Ecclesiastical Chronicle, Volume 3

PRIMATES OF THE ORIENT: 2ND CENTURY

Regarding Abrishium and his successor, he remained in that place. When he arrived, (a) he directed the faithful for sixteen years. After his death, he was buried in the church of Seleucia; some, however, say that his tomb is unknown. Others say that he was buried in Seleucia. (b) Abrishium, who served in the cities, is this same Abrishium.

6. After Abrishium: Abraham.

He also was of the lineage of Jacob, the brother of our Lord. He received the laying on of hands and was sent from Antioch at the time when there was a persecution of the Christians by the Persians. It happened that the son of the King of Persia fell ill, and it was announced to the King that he could be healed by Mar Abraham, the head of the reverence of the Christians. He brought him and led him to his presence and saw that he was distressed. He asked him the cause of his sorrow. Then he revealed to him all the afflictions they suffered, along with the race of the Christians. The King promised that if his son were healed, he would abolish the persecution. The holy man prayed and laid his hand upon the King’s son, and he was healed. Peace was granted to the Christians. And when he had served for twelve years, he passed away in peace.

And the disciples of that place laid hands on Abrosius and sent him back so that he might occupy the chair of his master. When he arrived there, he presided over the faithful for sixteen years. After his death, however, he was buried in the Seleucian church; some, however, say his tomb is unknown. It is also said that this Abrosius derived his lineage from Joseph the carpenter, the father of Jacob and Jose.

6. After Abrishium¹: ABRAHAM.

He also was of the lineage of Jacob, the brother of the Lord. He received ordination at Antioch and was sent into the East, at the time when the Christians were being harassed by the Persians. However, the son of the King of Persia happened to have the "falling sickness" original: "morbus comitialis" (epilepsy), and it was announced to the King that he could be healed by Mar Abraham, the prelate of the Christian religion. The King had him summoned and brought to him, and when he saw him sad and distressed, he asked the cause of his grief. Then he explained the evils that he and his people were suffering from the Persians. The King promised that, if he healed his son, he would end the persecution of the Christians. The holy man poured out prayers and laid hands upon the King’s son: he was healed, and peace was given to the faithful. Finally, after twelve years in office, he died in peace².

Footnote 1: In the Chronotaxis of the Chaldean Patriarchs by Guriel, it is asserted that the see was vacant for 11 years after the death of Abrishium.
Footnote 2: Abraham of Kashkar died, according to Assemanus in Bibliotheca Orientalis III, part I, 612, in the twenty-second year of his episcopacy, in the year of Christ 120; according to Amr, in the year of Christ 152.