Balai of Qenneshrin
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Balai of Qenneshrin (Died ca 450 A.D.) was a Syriac saint who lived in Qinnasrin in northern Syria during the 5th century. He was originally a native of Edessa who later moved to Qinnasrin after being ordained a monk. A collection of sermons is attributed to him as well as a number of hymns found in the Beth Gazo, a Syriac liturgical book without which clerics belonging to the West Syriac Tradition cannot perform their liturgical duty. The book is considered a reference of Syriac Hymnody and contains a collection of Syriac chants and melodies. The bulk of the hymns are attributed to Ephrem the Syrian, but the origin of Beth Gazo can be traced back to the early centuries of Christianity going as far as 150 A.D.
The below quotes are from Balai of Qenneshrin, Poems (ed. and tr. Zetterstéen, Beiträge zur Kenntnis, D and 17).
Balai of Qenneshrin, Poems (ed. and tr. Zetterstéen, Beiträge zur Kenntnis der religiösen Dichtung Balai’s, 2)
Writings:
- The Book of Hymns (also called the “Sliba” or “Sliba d-Mari”) of Balai: Hymn on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
Quotes and Excerpts:
“O Mother of our Lord, we place our trust in you truly, for your majestic Son listens to you kindly. To you be glory on the day of your mother’s memorial, O Son of God, who strengthens His martyrs. O blessed Mary, come and be the protection of our weakness, that we may live in grace with you through your prayers. O holy ones, be our companions, with mercy. Persevere in prayer and righteousness before God. Help us fervently with prayer, martyrs, and expel the Evil One, for behold, he constantly harms us. Call the departed and raise them by way of command, Son of God, for You are truly the Resurrection. May the commemoration of [Saint] Thomas bring blessings to us, and his prayer be a bulwark to our souls. O departed, tomb-dwellers, be comforted. The Good News is upon you, for Resurrection is standing at the door. Glory be to the Father, who chose Mary among all generations, and worship be to the Son, whose hidden power dwells in the holy ones. The one who has always loved fasting and rejoices in it, their lives are joined to God, and they delight in Him. May the Church worship the Father, who crowned her with the crown of fasting, and may her children give thanks to the Son, who fasted for our sake. Pray on our behalf to your Lord, who is pleased with you, that through your prayer we may rejoice in your gladness. We beseech the martyrs and entreat them earnestly to implore with us the Lord, who crowned them.” – The Book of Hymns (also called the “Sliba” or “Sliba d-Mari”) of Balai: Hymn on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The Liturgical texts of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac (Transliterated):
ʾImmā d-Mārān ʿalaykī hūwā sabrān sharīrāʺīṯ. D-šāmiʿ hūwā lekhī yaldēkhī pāyāʰ b-sīmāʰʺīṯ.
Lākh t-šabḥūṯā b-dūḵrān ʾimmāk lā sābʿāʰʺīṯ. Bār ʾAlōhā d-ḥayēl sāhdoḥyā ʾatlīṭāʺīṯ.
ʾŌw ʾāw b-lēšāmāʰ, ḳūm w-bṭāyibūṯā nēḥēʾ ʿamīḵī b-ṣlāwōṯēkhī.
ʾŌw qaddīšēh hūwāw lan ḥabāreʺ y-ruḥmā. Qūmū b-ṣlawōṯā w-bīḵānūṯā.
Qūmū b-ṣlawōṯā sāhdēh ʿamān ḡanbārāʺīṯ. W-bṭṛūd l-bīšāh d-hā mʾāḵē lan ʾāmīnāʺīṯ.
Qarī la-ʿanīḏēh w-ʾaqīm ʾēnūn fāqūdāʺīṯ. Bār ʾAlōhā d-nūḥāmā ʾant sharīrāʺīṯ.
Dūḵrānēh d-ṯāʿūmāh nēhūwā b-rēḥmā. W-ṣlāwōṯēh ṯāwē.
Šubḥā lā-ʾābā d-ḡabāh l-maryām mīn kul šarbān. W-sagdāṯā lā-bārā d-ḥāylih kasīyā šrē b-qaddīšēh.
Āw ʿīnō d-ʾahbāḥ l-ṣawmā kulzban w-ḥēḏrāh b-hē. Bēh b-ʾAlōhā ʾasrīn ḥayōwēh ʾāp m-ṭābsām.
T-šawgād ʿidthā d-ʾabā d-ḡalīl ḵulil ṣawmā. W-nāwdūn yāldēh le-bārā d-ṣām hōwā maṭlāttān.
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