Mar Jacob Baradaeus (d. 578)
Mar Jacob Baradaeus (d. 578) One of the most famous Church Fathers for his godliness and piety, the greatest Apostolic fighter in support of the true faith, he attained the summit of religious and austere asceticism. He was born at Tal Mawzalt, the son of a priest named Theophilus bar Manu. While still young he became a monk at the Monastery of Phsilta in the neighborhood of his homeland. At this monastery he mastered the Syriac and Greek languages and penetrated deeply into religious books and theological science as well as asceticism. In 528, he journeyed to Constantinople, where he was...
Read MoreMar Ahudemeh (d. 575)
Mar Ahudemeh (d. 575) Ahudemeh is the pride of the Church of the East and one of its noblest dignitaries because of his intelligence, knowledge, piety, and support of Orthodoxy. Born at Balad,228 he was consecrated a bishop for the diocese of Baarbaya, situated between Nisibin and Sinjar. In 559, he was elevated by Mar Jacob Baradaeus to the office of the Metropolitan of the lands of the East, and set to work briskly in calling the nomad Arabs who dwelt in that region and in the abodes of Rabia to Christianity. He converted a great number of them to Christianity and built two monasteries and...
Read MoreTHE THREE KINGS, A STAR CHILD, AND UNIVERSAL RELIGION By Nick Gier
THE THREE KINGS, A STAR CHILD, AND UNIVERSAL RELIGION By Nick Gier, Professor Emeritus, University of Idaho (nickgier@roadrunner.com) Read all of his Christmas columns at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/XmasColumns.htm A myth is a tale that tells truth. —anonymous Wait a little while, just under the star! Then if a child comes to you, and if he laughs, if he has golden hair, you’ll know who he is. —St. Exubery’s Little Prince During my 1992 sabbatical in India, I had the great privilege of sharing food and living quarters with “Saint Thomas” monks in Bangalore. These Christians...
Read MoreSimon of Beth Arsham203 (d. 540)
Simon of Beth Arsham203 (d. 540) One of the most eminent church dignitaries who fought for the Orthodox faith, his fame spread at the beginning of the sixth century. His life story was written by John of Ephesus, who conversed with him for a long time and had this to say about him:204 “He (Simon) was a priest well-versed in the science of religion and a habitual reader. He was also a zealous, fluent and keen disputant, who devoted his life to support the Orthodox truth. He opposed the Nestorians and refuted them by his proofs. Also he disputed with the Manicheans, the Marcians and the...
Read MoreJohn bar Aphtonya (d. 538)
John bar Aphtonya (d. 538) John bar Aphtonya is unquestionably one of the eminent, eloquent, and noble monks and abbots of Edessa. Generous, and chivalrous, he was born the fifth child among his brothers, shortly after the death of his father. Thus he was raised by his virtuous mother. After receiving some learning, she had him enter the Monastery of St. Thomas in Seleucia while he was still very young, motivated by piety and true faith. At the monastery he was trained in the monastic life and studied religious and logical sciences. The magnanimous and commendable character as well as the...
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