 The Emir, however, was unconvinced by the patriarch and demanded translations of the Gospels into Arabic to confirm John's beliefs, which according to the Chronicle of Michael the Syrian was the first translation of the Gospels into Arabic.John administered the Syriac Orthodox Church until his death in 648 and was buried in the city of Amida.John is well known for his composition of versified prayers, known as "sedres" or "husoyos", that were integrated into the liturgy and for this reason he is known as "of the Sedre".