He is Abu al-Faraj of Amid of the Kamra family. He became a monk at the Monastery of Mar Barsoum and studied under Dionysius Maudyono of Gubbas both Syriac and religious sciences. He also studied and mastered the Arabic language, in which he could write skillfully.

Because of the trouble made by Bar Abdun, he humbly refused to accept the call of the Synod to become a patriarch, after nine months the metropolitans forced him with assistance of governor of Militene, sorely against his will he He was consecrated Patriarch of Antioch on Sunday December 1091.

After having ordained sixty-one metropolitans and bishops, died on Saturday June 18, 1129. He was handsome, dignified and venerable, deeply in love with learning. He collected precious books and carried them with him wherever he went. He gave the office of the patriarchate the dignity which is worthy of it.