E00854: The Martyrdom of *Shimun/Symeon bar Ṣabbae (bishop and martyr in Persia, ob. 341 or 344, with companions, S00592) is produced by an anonymous Syriac-speaking writer in Persia during the late 4th or early 5th century. It describes the martyrdom of Symeon, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, and his companions the eunuch Gushtazad, the priests Ḥananya and Abdhaykla, and the craftsman *Pusai and his daughter (martyrs in Persia, S01218) during the reign of Shapur II (r. 309-379), with no reference to miraculous events.
Creators: name: Bryan
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Martyrdom of Shimun bar Ṣabbae <br><br>Summary:<br><br>The narrative opens with a long introductory section, in which the persecution of Christians under the Sasanian king Shapur II is likened to the oppression of the Jewish people under the Seleucid king Antiochus IV. The heroic figures of the Jewish priest Mattathias and Judah the Maccabee are evoked and serve as an example for emulation. (§§ 1-6)<br><br>The author introduces Shimun/Symeon, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, while comparing him to Judah the Maccabee. Both are extolled as true shepherds, who died to save their people. (§§ 7-9)<br><br>An exchange of letters between Shimun and Shapur follows, in which the bishop claims that the redeeming death of Jesus freed Christians from the obligation to pay taxes. When the king threatens him with death, Simeon expresses eager willingness to die for his people. (§§ 10-12)<br><br>Following the anti-Christian accusations of the Jews, who inform Shapur that the Roman emperor holds any letter that Shimun might send him in a far greater esteem than those of the shah, the bishop and two priests, *Ḥananya and *Abdhaykla, are arrested and escorted to the city of Karka d-Ledan. When brought before Shapur, Shimun refuses to bow before the shah and the Magi, present at the scene, declare that he is a rebel against the kingdom. (§§ 13-16)<br><br>A long exchange between Shapur and Shimun follows, during which the shah exhorts the bishop to worship the sun and promises him wealth and power if he agrees. As Shimun refuses to comply, the shah sentences him to death, while threatening to kill many other Christians. (§§ 17-25)<br><br>While Shimun is led away from Shapur, Gushtazad, 'an old eunuch, the tutor of the king' and fellow Christian, bows before him. The bishop, however, ignores the eunuch, aware that Gushtazad compromised his Christian faith by worshipping the sun. Having realised the gravity of his offence, Gushtazad repents and dons black clothes, as if in a state of mourning. When asked by the shah about the cause of his mourning, the eunuch confesses that he worshipped the sun falsely and refuses to do so anymore, proclaiming himself to be a Christian. Enraged, Shapur orders Gushtazad to be beheaded with a sword. In a last request, granted by the shah, the eunuch asks a public announcement to be made that he is being executed not on account of his betrayal of the king or the kingdom, but because he is a Christian. (§§ 26-33)<br><br>Shimun rejoices over the news of Gushtazad's repentance and martyrdom, which he receives while in prison. He then spends the whole night praying over his own martyrdom. On the next morning, which fall on the Good Friday of Nissan 14, the bishop is summoned once more to Shapur. Given a last chance to save his life, Shimun again refuses to bow down before the shah or to worship the sun. (§§ 34-41)<br><br>After the sentence of death has been pronounced upon Shimun, he is brought over to be beheaded with a sword. However, before that, the bishop has to watch the execution of about one hundred fellow Christians, 'some of whom were bishops from other lands, others of whom were priests, and yet others of whom were deacons and bnay qyama.' After the one hundred have been executed, Shimun and two old priests, Ḥananya and Abdhaykla, are stripped naked and beheaded. (§§ 42-44)<br><br>The narrative concludes with the martyrdom of Pusai and his daughter. The former, described as 'the one in charge of the king's craftsmen', was present at the execution of Shimun and the priests, and addressed words of encouragement to one of them. He was at once arrested and, after interrogation by Shapur during which he professed to be a Christian, was executed, having had his tongue torn from his throat. Pusai's daughter, a member of the ascetic order of bnay qyama, was also accused of being a Christian and killed. (§§ 44-48)<br><br>Text: Kmosko 1907. Summary: Sergey Minov.