The following account of Emmanuel's patriarchate is given by
Bar Hebraeus: After the death of the catholicus
Abraham, the bishops gathered together and conspired to consecrate one of their own number catholicus, whoever it might be, rather than some outside monk. But Abu'lhasan, the counsellor of the caliph
al-Radi, sent a messenger to summon a certain Emmanuel, from the monastery of Abba Joseph in the town of
Balad. The bishops, forced to waive their rights, consecrated Emmanuel at
Seleucia in the year 326 [AD 937/8]. Emmanuel was famed for his chastity and continence, reverenced and feared by his people, and strikingly tall and handsome; but he was also avaricious and proud, and had a sharp tongue. The catholicus Emmanuel fulfilled his office for twenty-three years and died on the fourth day of
nisan [April] in the year 349 of the Arabs [AD 960]. == Sources ==