Isaac of Nineveh lived through the turbulent seventh century, and has left a substantial body of ascetic writings. He belonged to the Church of the East, formerly called ‘Nestorian,’ but owing to the early translation of his works, he was read very widely throughout the Orthodox world. He is a great spiritual writer, and is known for his strong emphasis on God’s love for all creation. The subject of this seminar will be a homily Isaac wrote on the Cross. It is a striking work, in which Isaac describes the Cross as a new Ark and the dwelling place of God’s Shekhina. We will explore some of these ideas, with a particular focus on Isaac’s ecclesial context and his place in the late-Sasanian world.