ABSTRACT
Jacob of Serugh lived in a Jewish-influenced environment; he strictly associated Jerusalem with Judaism. The other author, Elijah of Nisibis, lived in the 11th century when the Syriac centre of gravity will have shifted, and Jerusalem is no longer associated with Byzantine rule, but more recently, with Muslim domination. The characteristics of the genre particularise the cultural heritage of Syriac Christianity and render it distinct from other Oriental Christian confessions. Syrians penned their theological treatises both in prose and in verse. To return to Jerusalem in Syriac poetry, we must point out that the author of the text is one of the most important Syriac poets and theologians. It would appear that Jacob of Serugh’s writings were in accordance with the culture of his time. According to the poet, Jerusalem, which represents the Jewish community, did not react to Christ’s message, and did not accept what He brought them.
