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CONTENTS
PAGE
—Tradition of foundation of Bishopric of Bait Lapat—Diocletian's Persian war—Cession of "the five provinces" to Rome—Effects of this in the ecclesiastical sphere—Attempt of Papa to establish himself as Catholicos—Discontent at this—Leaders, Shimun, Miles—First Council of Seleucia—Deposition and restoration of Papa—Attitude of the "Western Bishops," and the result of their intervention |
40 |
THE GREAT PERSECUTION OF SAPOR II
Isolation of Assyrian Church from Church of Roman Empire—Their absence from, and ignorance of, Nicæa—Evidence of Afraat on the point—Sapor's war with Rome—Consequent inevitableness of persecution—How far provoked by attitude of Persian and Roman Christians?—Order for double taxation—Attitude, arrest, and martyrdom of Mar Shimun—Character of the persecution—Race-hatred between Zoroastrians and Christians—Occasional local security—Typical martyrdoms—Miles, Aqib-shima, Yazdundocht, the Roman captives, Ait-Alaha—Practical cessation of persecution with death of Sapor |
56 |
REORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH—COUNCIL OF MAR ISAAC
General position of affairs, 380–400—Roman Empire—Persia—Extinction of Armenian Kingdom—Reorganization of Church in Persia, commenced by Tamuza and Qaiuma—Accession of Yezdegerd I—His philo-Roman policy brings peace to the Church—Isaac as Catholicos—Visits of Marutha—His position—Definite acceptance of Church by Yezdegerd as a tolerated melet under a recognized head—Assyrian Church independent of Antiochene Patriarchate—Assembly of council—Its organizing work—Melet position—acceptance of Nicene Creed—Other canons |
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