- Shemon Bar Sabbae
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Mar Simeon Barsabae (died Good Friday, 339) was a Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the de facto head of the Church of the East, until his death. He was bishop during the persecutions of King Shapur II of the Sassanid Empire of Persia, and was executed along with many of his followers. He is revered as a saint in various Christian communions.
Biography
Shimoun Barsabae was born the son of a fuller. In 316, he had been named coadjutor bishop of his predecessor, Papa bar Gaggai, in Seleucia-Ctesiphon. He was later accused of being a friend of the Roman Emperor and of maintaining secret correspondence with him. On that basis, Shapur II ordered the execution of all Christian priests. Because he specifically refused to worship the sun, Shimoun was beheaded with several thousands, including bishops, priests, and faithful. These include the priests Abdella (or Abdhaihla), Ananias (Hannanja), Chusdazat (Guhashtazad, Usthazan, or Gothazat), and Pusai (Fusik), Askitrea, the daughter of Pusai, the eunuch Azad (Asatus) and several companions, numbered either 1150 or 100. Sozomain, a historian of the 5th Century maintained tat the numbers registered were 16,000 of the martyrs. Another historian, Al-Masoudy from the 10th century, held that there were killed around 200,000 Christians. They are commemorated on:
- April 21 in the Roman Catholic Church,
- the Friday after Easter in the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East,
- April 14 in the Syrian Church,
- April 17 in the Greek Orthodox Church,
- and April 30 in the Melchite Church.
References
- Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924.
Preceded by
Papa
(c. 280–317)
Vacant
(317–329)Catholicos-Patriarch of the Church of the East
329–341Succeeded by
Shahdost
(341–343)Patriarchs of the Church of the East 1st–4th centuries Addai · Aggai (66–87) · Mari (ob.104) · Abris (121–37) · Abraham (159–71) · Yaʿqob I (c.190) · Ahadabui (204–20) · Shahlufa (220–4) · Papa (c.280–317) · Shemʿon Bar Sabbaʿe (329–41) · Shahdost (341–3) · Barbaʿshmin (343–6) · Tomarsa (363–71) · Qayyoma (377–99)
5th–8th centuries Isaac (399–410) · Ahha (410–14) · Yahballaha I (415–20) · Maʿna (420) · Farbokht (421) · Dadishoʿ (421–56) · Babowai (457–84) · Acacius (485–96) · Babai (497–503) · Shila (503–23) · Elishaʿ (524–37) · Narsai intrusus (524–37) · Paul (539) · Aba I (540–52) · Joseph (552–67) · Ezekiel (570–81) · Ishoʿyahb I (582–95) · Sabrishoʿ I (596–604) · Gregory (605–9) · Ishoʿyahb II (628–45) · Maremmeh (646–9) · Ishoʿyahb III (649–59) · Giwargis I (661–80) · Yohannan I (680–3) · Hnanishoʿ I (686–98) · Yohannan Garba intrusus (691–3) · Sliba-zkha (714–28) · Pethion (731–40) · Aba II (741–51) · Surin (753) · Yaʿqob II (753–73) · Hnanishoʿ II (773–80) · Timothy I (780–823) ·
9th–12th centuries Ishoʿ Bar Nun (823–8) · Giwargis II (828–31) · Sabrishoʿ II (831–5) · Abraham II (837–50) · Theodosius (853–8) · Sargis (860–72) · Israel of Kashkar intrusus (877) · Enosh (877–84) · Yohannan II (884–91) · Yohannan III (893–9) · Yohannan IV (900–05) · Abraham III (906–37) · Emmanuel I (937–60) · Israel (961) · ʿAbdishoʿ I (963–86) · Mari (987–99) · Yohannan V (1000–11) · Yohannan VI (1012–16) · Ishoʿyahb IV (1020–5) · Eliya I (1028–49) · Yohannan VII (1049–57) · Sabrishoʿ III (1064–72) · ʿAbdishoʿ II (1074–90) · Makkikha I (1092–1110) · Eliya II (1111–32) · Bar Sawma (1134–6) · ʿAbdishoʿ III (1139–48) · Ishoʿyahb V (1149–75) · Eliya III (1176–90)
13th–16th centuries Yahballaha II (1190–1222) · Sabrishoʿ IV (1222–4) · Sabrishoʿ V (1226–56) · Makkikha II (1257–65) · Denha I (1265–81) · Yahballaha III (1281–1317) · Timothy II (1318–c.1332) · Denha II (1336/7–1381/2) · Eliya V (1503–4) · Eastern Christianity Portal · Patriarch List
Categories:- 339 deaths
- 4th-century bishops
- 4th-century Christian martyr saints
- Christian martyrs of the Roman era
- Patriarchs of the Church of the East
- Saints of the Assyrian Church of the East
- Assyrian stubs
- Christian biography stubs
- Saint stubs
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