Athanasius IV of Salh

Athanasius IV of Salh was the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 986 until his death in 1002.

Lazarus was born in the tenth century and went on to study and become a monk at the Monastery of Mar Aaron (Syriac: ܥܘܡܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܕܫܓܪ̈ܐ) where he became known for his piety and knowledge.

Lazarus was consecrated as patriarch on 21 October 986 and assumed the name Athanasius. He resided at the Al-Barid Monastery, which he rebuilt. In 1000, he compiled and assigned the lectionaries from both Testaments to be read in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

During his tenure as patriarch, Athanasius ordained thirty-nine metropolitans and bishops as well as the maphrian Ignatius I bar Qiqi, before dying at the Monastery of Mar Barsoum in 1002.