Paul Bedjan (1838-1920) was born in Khosrova in Salamas where he was educated at a school established by French Lazarists. At 18, he went to Paris to join the Lazarist order and further his studies. In 1861 he was ordained a priest in the Roman rite although he was a member of the Chaldean Church. After working among his own people in Iran for 12 years, he returned to Europe to pursue a career in editing and publishing books in Syriac and modern Assyrian. Between 1905 and 1910 Bedjan edited five volumes of homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug (c. 451 Ð 521). Educated at the school of Edessa, Jacob became bishop of Batnan in 519. In addition to letters, hymns and expositions, he is reputed to have written 760 homilies in twelve-syllable metre on biblical and general religious themes. BedjanÕs ÒHomiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi SarugensisÓ includes 195 homilies. Volume I Ð Part 1 contains homilies 1-16. The contents of this book is entirely in the Syriac language.