Ecclesiastical Chronicle, Volume 2

PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH: 15TH CENTURY.

Patriarchs of Antioch, Barsila, Ignatius, Chaleph, Maphrian, Tur Abdin, Beth-Severina, Mardinian, Cazur

...the Emir of Mardin knew the chosen one, for he had many debts bound up with him, and for this reason, the Emir ordered him to be ordained. Hence, they consecrated him patriarch in the year 1795 of the Greeks 1484 AD, and they called him Ignatius.

When, therefore, the messengers arrived of those who had refused Barsila immediately after the death of the Patriarch Chaleph, they did not know that the Maphrian had been appointed as Patriarch. And if the Maphrian had known, he would not have come. For he was not in conversation about the Maphrian. But the messengers brought him word thus and said to him: "The Maphrian, our uncle Mar John, is ill, and we have left him near death. Stand up and come before he dies, and there be a schism in the flock."

And as he arrived at the fortress of Tur Abdin, Beth-Severina, the priests, deacons, and all the people came out to meet him. And with pain and weeping they said: "May you live long, as our father the Patriarch, your uncle, has migrated to the Lord!"

And they reported to him that the prelate John Barsila had been appointed patriarch in the place of his uncle. And when the Maphrian heard that another had been appointed patriarch in the place of his uncle, he was offended in spirit and wished to return to the East. But the messengers who accompanied him did not allow him, but urged him and brought him to the territory of Mardin. And they stayed in the village of Cazur, which was in the plain, which was the home of the Maphrians...

...the Emir of Mardin knew the chosen one, for he had many debts bound up with him, and for this reason the Emir ordered him to be ordained. Hence they consecrated him patriarch in the year 1795 of the Greeks 1484 AD, and they called him Ignatius.

When, therefore, the messengers of those who had refused Barsila immediately after the death of the Patriarch Chaleph arrived, they still did not know that Barsila had received the patriarchal ordination; for if the Maphrian had known that he had already been ordained, he would certainly not have arrived with them from the East. Evidently, the messengers had brought him such news:

"Your uncle is ill, and we have left him suffering from the disease; may you arrive before he dies and a schism arises in the flock."

And to him, approaching together with them to the fortress of Tur Abdin, Beth-Severina, the presbyters, deacons, and all the people went out to meet him, with equal lamentation and sobbing, saying:

"May you live a long life, since our father the Patriarch, your uncle, has migrated to the Lord!"

Likewise, they reported to him that the prelate John Barsila had been appointed patriarch in the place of his uncle. When the Maphrian heard that another had been instituted as patriarch in the place of his uncle, he was troubled in spirit and wished to return to the East; but the messengers accompanying him resisted, and by their urging he arrived in the Mardinian domain; they were hosted in the village of Cazur, situated on the plain, because that was the home of the Maphrians...