The first writing of the codex was executed in the early fifth century and was essentially a copy of the oldest translation of the Gospels in the Syriac language, from the third century, now known as the “Old Syriac” or protosyriac. As the Old Syriac translation is preserved in only one other manuscript, and because it differs from the usual, slightly later translation of the New Testament into the Syriac language, known as the “Peshitta”, this manuscript is invaluable for the critical study of the New Testament text. This first fifth century translation also contains the parts referring to the Deeds of Thomas, the Dormition of the Mother of God, and a Greek text attributed to Saint Ephraim. A second over-writing of the codex followed, written by scribe Ioannis Stylites in 779 in northern Syria, and includes a unique collection of the Lives of female saints.
