Chronicle of Seert

Chonicle of Seert

Author	Anonymous

The Chronicle of Seert (or Siirt) is an anonymously authored historiographic text written by the Nestorian Church in Persia and the Middle East, possibly as early as the 9th century AD.

The text deals with ecclesiastical, social, and political issues of the Persian Christian church giving a history of its leaders and notable members. It details the growth and prospering of the Nestorian Church despite alternating periods of persecution and toleration under the Zoroastrian rulers of Sassanid Persia, then celebrates the triumph of the Muslim conquerors in the 8th century as liberators from increasing Zoroastrian oppression.

"The Arabs treated them with generosity and by the grace of God (may He be exalted) prosperity reigned and the hearts of Christians rejoiced at the ascendancy of the Arabs. May God affirm and make it triumphant!"

Internal evidence of the text suggests that it was written after either 828 or 1228 AD. In its present state the portion of the text that would have described events beyond the middle of the Seventh Century is lost.

References

• Moffet, Samuel Hugh, "A History of Christianity in Asia", Orbis Books; 2nd edition (April 1998) ISBN 1-57075-162-5