Ecclesiastical Chronicle, Volume 2

BAR HEBRAEUS ECCLESIASTICAL CHRONICLE, SECTION I.

Tur Abdin, Mar Zachaei, Mardin, Chaleph, Maphrian Aziz, John Barsila, Abraham Bagh, Barbadra, Patriarch, Sultan

...of Tur Abdin, he passed away in the fortress of Cepha Hasankeyf and was buried in the church of Mar Zachaei. He governed his diocese excellently in chastity and holiness. He established a great peace in his time with the Mardinians. For when he consecrated the chrism holy anointing oil, he invited the Patriarch of Mardin, Chaleph, and the Maphrian Aziz, the son of his sister, and the Maphrian John Barsila, the metropolitan of Saura. In turn, when the Mardinian consecrated the chrism, he invited the Patriarch of Tur Abdin and called the bishops of Tur Abdin to him, and they went. Thus, throughout the days of their lives, a great peace existed between them.

After Mar Sabta had passed away, the Patriarch of Mardin, Chaleph, also passed away in the year 1795 of the Greeks 1484 AD. And the Mardinians divided into two parties, as some wished that the Maphrian Aziz, the nephew of the Patriarch, should be the heir to the throne. But others, from among all the monks and priests of Mardin, desired the bishop John Barsila, because he had closed the eyes of the Patriarch a traditional final act of respect for the dying. From this, certain leaders who had been present at the burial of the Patriarch arose. They took a large sum of money and went to the Sultan of Mardin, Abraham Bagh, and persuaded him. John Barbadra, a learned and chosen doctor who had been the teacher of Mar Barsila, was a simple man. He and Isa, the head of the Christians, went with zeal to the Sultan, and they brought him the diadem symbol of dignity of the patriarchate and the decree, and they showed that he was worthy of the throne. And now the Mardinians...

...in Tur Abdin, he died in the fortress of Cepha and was buried in the church of Mar Zachaei. He governed his diocese excellently in chastity and holiness. He entered into a deep peace in his time with the Mardinians. For when he consecrated the chrism, he invited the Patriarch of Mardin, Chaleph, and the Maphrian Aziz, the son of his sister, and the prelate John Barsila, the metropolitan of Saura; in turn, when the Mardinian consecrated the chrism, he invited the Patriarch of Tur Abdin and called the bishops of Tur Abdin to him, and they went. Thus, throughout the space of their lives, a great peace prevailed between them.

But after Sabta had died, the Patriarch of Mardin, Chaleph, also died in the year 1795 of the Greeks 1484 AD: then the Mardinians were split into two parties, while some wished that the Maphrian Aziz, the grandson of the Patriarch by his sister, should be the heir of the throne; but some from the diocese and all the priests of Mardin desired the bishop John Barsila, because he had closed the eyes of the Patriarch. Hence, certain prelates who had participated in the Patriarch's funeral, being coarse, simple, and unskilled, offered a large sum of money to the Mardinian Sultan Abraham Bagh to seize the patriarchate; but then the presbyter John Barbadra, a renowned doctor and formerly the preceptor of the elect Barsila, together with Isa, the prince of the Christians, moved by zeal, approached the Sultan and brought him the robe of dignity and the patriarchate’s diploma, asserting that he was worthy of the patriarchate. Now, however, Mar...