Saint Barbasymas
Saint Barbasymas (also written Barba'semin, Barbasimus, or Barbashmin; died January 14, 346 AD in Seleucia-Ctesiphon, Sasanian Empire [present-day Iraq]) was the Catholicos (supreme bishop) of the Church of the East—the ancient Christian community of the Persian Empire—who was martyred during the great persecution of Christians under the Zoroastrian Persian emperor Shapur II (reigned 309–379 AD). He is one of the most prominent martyrs of the Persian persecution, which was the most severe and prolonged persecution of Christians in the ancient world, lasting approximately forty years and claiming the lives of thousands of Christians including many clergy. His feast day is January 14.
The Persian persecution under Shapur II arose primarily from political causes: after the Roman Empire became Christian under Constantine, Persian Christians were suspected of pro-Roman sympathies, and Shapur levied punishing double taxes on them. When Christians resisted the taxes, the persecution became systematic. Barbasymas, as the head of the entire Church of the East, was among the most prominent targets.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Barbasymas
| Saint Barbasymas | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 14 |
| Profession | Bishop; Catholicos (head of the Church of the East) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Church of the East (Syriac Christianity); Catholicate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; palm branch (martyr) |
| Birthplace | Seleucia-Ctesiphon area, Persian Empire (present-day Iraq) |
| Death Place | Seleucia-Ctesiphon, Persian Empire (present-day near Baghdad, Iraq) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded during the Shapur II persecution |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Barbasymas served as Catholicos of the Church of the East from approximately 343 AD, succeeding Shim'un Bar Sabbae (Simon Bar Sabba'e), who had himself been martyred in the same persecution. The see of the Catholicos was at Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the great twin city on the Tigris that served as the capital of the Sasanian Persian Empire—making the head of the Church of the East a high-profile figure in the Persian imperial capital.
The persecution under Shapur II had begun in earnest around 340 AD, driven partly by Zoroastrian religious pressure from the Persian priestly class and partly by Shapur's political suspicion of Christians as potential allies of Christian Rome. The emperor imposed a punishing double tax on Christians; when the church leaders could not or would not collect it, systematic persecution followed. Shapur's chief minister Adhur-Hormizd directed the persecution with great violence.
Barbasymas was arrested and martyred on January 14, 346 AD. With him died sixteen priests, nine deacons, and many other members of his clergy. He is venerated by the Roman Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Chaldean Catholic Church, as well as in Eastern martyrological traditions.
Significant events
- Became Catholicos of the Church of the East c. 343 AD, succeeding a martyred predecessor.
- Led the Church during the Shapur II persecution.
- Arrested with members of his clergy.
- Martyred January 14, 346 AD at Seleucia-Ctesiphon; feast established on January 14.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Seleucia-Ctesiphon area, Persian Empire (present-day Iraq)
Death location: Seleucia-Ctesiphon, Persian Empire (present-day near Baghdad, Iraq)
Notable location: His episcopal see and the site of his martyrdom (Seleucia-Ctesiphon (near present-day Al-Mada'in, Iraq))
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Canonization
Saint Barbasymas is venerated through the ancient process of universal veneration in the Roman Catholic, Assyrian Church of the East, and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
Feast day
January 14
Veneration
Saint Barbasymas is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on January 14. He is honored as the head of the entire Church of the East who gave his life rather than apostatize during one of the most prolonged persecutions in Christian history. He is particularly venerated in the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, which are the contemporary successors of the ancient Church of the East.
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