

48.

First Service of the Night of the Friday of the Crucifixion

Zech 13.7-14.5

Heb 4.14-5.6

49.

Second Service of the Night of the Friday

1Ki 21.1-10; 
Zech 11.10-14

Heb 9.24-28

50.

Third Service of the Night of the Friday of the Crucifixion

Mic 4.81-3; 
Isa 50.4-9

Heb 9.11-15

51.

Morning of the Great Day of the Friday of the Holy Crucifixion

Lev 24.10-23; 
Job 40.1-41.3; 
1Sam 26.1-16; 
Jer 37.12-21; 
Ezk 21.24-22.4

Rom 5.1-11

52.

Third hour [=9am] of the Friday of the Crucifixion

Job 17.3-12, 16; 
Jgs 5.20-27, 31; 
Isa 32.11-15, 19-20

Php 2.3-11

53.

Midday of the Friday of the Crucifixion

Job 29.21-24; 
Job 30.7-14; 
Wis 2.12-24; 
Am 8.9-9.4

Gal 2.19-3.2, 13-14

54.

Ninth hour [=3pm] of the Friday of the Crucifixion, and the worship of the adorable Cross

Ex 17.8-16; 
Jer 11.15-19; 
Sir 51.6-11; 
Wis 3.5-10; 
Wis 5.3-9; 
Isa 52.13-53.9, 12

1Cor 1.18-25; 
1Cor 2.6-9

55.

Saturday vesper of the Holy Burial

Zech 13.2-6; 
1Ki 6.1-7; 
Isa 25.1-9

Rom 5.6-11

56.

Morning of the Holy Saturday of Good Tidings [or: the Gospel]

Job 27.1-23; 
1Ki 17.17-24; 
Hos 13.12-14.1; 
Jer 38.7-13

FOURTH CYCLE

57.

First, the vespers of the Great Sunday

Ex 13.1-19; 
Jgs 6.25-32; 
1Ki 3.5-15

Rom 6.8-14

58.

Morning of the Great Sunday of the Resurrection of our Lord from the Tomb

Num 9.1-13; 
Jos 5.10-6.4; 
Job 38.2-17; 
2Ki 4.18-21, 32-37; 
1Sam 17.37-51

1Cor 15.1-20; 
Rom 15.30-16.24

59.

Monday of white

Hos 2.16-23; 
Prov 9.1-12

Eph 2.4-22

60.

Tuesday of white

Isa 57.19-20; 
Isa 60.17-22

Eph 1.3-14

61.

Wednesday of white

Ex 23.1-13; 
1Sam 8.1-9

Col 3.1-15

62.

Thursday of white

Ezk 45.18-25; 
Jer 2.37-38; 
Jer 16.16-18

Eph 2.4-18

63.

Friday of white

Sir 48.1-11; 
1Ki 11.11-19; 
Isa 3.13-4.1

Col 2.6-15

64.

Saturday of white

(Amos?: unidentifiable); 
Zeph 1.12-18; 
Mic 1.1-9; 
Nah 1.1-9

Rom 8.9-14

65.

New Sunday

Gn 1.1-19; 
Lev 9.1-9; 
Lev 16.1-8; 
Jgs 1.1-7; 
Prov 2.1-15; 
Jer 1.1-10

Heb 7.11-21

66.

Second Sunday which is after the Resurrection

Ex 2.11-25; 
Ezek 3.22-4.3

1Cor 2.6-3.3

67.

Third Sunday which is after the Resurrection

Ex 3.13-22; 
Ezek 5.5-15

Rom 10.17-11.12

68.

Fourth Sunday which is after the Resurrection

Ex 5.1-9; 
Ezek 5.5-15

Rom 13.12-14.13

69.

Fifth Sunday which is after the Resurrection

Ex 5.10-6.1; 
Ezek 8.14-9.10

Rom 6.12-23

70.

Holy Feast of the Ascension of our Lord to Heaven

Gn 28.10-16; 
Nu 9.15-23; 
2Ki 2.1-14; 
Isa 6.1-13

Eph 4.1-16

71.

Sunday which is after the Ascension which is celebrated after the Resurrection

Wis 12.2-18; 
Isa 62.10-63.5

1Ti 3.14-4.8

72.

Holy Sunday of Pentecost

Ex 3.1-12; 
Nu 11.16-29; 
Job 32.6-19; 
Wis 7.15-28; 
Joel 2.28-32; 
Ezk 9.11-10.19

1Cor 12.1-18

73.

Sunday of Pentecost

Isa 63.7-13

Eph 17.24
FIFTH CYCLE

74.

Lessons for the first order (ταξις)

Ex 16.9-27; 
Job 6.1-30

1Cor 6.1-11

75.

Second Sunday in the succession [lit: in rotation]

Ex 18.1-10; 
Job 7.1-11

Col 3.1-17

76.

Third Sunday in the succession

Ex 18.13-27; 
Job 8.1-22

1Th 1.2-10

77.

Fourth Sunday in the succession

Ex 20.1-11; 
Job 9.1-28

1Cor 7.1-15

78.

Fifth Sunday in the succession

Ex 20.12-20; 
Job 9.29-10.22

2Th 1.3-12

79.

Sixth Sunday in the succession

Ex 20.21-221.6; 
Job 11.1-20

1Tim 4.11-5.8

80.

Lessons for the seventh Sunday

Ex 21.26-22.4; 
Job 12.1-22

2Th 2.15-3.9

81.

Lessons for the eighth Sunday

Ex 22.5-23; 
Jgs 4.7-17

[the manuscript includes a blank at this point, clearly setting apart the remaining readings from the Fifth Cycle]

82.

Feast of the apostles in general, also called the special feasts of Peter, Paul, Thomas and the rest of each of them

Num 8.5-11; 
Am 7.10-17

Rom 15.14-24

83.

Feast of tabernacles and the Transfiguration

Job 19.23-29; 
Sir 24.1-14

Heb 1.1-12

84.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary the Godbearer

Gen 28.10-17; 
Ex 3.1-10; 
Jgs 6.34-7.3; 
2Ki 2.19-25

Heb 2.14-3.1

85.

Feast of Mary the Godbearer which is in the full moon of the month of ´Ab [~August], and is called the Feast of the Ears of Corn

Gn 21.1-23; 
Ex 25.8-16, 22; 
Jgs 15.9-19; 
Ezk 43.1-9; 44.1-3

Heb 7.1-17

86.

Feast in honor of the Adorable Cross

Gn 48.8-20; 
1Sam 14.24-34; 
Ex 17.8-16; 
Jos 10.12-15; 
Wis 14.7-11; 
Wis 15.1-3; 
2Ki 6.1-7

Gal 2.17-3.5, 13-14

87.

After the Feast of the Cross

Zech 14.16-21; 
Isa 65.1-7

Eph 3.13-21

88.

Commemoration of the Saints

Isa 24.21-23; 
Isa 25.8-10; 
Isa 26.16-19

Heb 13.7-9, 12-21

89.

Commemoration of the Apostles

Prov 10.20-11.10; 
Zech 8.20-23

1Cor 9.13-27

90.

Commemoration of the Martyrs

Isa 43.1-12

1Cor 3.17-4.6

91.

Commemoration of the Fathers, Teachers and Bishops

Wis 3.1-10; 
Isa 26.1-9

Rom 8.28-39

92.

Another Lesson for one of the Saints, in particular

Jer 16.14-21

2Ti 3.10-15

93.

Lessons for the Faithful Dead

Job 30.16-31.6

1Th 4.13-18

94.

Lessons for the Tonsure of Monks

Zech 3.1-8; 
Isa 61.6-11

Eph 6.10-16