Barsaum's Histoire (known as al-Lulu al-Manthur in the original Arabic) gives the history of Syriac sciences and literary production from the beginning of Syriac until the twentieth century. He describes manuscripts and material not found in any of the other accounts of Syriac litterature.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphram Barsoum (1887-1957) was born in Iraq and studied many languages, including Syriac, Arabic, French, and Turkish. He taught at the Deir al-Za’faran monastery before being consecrated Bishop of Syria and eventually Patriarch of Antioch. Known as both a churchman and a scholar, he wrote several published works, including the present volume.