ment of other writers that it was Sapor III who gave the necessary leave seems much more probable. We know from Persian history[1] that this King had the reputation of being "a just and merciful man"; and it was also during his reign that the Bishop of Arbela, Shubkha l'Ishu, ventured on what he had feared to do before, and commenced the ordination of clergy for his diocese.[2]
Of the bishop chosen, whose name was Tamuza,[3] or Tumarsa, we know little; except that he was assisted in his organizing work by "Bokht-Ishu the martyr"[4] (of whom nothing else is known), and by Mar Abda.
The name of Bokht-Ishu suggests the continuance of persecution in some cases; and Abda we know as a famous ascetic who founded a monastery in the little Arab state of Khirta or Kufa, whence came more than one Catholicos in later days.
As a rule, however, Tamuza was no great advocate of asceticism. Death and apostasy had so diminished the melet that he urged all young people to marry, and produce children to recoup its numbers.[5] The advice was sound, under the circumstances; but it shows how thoroughly the "melet conception" was getting into the minds of the people. It was far more natural, in their eyes, that the Church should extend by growth rather
- ↑ Tabari, p. 71, Ed. Noldeke.
- ↑ M.-Z., Life of Shubkha l'Ishu.
- ↑ The name is that of the planet Mars, according to both B.-H. and modern Assyrians. The connection between the planet, the month July–August (Tamuz), and the Babylonian sun-god, is outside our present field.
- ↑ A. and S., Liber Turris.
- ↑ B.-H., p. 42. It is quite possible that the historian may have mistakenly attributed the thought of his own age to an earlier one. Still the conception referred to is certainly one of the innate stock ideas of the oriental Christian to-day.
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