The Book of Governors by Thomas, Bishop of Marga: Volume II: English Translation

“The Book of Governors” is a monastic history written by Thomas of Marga in the first half of the 9th century A.D. The actual title of the book is “The Book of Excellent Histories and Stories Concerning the Holy Men and Monks who Lived, Generation after Generation, in the Holy Monastery of Beth Abhe”. The author, a monk of Beth Abhe, was chosen to be bishop of Marga and later became Metropolitan of Beth Garmai (S.E. of Kirkuk). The monastery of Beth Abhe was located N.E. of Mosul and was founded at the end of the 6th century A.D. It became an important center for education and produced more than 100 bishops for the Assyrian Church of the East, including several who became Patriarchs. Thomas gives a detailed history of the remarkable members of this community during the first 300 years of its existence as well as narratives of important events in the history of the Assyrian Church during this period. Volume II contains the English translation.