Patriarch and Syriac scholar Ignatius Ephrem II Rahmani here presents the first edition of the martyrdom stories of Guria and Shmona in Syriac, who were killed during the Diocletian persecution. Rahmani discovered the work, written by Theophilus of Edessa, in a 15th century manuscript from St. Mark’s Monastery in Jerusalem, and publishes the text with a Latin translation. Greek and Armenian versions are also extant and Rahmani especially notes the latter in his comments to the translation. His introduction discusses Theophilus, the narrative itself about Guria and Shmona, the time of their martyrdom, the description of Edessa, and Christianity in Edessa, all investigated with a specific eye to the text published and translated here. All readers interested in hagiography and martyrdom, particularly of an early period, will find this an important volume.

• Acta Sanctorum Confessorum Guriae et Shamonae Exarata Syriaca Lingua a Theophilo Edesseno (page 5)