Babowai
Babowai | |
|---|---|
| Catholicos-Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon | |
| Installed | 457 |
| Term ended | 484 |
| Predecessor | Dadisho |
| Successor | Acacius |
| Personal details | |
| Denomination | Church of the East |
Babowai (also Babaeus or Mar Babwahi) (died 484) was
Sassanid King Peroz I. Babowai was known for his pro-Byzantine leanings, for which he was often in conflict with other members of the anti-Byzantine Church of the East
. He was executed in 484.
Babowai was known as a learned philosopher. He was also a convert from
Nisibis, though this was not unusual as Babowai was known to be in conflict with many others as well, be they authorities, colleagues, or subordinates.[1]
He was known to discipline bishops in his church, and whether right or wrong, some of these bishops would flee to Barsauma for his support.
The root of the conflict with Barsauma may have been due to a major issue at the time, that of whether members of the clergy should be
Shah-in-Shah
(King Peroz) to avert persecution, Barsauma somehow managed to intercept the message, even though it had been hidden in the hollow of a cane. Within the letter, Babowai had used some imprudent language such as, "God has given us over to an accursed kingdom." Barsauma took advantage of this, and showed the letter to King Peroz, who was understandably furious. Peroz confronted Babowai, who admitted to the letter, and Peroz sentenced Babowai to death. For this, he is regarded by some as a martyr.
School
Babowai founded a catechetical school at Seleucia, of which his successor Mar Acacius was the first head. Mar Aba undertook substantial remodeling, and gave the school a library. When the Patriarchate was transferred to Baghdad in the 9th century, the school followed it.[2]
Notes
- ^ Wigram 1910, p. 151.
- ^ Wigram 1910, p. 238.
Sources
- ISBN 9781134430192.
- ISBN 9780881410563.
- ISBN 9780837080789.
