Narsai spent ten years as a student at the School of Edessa, and later returned there to teach (c. 437), eventually becoming head of the school. Perhaps in 471, Narsai left Edessa after disagreeing with the city's bishop Cyrus (471–498).
Narsai spent a decade as a pupil at the School of Edessa and later returned to teach there around 437, eventually assuming leadership of the school. He may have left Edessa in 471 due to disagreements with Bishop Cyrus, who governed the city from 471 until his death in 498.