Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his Ecclesiastical History (5.41) recounts the persecution of Christians in Persia under Shah Yazdegerd I (r. 399-420), mentioning the martyrs *Abdas (bishop and martyr in Persia, S01857) and *Beniamin (deacon and martyr in Persia, S01858). Written in Greek at Cyrrhus (northern Syria), 444/450.
Evidence ID
E04188
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)
Major author/Major anonymous work
Theodoret of Cyrrhus
Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Ecclesiastical History 5.41 (39)
Summary:
The bishop Abdas destroys a fire temple and is put to death. Theodoret describes the destruction of the temple as an unfortunate provocation, even though he admires the martyr for his refusal to rebuild it – it would have been like venerating the fire. Yet the destruction kindles a persecution which goes on for thirty years.
5.41.18-23
Martyrdom of the deacon Beniamin
He was imprisoned for two years, till freed at the request of a Roman ambassador. He resumed his missionary activity, and was arrested again. He was tortured and put to death by impalement.
Summary: E. Rizos.
Non Liturgical ActivityEcclesiastics - bishops
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Source
Theodoret was born in Antioch in c. 393, where he received a formidable education before joining the monastery of Nikerte near Apamea in 416. In 423, he was consecrated as bishop of Kyrrhos/Cyrrhus. During the theological debates of the time, he emerged as one of the chief exponents of Antiochene Christology. The Second Council of Ephesus (449) deposed him as a supporter of Nestorius, of whom he was indeed a friend. He was restored to his bishopric by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. He is thought to have died in c. 460.His Ecclesiastical History was probably written between 444 and 450. It is uncertain whether the author consulted the slightly earlier ecclesiastical histories of Philostorgius, Socrates and Sozomen. He covers roughly the same period as they do, namely the history of the church from 324 to 429.
Discussion
These stories very probably stem from Syriac hagiographic accounts.Bibliography
Text:Hansen, G.C., Theodoret Kirchengeschichte (Die griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte NF 5; Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1997).
Translations:
Blomfield, J., "The Ecclesiastical History of Theodoret," in: A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church 3 (Oxford and New York, 1892), 33-159.
Gallico, A., Teodoreto di Cirro, Storia ecclesiastica. Introduzione, traduzione e note (Roma: Città nuova, 2000).
Martin, A., et al., Theodoret de Cyr. Histoire Ecclesiastique (Sources Chretiennes 501, 530; Pars: Editions du Cerf, 2006, 2009).
Walford, E., "A History of the Church in Five Books, from A.D. 322 to the Death of Theodore of Mopsuestia A.D. 427, by Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus," in: The Greek Ecclesiastical Historians of the First Six Centuries of the Christian Era (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1843).
Further reading:
Chesnut, G.F., The First Christian Histories: Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret, and Evagrius (Atlanta: Mercer University, 1986).
Leppin, H., Von Constantin dem Grossen zu Theodosius II: Das christliche Kaisertum bei den Kirchenhistorikern Socrates, Sozomenus und Theodoret (Hypomnemata 110; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996).
Treadgold, W.T., The Early Byzantine Historians (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), 155-164.
Record Created By
Efthymios Rizos
Date of Entry
29/01/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S01857 | Abdas, bishop and martyr in Persia, ob. c. 415 | Ἀβδᾶς | Certain | S01858 | Beniamin, deacon and martyr in Persia, ob. c 415 | Βενιαμίν | Certain |
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