MOSÈ BAR KEFA

MOSES bar KEFA. — Syriac Jacobite writer, born in Mossul, born in Bálád in 815 and died on 12 Feb. 903.

He was renowned for the abundance and variety of his writings, which deal with exegesis, speculative theology, philosophy, and liturgical themes. A large part of this literary heritage has been lost. Many writings remain unpublished, such as the remnants of the commentaries that M. wrote on almost the entire Bible and three treatises on the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Published instead is the Latin version of a work by M. on Paradise (PG 3, 481, 608) and a book on the soul (O. Braun, M. b. K. und sein Buch von der Seele, Freiburg in Br. 1891, pp. 1-18). M. depends on the Pseudo-Areopagite and on George, bishop of the Arabs.

BIBL.: A. Baumstark, Geschichte der syrischen Literatur, Bonn 1922, pp. 281-282; W. de Vries, Sakramententheologie bei den syrischen Monophysiten, Rome 1940, passim.

Ignazio Ortiz de Urbina