He was born in Shaqlāwa of the Sher family. In 1876 he joined theMonastery of Rabban Hormizd, became a monk in 1879, and was named Elias. He was ordained priest in 1895.
He composed in Syriac a history of the Chald. patriarchs fromYoḥannan Sullaqa onward (ms.) which was later translated into Arabic by ʿAzīz Buṭros ofAlqosh under the titleKitāb al-ruʿā ‘The book of shepherds’ (1952). He also composed a collection of 30 poems and anthems, following the tradition of al-Ḥarīrī, and titled itSurisiqā ‘young bird without feathers’ which was his childhood nickname (ms.).
George A. Kiraz
