Ecclesiastical Chronicle, Volume 2

PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH: 15TH CENTURY.

Maphrian, Patriarch, Chaleph, Aziz Bar-Sabta, Hemesa, Syria, Tur Abdin, Qartmin, Saura, Basilius, Bar Vahib Baderzache, Maged Ismael

But he became ill and returned to the city of Hemesa Homs, in the region of Syria.
It is unheard of that there should be a Maphrian a high-ranking bishop in the Syriac Orthodox Church in the West and a Patriarch in the East. Meanwhile, shortly after, the Maphrian Bar-Nisan died in Hemesa and was buried there, as he was already an old man burdened by his years.

In the year 1782 of the Greeks 1471 AD, the Patriarch Chaleph called to his side the Patriarch of Tur Abdin, Aziz Bar-Sabta, and the bishop Georgius of Qartmin, and he ordained the holy Rabban monk/teacher John of Saura, for he was his syncellus confidential assistant/aide, his advisor, and the companion of his secrets. He was a distinguished and upright doctor. He ordained the bishop Aziz, the son of his sister, as Maphrian for the East and called him Basilius. The Patriarch himself wished to transmit his throne by inheritance to the Maphrian, just as Bar Vahib Baderzache had done, who had made his nephew, Maged Ismael, the heir to the throne, as the Agarenes a term for Muslims and Armenians do today. He said: "My brothers, it is unjust, indecent, and disordered that we should transmit the celestial and divine throne by inheritance to our own kin, but rather, let him who is called by the Holy Spirit sit upon the apostolic throne."

When the Patriarch Aziz Bar-Sabta had completed 22 years in his service, he sufficed for the people of...

...just as others from the time of Thomas down to this present day; but he was forced to return to Hemesa, in the region of Syria.
An unheard-of matter, to have a Maphrian in the West or a Patriarch in the East! Meanwhile, shortly after, the Maphrian Bar-Nisan died in Hemesa and was buried there, since he was already an old man and burdened by his years.

In the year 1782 of the Greeks 1471 AD, the Patriarch Chaleph summoned to himself the Patriarch of Tur Abdin, Aziz Bar-Sabta, and the bishop Georgius of the monastery of Qartmin, and he consecrated as bishop Rabban John of Saura, for he was his syncellus, his advisor, and his companion in secrets; this man was a conspicuous and upright doctor; but he ordained the bishop Aziz, the son of his sister, as Maphrian for the East and called him Basilius. The Patriarch himself, however, desired to transmit his throne by inheritance to the Maphrian, just as Bar Vahib Baderzache had done, who had made his brother’s grandson, Maged Ismael, heir to the throne, just as the Agarenes and Armenians do today. "My brothers," he said, "it is inequitable, indecent, and inordinate that we should transmit the celestial and divine throne by inheritance to relatives, but let him who is called by the Holy Spirit sit on the apostolic throne."

When the Patriarch Aziz Bar-Sabta had functioned in his office for 22 years...