Shemon Bar Sabbae
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae was the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and the de facto head of the Church of the East. He is revered as a saint for his martyrdom during the persecutions of Shapur II against Christians in the Sasanian Empire.
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Persia
Key Facts
- ›He served as the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and head of the Church of the East until his death.
- ›He was executed along with many followers during the persecutions of Shapur II.
- ›His name means "son of the dyers" in Syriac.
- ›He was accused of being a friend of the Roman emperor and maintaining secret correspondence.
- ›He refused to convert to Zoroastrianism, leading to his beheading.
- ›Thousands of Christians, including bishops and priests, were executed with him.
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae, Shemʿon bar Ṣabbaʿe
Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Greek Catholic Churches, Assyrian Church of the East
About Shemon Bar Sabbae
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae (died Good Friday, 345) was a significant religious leader in the 4th century, serving as the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and the de facto head of the Church of the East. His life and death are deeply intertwined with the historical context of Christian persecution within the Sasanian Empire.
Life and Historical Context
Born the son of a fuller, Shimun Bar Sabbae's name itself, Shemʿon bar Ṣabbaʿe, translates from Syriac to "son of the dyers." He became the coadjutor bishop in Seleucia-Ctesiphon in 316, succeeding Papa bar Gaggai. During his tenure, he faced accusations of being friendly with and maintaining secret correspondence with the Roman emperor. These accusations, coupled with the suspicion that he had converted Shapur II's mother, Ifra Hormizid, to Christianity, led to severe repercussions.
Martyrdom
Shapur II, the king of the Sasanian Empire, ordered the execution of all Christian priests. Shimun Bar Sabbae refused to convert to Zoroastrianism, a stance that led to his own execution by beheading. He was not alone in his martyrdom; several thousand Christians, including bishops, priests, and the faithful, were executed alongside him. The exact numbers of those killed vary in historical accounts, with some historians suggesting figures ranging from 1150 or 100 companions to as high as 16,000 or even 200,000 Christians.
Veneration
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae is revered as a saint in various Christian communions. He is remembered for his steadfastness in faith during a period of intense persecution. His martyrdom is recorded in the Persian martyr acts, and he is commemorated on different feast days across different traditions, including April 17th in the Roman Rite, Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Greek Catholic Churches, and the Friday after Easter in the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae?
Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae was the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and the de facto head of the Church of the East. He served in this capacity in the Sasanian Empire until his death.
Why is Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae revered as a saint?
He is revered as a saint because he was executed along with many of his followers during the persecutions of Christians by Shapur II. He refused to convert to Zoroastrianism, leading to his martyrdom.
What does the name "Bar Sabbae" mean?
In Syriac, the native tongue of Mar Shimun Bar Sabbae, "bar" translates to "son of." "Ṣabbā’ē" means "dyers," so his name means "son of the dyers."
When and where did he die?
He died on Good Friday in 345 in the Sasanian Empire. He was beheaded along with thousands of Christians.
How is he commemorated?
He is commemorated as a saint in various Christian communions, including the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Greek Catholic Churches, and the Assyrian Church of the East, with different feast days.
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