This extraordinary East Syrian lectionary dates to the 6th century AD. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the Armenian (see on this site those of Conybeare and especially Renoux) and Georgian lectionaries.
For more information, see: F. C. Burkitt, The Early Syriac Lectionary System. London: The British Academy/Oxford University Press, 1923.
Note: “al:” indicates that the indicated Psalm is sung as an Alleluia Psalm. Although Burkitt notes that he has utilized the English Revised Version, it appears that the Psalm citations are according to the Septuagint numbering.
| Rubric | OT | NT (sometimes w/Pss) |
| [several folios missing] | [Heb 1.1]-2.4 or Gal 4.1-5.10; Ps 110; Lk 2.1-20 | |
| Ephiphany of our Lord, 6 Jan: in the evening of the Vigil of the same: | Ps 23 (resp .1); Ex 3.1-15 | 1Pt 5.1-end; Ps 80; Lk 2.8-15 |
| at midnight: | Ps 29 (resp .3a); Isa 10.33-12.6 | {3} Mt 3.1-17 |
| in morning after the morning service: | Jn 1.1-34 | |
| Day lessons for the same Day of Epiphany | Pr 8.22-36; Job 4.1-5.27; Dn “Thanksgiving of Ananias” 3.23+[PrAz 2-68], or 7.7-27; Zech 6.1-15 or Mic 5.2-6.8; Jos 3.1-4.14; Jgs 6.34-7.7a; 1Sam 16.1ac-13a; 1Ki 1.32-48; Jer 33.10-22; Ezk 1.1-28a; Isa 7.10-9.7; Gen 1.1-2.24 or 21.1-13; Exodus 15.1-26; Num 24.2-18; Ps 2 (resp .7b) | |
| Sunday of Entry into the Fast of 40 | Pr 31.1-end; Job 29.1-30.23; Dn 1.1-17; Joel 2.1-end; Jos 3.1-4.24; 1Sam 7.2-17; 1Ki 19.1-21; Jer 36.1-26; Ezk 3.16-4.15; Isa 58.1-14; Ex 24.1-18 or 34.1-35; Ps 35 (resp .18) | Ac 9.1-30; Rom 12.1-21; al: Ps 51; Mt 4.1-11 |
| Monday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen 1.1-2.14 or Ex 1.1-2.25; Dt 4.1-22; Job 1.1-2.10; Jos 1.1-2.24 or Jgs 2.1-… [three leaves missing] | |
| . . . | …2Ki4.8-37; Ezk 37.1-14; Ex 3.1-22; Ps 49 (resp .15a) | Ac 9.32-10.23a; 1Cor 15. 1-58 or 1Th 4.13-5.11; al: Ps 90; Jn 11.1-44 or Lk 7.11-17 or Mk 5.21-43 |
| Monday in the middle week at the end of midday services | Gn 13.11b-15.5; Joel 2.21-end; Jer 1.1-19; Ps 75 (resp .1a) | 1Cor 1.1-29; Jn 6.22-47 |
| Tuesday in the middle week | Gen 15.6-17.22; Mic 4.1-7; Jer 2.1-3.5; Ps 42 (resp .2a) | 1Cor 2.10-3.15; Jn 6.48-71 |
| Wednesday in the middle week | Gen 17.23-18.33; Isa 40.1-8; Jer 3.6-21; Ps 84 (resp .4a) | 1Cor 3.16-5.8; Jn 7.1-30 |
| Thursday in the middle week of the Fast | Gen 20.1-21.34; Isa 40.9-41.16; Jer 3.22-4.8; Ps 44 (resp .8a) | 1Cor 8.1-9.27; Mt 24.3-51 |
| Friday in the middle week of the Fast | Gen 22.1-23.20 (the Temptation of Abraham); Isa 41.17-42.4; Zech 8.9-9.8; Ps 46 (resp .1a) | 1Cor 10.1-11.34; Mt 25.1-46 |
| Saturday in the same middle week of the Fast | Ezk 14.12-23; Ps 32 (resp .11a) | 1Th 4.13-5.11; al: Ps 112 (.1a); Jn 5.1-29 |
| Now on Saturday of the first and of the middle week there is a Commemoration of all our Fathers the Bishops, and of all those who have been baptized in Christ our Lord. | ||
| Lessons of the Great Week of Unleavened Bread | ||
| In the evening that leads to Sunday, after the evening service | Ps 23 (resp .5a); Jn 12.1-11 | |
| morning service | Ps 95 (resp .6a); Rom 13.10-14.4; Jn 12.12-25 | |
| Lessons for the same Sunday of the Great Week | Pr 1.1-3.26 | Job 26.1-28.28 |
| [two leaves missing] | … [Rom 15.14-33]; Ps 65 (resp .5b); Lk 12.35-50 or Jn 12.12-29 | |
| Tuesday in the Great Week | Pr 6.6-35; Job 31.40b-33.33 or Job 31.7-33.6; Dan 4.4-28; Hos 11.8-end; Jos 5.1-6.21; 1Sam 7.2-8.22; Jer 4.1-5.19; Ezk 4.16-7.9; Isa 63.1-65.7; Gn 4.8-6.4 or Ex 9.22-[hole in ms]; Nu 22.1-21.20; Ps 25 (resp .1) | 1Cor 1.1-4.5; al: Ps 4 (resp .1a); Mt 24.3-14 or Jn 12.34-50 |
| Wednesday in the Great Week | Prov 1.10-2.15 or Prov 8.1-9.12; Job 34.1-37; Dan 4.29-5.7; Joel 1.1-2.22; Jos 6.22-7.26; 1Sam 9.1-10.16ab; Jer 5.20-7.15; Ezk 7.10-9.11; Isa 65.8-66.9; Gen 6.5-7.24 or Ex 10.21-11.10; Nu 35.9-end; Ps 41 (resp .4a) | 1Cor 4.6-6.20; Ps 5 (resp .1a); Jn 15.1-19 |
| And in the evening of this same day, after the evening service | Ps 36 (resp .10a); Mt 26.14-16 or Lk 22.1-6 | |
| Thursday in the Great Week | Pr 10.7-11.2; Job 38.1, .3-39.30; Dan 7.1-28; Hab 1-2; Jos 8.30-10.14 or Jos 23.1b-end; Jer 9.23-10.25; 1Sam 10.17-12.25; Ezk 20.30-21.7; Isa 61.1-9 or Isa40.1-41.16; Gen 37.1-36; Ex 12.1-28; Num 9.1-23; Ps 55 (resp .21b) | Ac 1.15-20; 1Cor 11.17-34(sic); al: Ps 23 (resp .5a); Mt 26.17-35 |
| Lesson read on the evening of Thursday itself as it dawns into Friday, after the Supper, in the first service; at the beginning of this service they say this respond: “My enemies have said evil against me” (Ps 41.5a) | Jn 13.31b-14.31 | |
| Lesson at the end of the same service | Ps 109 (resp .4a); Lk 22.39-44 | |
| [Friday of Great Week] | ||
| Lesson, night, at the beginning of the service [at midnight] | Ps 55 (resp .21b); Mt 26.36-75 | |
| Lesson at the end of the same service of midnight | Ps 35 (resp .8a); Jn 18.2-19.14a | |
| Morning of Friday, after morning service | Ps 35 (resp .11); Gal 6.14-end; Lk 22.66-23.25 | |
| At the end of the 9am [third hour] service | Ps 41 (resp .9b); Php 1.28b(29)-2.11; Mt 27.3-26 | |
| At the beginning of the midday service [sixth hour] | Ps 69 (resp .21a); 1Cor 1.18-31; Mk 15.16-23 | |
| From midday Friday to 3pm [ninth hour] | Pr 13.14-15.8; Job 40.1-42.6; Dan 9.1-19; Am 8.9-9.6 or Jon 1.1-17; Jos 22.1-20; Jgs 15.9-20; 1Sam 26.1-27.4; 2Ki 5.1-19, 6.1-7; Jer 37.12-38.6; Ezk 21.8-32; Isa 52.13-53.12; Gen 22.1-19, or 40.1-23 or Ex 12.29-42; Num 16.1-35 | Eph 2.11-3.21; Ps 31 (resp .4b, 5a) or Ps 69 (resp .20a) Lk 23.27-49 |
| At the end of the 3pm service | Ps 22 (resp .18a); Heb 2.9-3.6a; Jn 19.31-37 | |
| At the evening service | Zech 12.11-14.9a; Jer 11.18-12.8; Isa 53.1-12 | Heb 9.11-28; Ps 88 (resp .5a); Mt 27.57-61 |
| Saturday of Great Week | Pr 17.10-18.20; Job 2.11-3.26; Dan 9.1-27 or 9.20-10.3; Jn 1.1-17a; Jos 22.21-23.1a; 2Sam 1.1-27; 2Ki 20.1-21; Jer 38.7-39.2; Ezk 11.1-25; Isa 63.1-10; Gen 42.3-43.14 or Gen 40.1-23; Ps 88 (resp .6a) | 1Cor 1.1-31 or Col 1.3-2.5; Ps 49 (resp .15a); Mt 27.62-66 |
| Saturday evening, when it dawns into Sunday, at the moment of the ablution | Ps 51 (resp .2a); Heb 10.19-39; Jn 13.3-16 | |
| Saturday Evening, when it dawns into the Sunday of the Resurrection of our Lord | Pr 30.1-14, 31.1-end; Job 27.1-28.28; Dan 3.23 (Song 2-68)-4.3; Jon 1.17b-end; Jos 2.1-24; 2Sam 24.1-end; 2Ki 2.1-15a or 2Ki 4.8-37; Jer 16.16-17.13; Ezk 37.15-28; Isa 52.1-10 or Isa 60.1-22; Gen 22.1-19; Ex 12.51-14.26; Ps 30 (resp .3a) | 1Cor 15.1-26 or Eph 1.1-2.22; al: Ps 93; Mt 28.1-7b |
| Sunday Morning | Before Ps 133 “Praise ye, his servants”: Isa 60.1-7; Ps 3 (resp .5a) or Ps 98 (resp .2a) or Ps 93 (no response) | Lk 24.1-12; Ps 133 (resp .1a); At the end of the same service Mk 16.2-end |
| The Great Sunday of the Resurrection of our Lord, in the day | Pr 9.1-10.26; Job 42.7-end; Dan 6.25-28; Joel 2.21-29; Jos 3.1-4.14a; Jgs 6.11-40; 1Sam 2.1-10 or 1Sam 17.1-51a; 1Ki 3.3-4.1; Jer 31.2-14 or Jer 9.23b-10.16; Ezk 37.1-14; Isa 54.1-55.3 or Isa 61.10-62.9; Gen 8.1-9.7 or Gen 43.15-45.13a; Ps 65 (resp .1a) | Ac 2.22-43; Eph 2.19-3.21 or Heb 1.1-2.8; al: Ps 147; Jn 20.1-18 |
| after the evening service on Sunday | Jn 20.19-25 | |
| Monday in the Week of Rest, the Commemoration of Saint John the Baptist | Pr 22.28-23.16; Job 25.1-26.14; Dan 12.4-13; Mal 2.17-end; Jgs 11.12-40; 1Sam 20.35-22.1; 1Ki 19.1-18; Jer 35.1-16; Ezk 33.7-33; Isa 40.1-26; Gen 41.38-42.2; Ps 79 (resp .10b) | Ac 13.13-43; 2Tim 3.16-end; al: Ps 57; Mt 14.1-12 or Mk 6.14-29 |
| Tuesday in the Week of Rest, the Commemoration of Apostles Peter and Paul | Dan 4.1-17; Zech 2.10-3.10; Jgs 5.1-31; 1Sam 26.1-25; 1Ki 18.21-40; Jer 16.16-17.10; Ezk 3.10-27; Isa 52.1-12; Gen 28.10-22; Ps 19 (resp .4a) or Ps 33 (resp .1a) | Ac 9.1-35; Gal 1.11-2.21; Hypomnemata of Simon Peter and of Paul; al: Ps 47; Mt 16.13-18.18 or Jn 21.15b-19a |
| Lessons read in the commemoration of the holy apostles [Wednesday in the Week of Rest] | Pr 15.20-16.32; Job 27.1-28.28; Dan 10.1-11.1a; Am 9.1-end; Jos 6.5(6)-25; 1Sam 16.1-13a; 2Ki 6.8-23; Jer 16.14-17.18; Ezk 47.1-23; Isa 40.8-41.9; Gen 27.1-29; Ps 19 (resp .4a) | Ac 2.43b-4.4; Rom 10.1-11.4 or 1Cor 12.1-14.25; al: Ps 95; Mt 9.36-10.15 or Jn 1.35-51 |
| Thursday in the Week of Rest, the Commemoration of Bishops | Pr 19.16-20.15; Job 9.1-32; Sir 44.1-49.16; Dan 5.1-17; Obadiah (all); Jos 24.1-18; 1Sam 30.6b-25; 2Ki 13.10-21; Jer 18.1-23; Ezk 34.11-31; Isa 36.1-21; Dt 33.1-end; Ps 115 [=116 Heb] (resp .15) | Ac 9.36-10.23a; Heb 11.1-22; al: Ps 15; Mt 5.1-16 or Lk 8.40-56 |
| Friday in the Week of Rest | Pr 25.2-26.5a(sic); Job 9.1-10.22; Dan 8.1-19; Hag 1.1-2.15; Jgs 9.1-22; 2Sam 7.1-29; 1Ki 20.13-43; Jer 2.4-32; Ezk 18.1-32; Isa 26.16-27.13; Ps 67 (resp .1a) | Ac 21.26-22.29 or Ac 21.27(sic); 1Tim 1.1-2.15; al: Ps 112 (resp .1a); Lk 18.35-19.10 |
| Saturday in the Week of Rest, the Commemoration of Saint Stephen | Pr 26.6-28.1; Job 12.1-14.6; Dan 3.23 + [PrAz 2-22]; Hag 2.6-end; Jgs 9.23-57; 1Sam 22.5-23.18; 1Ki 21.1-27; Jer 26.1-24; Ezk 19.1-20.26; Isa 43.16-44.20; Dt 9.13-10.5; Ps 96 (resp .2b) | Ac 6.8-8.2; 2Tim 2.22-3.15; al: Ps 59 (resp .1a); Jn 15.8-25 or Jn 15.2 (sic) |
| Sunday after the Week of Rest | ||
| after the morning services | Ps 89 (resp .7a); 1Pt 1.13-2.10; Rom 5.6-6.23; Jn 20.26-21.14 | |
| lessons for midday | Ps 149 (resp .1); 1Jn 2.12-4.6; 1Cor 11.23-12.27; al: Ps 96; Jn 1.1-34 | |
| Ascension of our Lord unto His glorious Father | Prov 15.20-16.24a or Prov 11.1-12.5; Job 22.1-30 or Job 23.1-24.25; Dan 7.7-18; Hos 12.9(10)-end or Hag 1.13-end; Jgs 6.1-24 or Jgs 13.2-21; 2Sam 6.1-23 or 2Sam 21.1-14; 2Ki 2.1-18; Jer 30.18-31.14; Ezk 1.1-28ab, 3.12-15ab; Isa 49.1-23 or Isa 35.3-10; Ex 13.19-14.31; Dt 5.6-6.9; Ps 47 (resp .5) | Ac 1.1-11; 1Tim 1.18-3.16; al: Ps 24 (resp .1); Lk 24.36-end |
| Sunday of the completion of Pentecost | Job 32.6-33.6; Dan 1.1-21; Joel 2.21-32; Jgs 13.2-25; 1Sam 16.1-13ab; Jer 31.27-37; Isa 48.12-49.13; Gen 11.1-9; Ex 19.1-20.17; Ps 47 (resp .8a) | Ac 2.1-21; 1Cor 12.1-27; al: Ps 93 (resp .1a); Jn 14.15-27 |
| Lessons when a man is tonsured to be a Bar Kyā mā | Ps 25 (resp .4a); Isa 35.3-10 | 1Pt 1.3-2.5; Col 3.1-17 or Tit 2.11-3.7; al: Ps 103 (resp .1a); Mt 10.24-39 or Mt 19.27-20.16 or Lk 14.25-15.10 |
| Lessons for the Commemoration of Martyrs | Pr 1.10-2.22; Job 1.1-2.10; Dan 3.1-23 + [PrAz 1]; Jon 1.1-2.10; Jgs 11.30-12.7; 1Sam 17.31-58; 1Ki 13.1-32; Jer 37.12-21; Ezk 3.22-5.6; Isa 44.6-20; Gen 22.1-19; Ps 44 (resp .22a) | Ac 6.8-7.2 or Ac 12.1-17; Rom 8.28-9.5; al: Ps 123 [=124 Heb] (resp .1a); Mt 10.16-39 |
| Lessons for the Commemoration of Martyrs | Ps 15.27-16.32; Sir 44.1-45.26; Dan 5.31-6.24; Jos 22.21-29; Jer 38.14-28; Gen 4.1-16; Ps 101 (resp .1a); | Ac 5.17-42; Heb 11.32-12.2; al: Ps 105 (resp .1a); Mt 10.34-11.15 |
| Lessons for the Commemoration of Bishops | Pr 8.10-9.9; Job 14.7-15.35; Dan 12.1-13; Joel 1.1-end; Jos 23.1b-24.8; 1Sam 11.14-12.25; 1Ki 17.1-24; Jer 12.1-13.27; Ezk 11.22-12.20; Isa 50.8b-51.16; Gn 49.28-end; Ps 81 (resp .1a) | Ac 16.5-17.1a; 2Cor 4.7-5.10; al: Ps 103 (resp .1a); Lk 7.1b-17 |
| Again, lessons for the commemoration of our Fathers, the Bishops | Pr 24.1-34; Job 16.1-17.9; Dan 7.21-8.4; Mic 1.1-2.3; Jos 24.9-end; 2Sam 20.4-22; 1Ki 24.51(52)-2Ki 1.17a; Jer 14.1-15.4; Ezk 18.1-32; Isa 38.1-39.8 + 2Ki 20.20, .21; Num 20.23-21.9; Ps 115 [=116 Heb] (resp .15) | Ac 22.22-23.11; 1Cor 15.1-28; al: Ps 46 (resp .1a); Jn 11.1-46 |
| Lessons for the ordination of a Priest | 1Sam 16.1ac-13; Isa 61.1-9; Num 27.15-23; Ps 104 (resp .4a) | Ac 1.15-2.21; 1Tim 1.18-4.16; al: Ps 91 (resp .1a or .15: “Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle?”); Jn 21.15b-end |
| For the dedication of a Holy Church | Ps 84 (resp .3b, .4a: “My King and my God, blessed are they that dwell in thy house”); Heb 9.1-28; al: Ps 147 (resp .12a); Jn 10.22-42 | |
| For the dedication of an altar | Ps 43 (resp .4a); 1Ki 8.1-53 | Heb 12.28-end; al: Ps 26 (resp .1a); Mt 23.12-22 |
| “On the 7th of May, on the day that the Holy Cross was seen in the heavens by blessed Constantine, the believing King, from the third hour of the day to the sixth hour, on this same day therefore was this commemoration of the Holy Cross, and these lessons are read in it:” | Ps 97 (resp .6a); The letter that the bishop of Jerusalem wrote to blessed Constanti (sic),the victorious king [Cyril’s letter to Constantius, 351]; Gal 6.1-end; al: Ps 98 (resp .1a); Mt 24.3-37 |
|
| FIRST LACUNA | ||
| Lessons for Christmas Day | Prov 10.1-16 or Prov 13.1-; Job 16.1-17.6; Dan 2.31- ; ?Mic 4.1-5.9 [Nestorian; Jacobite after 1000ad]; Jos 24.6-27a; Jgs 6.11- ; 1Sam 1.19b- ; Jer 31.2- ; Ezk 17.1- ; Isa 7.10-9.7; Gn 18.1-22; Ex 3.1-15; Dt 31.7- ; Ps #? | Ac 13.13-27a, Heb 1.1-2.4, or Gal 4.1-5.10; al: Ps 110;Lk 2.1-20 or Mt 1.18- |
| SECOND LACUNA | ||
| Monday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen 1.1-2.14 or Ex 1.1-2.25; Dt 4.1-22; Job 1.1-2.10; Jos 1.1-2.24 or Jgs 2.1- ; Ps #? | Rom 1.1- ; Mt 4.23- |
| Tuesday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen 2.4(sic, .14?)- or Ex in sequence; Dt ?; Job in sequence;Jos in sequence; Ps #? |
Rom 2.1- ; Mt 6.19- |
| Wednesday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen or Ex in sequence; Job in sequence; Jos 5.1- ; Isa 5.1- ; Ps #? | Rom 3.9- ; Mt 6.19- |
| Thursday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen 4.1- or Ex 6.2- ; Job in sequence; Jos 6.27- ; Ps #? | Rom 4.1- ; Mt 7.28-8.17 |
| Friday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen or Ex in sequence; Job in sequence; Jos 8.1- ; Ps #? | Rom 7.1- ; Mt 8.18-9.8 |
| Saturday of the first week of the Fast of 40 | Gen or Ex in sequence; Job in sequence; Jos or Jgs; Ps #? | Rom 8.18- ; Mt 10.24- |
| Commemoration of the departed | …?…; 2Ki 4.8-37, etc.[see above] | |
| THIRD LACUNA | ||
| Lesson of the same Sunday of the Great Week | Pr 1.1-3.26; Job 26.1-28.28; Dan 2.1- ;Zech 9.9-16; …; …; 1Sam 2.27- ; Jer 1.1- ; Ezk 1.1- ; Isa 55.4- ; Gen…; Ex 7.19- ; Dt?; Ps #? | 1Pt 1.1-16; Rom 11.13-; al: Ps #?; Lk 19.28- or Mt 21.1- or Mk 11.1- or Jn 12.12- |
| Monday in the Great Week | Pr in sequence [3.27-6.5]; Job…; Dan 8.1- ; Hos ? ; Jos…; 1Sam…; Jer…; Ezk 3.4-4.15; Isa…; Gn 2.15-4.7 or Ex 8.20-9.21; Num?; Ps #? | Rom 15.14-33; al: Ps 65; Lk 12.35-50 or Jn 12.12-25 |