Elias (or Elijah, Syriac: ܐܠܝܐ, Eliya; died after 659) was the metropolitan bishop of Merv in the Church of the East.
[4] Elias wrote a short church history, described by ʿAbdishoʿ bar Brikha around 1300 as comprising a single book.
[1][6][7] Elias's high standing in the church would have given him access to official records and possibly also to court gossip.
Pierre Nautin argued that this history was in fact the Chronicle of Khuzestan, with additions made by an associate after Elias's death, including the account of the conversion of the Turks.
[1][8] According to ʿAbdishoʿ, Elias also wrote antiphons, consolations, a commentary on the gospel readings and an account of the origins (ʿeltā) of the responsive prayers at nocturns.