On the biographical information about St. Isaac the Syrian in Greek and Arabic

Part III: Origin of the Arabic life

Abstract

The matter of origin of St. Isaac the Syrian’s Arabic biography written no later than 1278 is discussed in the paper. This is done in the context of his Greek life’s account which was considered in the first part of the work. Despite of the fact that the saint’s Arabic life has been preserved only in manuscripts of monophysite milieu, the assumption of its Orthodox origin (contrary to number of researchers’ opinion) better explains some details of the St. Isaac’s Arabic life as well as the circumstances of its transmission in the manuscripts.