Sources for Ezekiel.27s patriarchate Ezekiel (Nestorian patriarch)

1 sources ezekiel s patriarchate

1.1 chronicle of seert
1.2 mari
1.3 bar hebraeus

sources ezekiel s patriarchate

accounts of ezekiel s reign can found in several nestorian ecclesiastical histories, including anonymous ninth-century chronicle of seert , later histories attributed mari (twelfth-century), ʿamr (fourteenth-century) , sliba (fourteenth-century). ezekiel subject of brief notice in ecclesiastical chronicle of jacobite writer bar hebraeus (floruit 1280). acts of synod held ezekiel in 576 have survived, , have been published j. b. chabot in classic collection of synods of church of east, synodicon orientale.

modern assessments of ezekiel s reign can found in wigram s introduction history of assyrian church, baum , winkler s church of east , wilmshurst s martyred church.

the chronicle of seert

the following detailed account of ezekiel s reign given in chronicle of seert, written in second half of ninth century:

this father disciple of catholicus mar aba , bishop of al-zawabi. after death of joseph, had been stripped of dignity of catholicus, fathers met choose man replace him on patriarchal throne.

the choice fell on doctor ishai, opposed paul, metropolitan of nisibis, , other fathers. preference ezekiel, disciple of mar aba , bishop of al-zawabi, whom had chosen when had assembled depose joseph priestly dignity, , loved , esteemed king khusro anushirwan, had earlier sent him bahrain , yamama bring pearls. archdeacon marozi, surnamed naurozi, informed king of choice , begged him authorise it. on authorisation, fathers gathered , consecrated him patriarch @ al-madaʿin. skilled in secular affairs , versed in sciences, ran affairs , pleased everybody, against him @ time of joseph’s deposition. indulgent towards priests , deacons ordained joseph, contented himself assembling them in front of altar , reciting on them propitiatory prayers, without requiring them ordained second time.

in forty-fifth year of king khusro convoked fathers , established thirty-six canons relating ecclesiastical discipline. made voyage mountain in khusro’s retinue, acted in blameworthy manner towards fathers, whom behaved arrogance.

this father ezekiel, in punishment having mocked many people had slightest flaw in eyes, such whiteness , swelling, , having called virtuous , brave fathers blind, himself struck christ blindness, bitterness had taste 2 years. died in third year of king hormizd, son of anushirwan. held throne eleven years, others twenty years. taken hira , buried there, others buried in al-madaʿin.

mari

the following account of ezekiel s reign given twelfth-century historian mari. although shares common elements account given in chronicle of seert, contains new material:

the patriarch ezekiel disciple of mar aba, , elected patriarch succeed joseph after various disputes among fathers concerning teacher mari, lived in al-madaʿin. king favoured ezekiel, , readily gave consent election. restored order in church. did not degrade joseph s priests rank, corrected them sternly. many men believed mar aba had acted great folly, because had chosen baker, bishop of zabe. shortly afterwards convened synod , founded thirty-nine canons, afterwards treated bishops harshly. when left in train of khusro nisibis, metropolitan bakos gave patriarch honourable welcome, , @ suggestion praised him in speech gave people, exhorting them show filial respect him. ezekiel assumed trying flatter him, , resolved rid himself of him when returned. shortly afterwards, before ezekiel returned siege of dara, bakos made peace christ , departed god. @ time many teachers flourished in nisibis, including ishoʿyahb, abraham son of haddad, , hnana, had 8 hundred disciples. ezekiel in habit of making fun of saw had defect in eyes, himself afflicted flux of humours of eye. died after ruling eleven years, , buried either in al-hira or, others say, in al-madaʿin.

anushirwan died after ravaging raqqa , many regions , caesarea, in revenge devastation romans had wrought in many provinces in own dominions while distracted in repelling enemies. succeeded son hormizd, treated christians great consideration, , used tell magi, whenever consulted him matter, throne did not stand upon 2 legs, , wanted christian people live in peace , quiet, more advantage. used flatter them immoderately, , held patriarch ezekiel in great honour.

bar hebraeus

the following brief account of ezekiel s reign given bar hebraeus, , derived longer account preserved in chronicle of seert:

joseph succeeded ezekiel, disciple of catholicus aba , nephew of catholicus paul (indeed, husband of daughter). favourite of king, , puffed called bishops blind leading blind . himself made blind before end of life.