BARHEBRAEUS ECCLESIASTICAL CHRONICLE SECT. II.

I. And the holy one answered, "The head of the Christians is God, and He appoints over them whom He wills. And just as the waters of the sea do not fail, so too Christianity will not fail from the earth." And Shapur became enraged and commanded, and he was crucified together with his companionsoriginal: "and he ordered that he be put to death with his companions".

13. Thirteenth, Mar BARBASCHEMIN.

This name is Chaldean and signifies "Man of four names" original: "Bar Arba Shemin". This man was from Beth Garmai and was also the sister’s son of Mar Simeon Barsaboë. He was elected in secret and ordained in Seleucia in the house of one of the believers. He encouraged the priests, monks, and bishops to change their vestments and to wear the garments of laypeople, so that they might escape from the wrath of the persecution. But after time had passed, as if from the stillness, the image of the Nestorians appeared. And also because of the change of habit, the faith itself was altered original: "the faith also was changed". And when they wore the garments of laypeople, they could not—and did not wish to—take back the original garment, so that they might be distinguished from the rest of the Christian nations; and in the original garment...

whom I abhor?" And the holy man answered him: "The head of the Christians is God, and He Himself appoints whom He wills over them. Just as the waters of the sea do not fail, so too Christianity will not fail upon the earth." And for this reason, Shapur was indignant and ordered him to be put to death with his companions¹.

13. After Schahdost, BARBASCHEMIN.

This name is Chaldaic and signifies a man "of four names." He was from Beth Garmai and was likewise the sister's son of Simeon Barsaboë. He was secretly elected and ordained in Seleucia in the house of a certain believer. He fervently exhorted the clergy, religious, and bishops to change their clothes and to put on white garments like those of seculars, so that they might decline the persecution brought on by the impious Shapur. But with the lapse of time, after the persecution had ceased and Nestorianism had pervaded the East, among those who had admitted the change, the faith was changed along with the habit; nor did they wish to resume the pristine and holy habit, for this main reason: that they might be separated from the other Christian peoples, among whom monas-

¹) The Acts of Schahdost, written by St. Marutha, were edited by St. Ev. Assemanus, Acts of the Oriental Martyrs, I, 83-92. From these Acts, we learn that Schahdost suffered martyrdom with his companions, one hundred and twenty-eight in number, on the 20th of February in the year 342. Schahdost was led, laden with chains, to the city of Lapeta, where he obtained the crown of martyrdom.