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St. Isaac the Syrian Trivia Quiz

St. Isaac was a theologian whose works remained popular through the centuries. Try this quiz about his life.

A multiple-choice quiz by neon000. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
neon000

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
260,903

Updated
Feb 26 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
301

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In the seventh century, national borders were different from what they are today. St. Isaac was born in which of the following? Hint

Kuwait

Qatar

Egypt

Jordan

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Question 2 of 10

2. What did St. Isaac and his brother do at an early age? Hint

Enter a monastery.

Go to university.

Join the military.

Open a business.

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 676, St. Isaac was appointed the bishop of what city? Hint

Thessaloniki

Jerusalem

Limassol

Nineveh

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Question 4 of 10

4. What happened to St. Isaac just five months after he assumed office as bishop? Hint

He abdicated the position.

He inherited a fortune from his uncle.

He became ill and a substitute was appointed.

His brother died.

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Question 5 of 10

5. St. Isaac began work on a body of writing which would become widely revered throughout Christendom. What type(s) of writing did this include? Hint

A catechism for those converted from other faiths

Novels and plays

Prayers and instructional essays

History textbooks

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Question 6 of 10

6. By what condition was St. Isaac affected as the years went on? Hint

Rheumatism

Deafness

Cancer

Impaired vision

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Question 7 of 10

7. What did St. Isaac say a person should see as "a spiritual gift from God"? Hint

To live to see 100 years of age.

To perceive his sins.

To be able to read the entire Bible in under a year.

To have many grandchildren.

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Question 8 of 10

8. St. Isaac was the author of a prayer commonly used in Orthodox services. What phrase opens this prayer? Hint

"Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies..."

"O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of idleness..."

"O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth..."

"O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings..."

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the 1980s, a monastery was built in St. Isaac's memory. Where was it built? Hint

Gibraltar

Crete

Ontario

Wisconsin

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Question 10 of 10

10. On what day is St. Isaac commemorated in the Orthodox Church? Hint

December 2

March 10

August 14

January 28

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the seventh century, national borders were different from what they are today. St. Isaac was born in which of the following?

Answer: Qatar

Although he came to be called "the Syrian," St. Isaac was born in what would today be the country of Qatar. It is in the southeast Arabian Peninsula.

2. What did St. Isaac and his brother do at an early age?

Answer: Enter a monastery.

In the 600s, several countries in the Middle East were predominantly Christian. This was prior to the schism between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, in the 11th century.

3. In 676, St. Isaac was appointed the bishop of what city?

Answer: Nineveh

Nineveh was once the capital of Assyria. It was known in the Bible as the place to which the prophet Jonah was reluctant to travel.

4. What happened to St. Isaac just five months after he assumed office as bishop?

Answer: He abdicated the position.

St. Isaac voluntarily stepped down from the episcopacy. He moved into the desert, to take up the life of a monk.

5. St. Isaac began work on a body of writing which would become widely revered throughout Christendom. What type(s) of writing did this include?

Answer: Prayers and instructional essays

St. Isaac addressed the subjects of humility and accepting the will of God despite suffering. He wrote prayers that are still in use in Orthodox services.

6. By what condition was St. Isaac affected as the years went on?

Answer: Impaired vision

Over the years, St. Isaac's eyesight diminished. This is one of the reasons he moved from seclusion back to a monastery, toward the end of his life.

7. What did St. Isaac say a person should see as "a spiritual gift from God"?

Answer: To perceive his sins.

St. Isaac wrote about repentance and how to not see oneself as better than others. He urged people not to seek redress, even if they thought the other person was wrong. Being modest and correcting one's own faults was better than looking for restitution.

8. St. Isaac was the author of a prayer commonly used in Orthodox services. What phrase opens this prayer?

Answer: "O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth..."

St. Isaac's prayer is used in what are today called the Trisagion Prayers. Trisagion comes from Greek words meaning "thrice holy."

9. In the 1980s, a monastery was built in St. Isaac's memory. Where was it built?

Answer: Wisconsin

St. Isaac's is in Boscobel, Wisconsin. It was founded in April 1987.

10. On what day is St. Isaac commemorated in the Orthodox Church?

Answer: January 28

There is another saint named Isaac the Syrian in the Orthodox Church. However, *that* St. Isaac was the abbot of Spoleto, in central Italy, and his feast is celebrated April 12.

Source: Author neon000

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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