Jacob of Edessa: Frustrations Among Eucharistic Worship

This paper examines the depiction of the Eucharist in the canons of Jacob of Edessa (ca. 640–708)—a seventh-century Syrian bishop who remains celebrated by the Syriac Orthodox Church today. Jacob’s writings offer unique insights into the life of the non-Chalcedonian church immediately following the Arab conquests and the rise of Islam. While Jacob was notoriously known for his strict leadership and unbending policies throughout his time as bishop, he is remembered today as a gifted linguist and faithful leader. His stringent supervision of the church prompted careful consideration about the role of the Eucharist within the Syriac Orthodox tradition, thereby helping to solidify and define the church’s core beliefs during its early stages of identity formation.