Narsai

Also: Narses, Narsai of Nisibis, Narsai the Great

Born perhaps in 399, probably in ʿAin Dulba (Maʿalta), near Duhok, Iraq, site not known. Died probably between 502 and 503, probably in Nisibis (now Nusaybin, Turkey).

The chief poet and teacher of the Church of the East, head of the school of Edessa and then founder of the school of Nisibis.

Wrote in Syriac.

Places lived

422 to 471Edessa (now Şanlıurfa, Turkey)teacheryears not sure, place probable
471 to 502Nisibis (now Nusaybin, Turkey)teacheryears probable, place probable

Works

1 work, in the order they were written. 1 work can be read here.

Liturgical Homilies (17, 21, 22 and 32)between about 437 and 502 · place not known · homilyFour verse homilies that explain the eucharist, baptism and the priesthood of the East Syrian church.13,551 words

How we know the dates and places

Born not sure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai (about 399, from the Chronicle of Barhadbeshabba)
Place of birth probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai
Died probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai: alive in 496 (Statutes of the School of Nisibis); died early in the sixth century
Place of death probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai; site: https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/874623
Edessa, years not sure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai: ten years a student, a teacher again from about 437, then head of the school; he left perhaps in 471
Some scholars put his flight from Edessa in 457.
Edessa, place probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai; site: https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/658457
Nisibis, years probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai
Nisibis, place probable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai; site: https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/874623