Shemon Bar Sabbae

Shemon Bar Sabbae

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
329–341
Succeeded by
Shahdost
(341–343)



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  • Papa (bishop) — Mar Papa (died c. 327/328), also known as Papa bar Aggai,[1] was Bishop of Seleucia Ctesiphon, the capital of Sassanid Persia, in the late 3rd and early 4th century. An important figure in the early history of the Church of the East, he was first …   Wikipedia

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