Meqabyan, also referred to as Ethiopian Maccabees or Ethiopic Maccabees (Amharic: መቃብያን, which is also transliterated as Makabian), are three books found only in the Ethiopian Orthodox Old Testament and Beta Israel Mäṣḥafä Kedus Biblical canon. These books are completely different in content and subject from the more commonly found books of Maccabees in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles. The account of the Maccabees described in these sacred texts are not those of the advent of political dealings of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea, nor are they an account of the Five Holy Maccabean Martyrs, or the woman with seven sons, who were also referred to as Maccabees and are revered throughout Orthodoxy as the Holy Maccabean Martyrs. The Maccabees who are referenced do not correspond to known martyrology and their identity is never full clarified by the ancient author. However, they do assume the familiar moniker of being a Maccabee, the etymological origins of which remain disputed.

The Vision of Theophilus is an apocryphal work that enjoyed great popularity in Late Antiquity and in the Middle Ages [wrongly attributed to the Patriarch Theophilus (385-412 CE)]. The original text, now lost, was composed in Coptic, but versions have survived in Syriac, Arabic and Ethiopic.

This four part volume is taken from Ethiopian texts regarding the life and journeys of St. Thomas the Apostle. It recounts his encounter with the Indo-Parthian king, Gondaphares, and his various travels through what is now Afghanistan. It parallels other related texts, such as the various hagiographies of St. Thomas and his various journeys. This translation by M.R. James is the most extent of any such text relating to the apostle's life and ultimate fate.

This second volume of the Book of Ethiopian Maccabees is shorter than the first. Moreover, it appears to be composed at a different time and by a different person, likely during the high medieval period around the 1450's. It again attempts to recount the events of the Maccabee revolt, but with various confabulations in the series of events. In this version a man name Maccabeus makes war against Israel, as a punishment for their transgressions.

This is a collection of the five primary and canonical councils that were held by the Church of the East in Sassanian Mesopotamia in an effort to establish the Christology of the church, as well as its relationship to the Church of the Roman Empire. There are five councils in total, all presides over by the reigning patriarch at the time. These doctrines include the consolidation of power at the capital at Seleucia-Ctesiphon, creating uniformity of the bishops of the church, and establishing the episcopal autonomy of the church from its western counterpart.

This is a collection of eleven relatively brief documents, mostly of papal origin, which deal with the establishment of the church in Scandinavia. They deal with the establishment of the mission at Hamburg, under Imperial protection, and the attempt to extend this mission diocese into the untamed lands of Sweden and Denmark. While the Christianization of the Nordic countries begins under this period, it will not be fully realized for another century when the centralized monarchies of these nations adopted the cross and accepted baptism themselves.

This work contains several ancient liturgical fragments from the Irish, Cornish, Welsh, and Scottish traditions, dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries. It includes prayers and invocations to saints such as St. Germain, St. David, St. Thelyao, and St. Teilao, emphasizing themes of mercy, intercession, and the desire for spiritual and physical healing. The texts reflect the historical context of Christian worship and the significance of these saints in their respective liturgies, illustrating their roles in guiding the faithful towards divine grace.

The Russian work is a blend of a fantastical account of a kingdom ruled by the mythical King Prester John, who governs over diverse and extraordinary creatures, and the legendary tale of Saint George. In the latter, a city plagued by a monstrous serpent leads its citizens to sacrifice their children to appease the beast. Saint George intervenes, displaying his faith and courage, ultimately slaying the serpent and converting the city to Christianity. The narrative emphasizes the power of faith, the importance of sacrifice, and the miracles attributed to Saint George, culminating in the establishment of a church in his honor.

In these letters to the Maronite bishops, Pope Innocent III and Innocent IV emphasizes the importance of unity within the Catholic Church, urging the bishops to recognize the Pope as the Vicar of Christ and to adhere to Roman doctrines. The Pope recalls a prior commitment made by the Maronite leaders to uphold obedience to the Apostolic See. He outlines specific liturgical practices and beliefs that must be observed, including the proper understanding of the Holy Spirit's procession, baptismal rites, and the administration of sacraments. The letter concludes with a promise of protection from the Pope and a directive to align more closely with Roman customs.

This document is an ancient transcription for the Mass dedicated to St. Pelagius, a martyr recognized for his faith and sacrifice. It includes prayers invoking God's presence, readings from scripture emphasizing faithfulness and divine protection, and reflections on the life and virtues of St. Pelagius. The fragmentary work encourages the faithful to seek intercession from the saint, renounce worldly temptations, and strive for righteousness, celebrating the martyr's enduring glory and the hope of eternal life through Christ.

The collection of 11th century texts includes a series of letters highlighting the plight of Christians under Turkish oppression and the call for a crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. Emperor Alexius I Komnenos appeals to Count Robert of Flanders for military assistance, detailing the atrocities faced by Christians. Pope Urban II urges the faithful in Flanders to join the cause, promising spiritual rewards for those who participate. Additionally, Count Stephen of Chartres shares his experiences during the campaign, including victories and the challenges faced by the crusaders. The letters reflect the fervent religious zeal and communal effort to restore Christian dominance in the Holy Land. These letters and charters are a representative snapshot of mindset of the crusaders as they were actively making their way through Asia Minor and into the Levant.

The apostle Bartholomew is long remembered for the gruesome nature of his martyrdom. It is an image popularized by Renaissance art, and famed for its brutality. However, the legends that surrounds the life, ministry, and death of this apostle are varied. All accounts name Armenia as the region of his death, and as the founder of the church in that nation. Yet, there is still considerable mystery to his activity. This text contains three different account regarding his life, all from different time periods and cultures. The Greek account grants few details, and was likely composed in North Mesopotamia by a Nestorian author in the 6th century. The Arabic account if likely from the 7th or 8th century and is also terse. The Armenian account is the version that is by far the most complete and detailed. It is here published in its unabridged form in English for the first time.

This work is a compilation of four relatively brief works about the establishment of the Swedish church during the height of the medieval period. These include: Chronicle of the Bishops of Finland, Chronicle of the Bishops and Archbishops of the Church of Uppsala, Swedish Chronicle of the First Archbishops of the Church of Uppsala, the legend of St. Helen of Schedviensis. All of these works are compositions of the Catholic church in Sweden and recount the episcopal foundation of the modern Church of Sweden, and the re-established Catholic diocese within the kingdom of Sweden.

The medieval Russian church was reformed during the early 13th century following the mongol invasion. This is a brief catalogue of twelve letters regarding issues of regional heresy and episcopal jurisdiction. The latter works do make reference to the power of the parochial Russian rulers and their relationship to the orthodox church.

A short treatise given by the master of this Coptic monastery to his pupil and peers. St. Isaiah offers some advise about maintaining a discipline psychology and a clear rejection of the material world.

A short genealogical volume on the history of the Irish clan known as Curtin, or MacCurtain, or Macartan, from the earliest known period in the 11th century under its founder Artan, Crown Prince of Ulster, to the various lines of descent in the 18th and 19th century.

Here, in fragmentary form, is one of the surviving Georgian Synxarium of the medieval period. The author appears to date to the late 10th century, but appears to draw upon early Greek sources. It was discovered as an incomplete text in one of the libraries of St. Athos. Only 11 of its 63 entries are complete, as the document itself appears to be missing large sections of its original content. Its contents focus primarily on martyrdom of Sts. Peter, Paul, and Stephen.

This is the first volume of the book of Armenian saints for the month of Navasard. Each entry contains the account and hagiography about a saint that is sentinel to the Armenian Apostolic Church. For the month of Navasard specifically, emphasis is placed on St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Bartholomew, the alleged founder of the ancient church, and various Imperial martyrs that faced their death during the height of the Diocletian persecution.

This is a short library of the surviving letters of the early Irish church, consisting of works by: St. Patrick. St. Columba, St. Gall, St. Lawrence of Canterbury, and St. Cummanius. It represents a rare snapshot of the early Celtic church prior to the Synod of Whitby, bringing Celtic Christianity into canonical union with the See of Rome.

This is a collection of the ecclesiastical letters of the Medieval Irish church during the dark ages and early middle ages. These include works between the Irish church and Popes, correspondence between English and Scottish churchmen, as well as interactions between Catholic clergy and various Irish kings.