The Barsanuphians (also Barsanuphites or Bersounouphites) were a
monophysite
Monophysitism ( or ) or monophysism () is a Christological term derived from the Greek (, "alone, solitary") and (, a word that has many meanings but in this context means "nature"). It is defined as "a doctrine that in the person of the incarn ...
non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonian Christianity comprises the branches of Christianity that do not accept theological resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held in 451. Non-Chalcedonian denominations reject the Christological D ...
Christian sect in Egypt between the late 6th and early 9th century.
According to
Timothy of Constantinople
Timothy of Constantinople (fl. c. 600/700) was a Chalcedonian Christian heresiologist and presbyter of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. He wrote a treatise in Greek on Christian heresies from a Chalcedonian perspective, ''On Those ...
and the ''
History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria
The ''History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria'' is a major historical work of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It is written in Arabic, but draws extensively on Greek and Coptic sources.
The compilation was based on earlier biographical ...
'', the sect took its name from a certain Barsanuphius who assumed the title of
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
. They were counted among the ''
Akephaloi'' (leaderless ones) who split from the mainstream monophysite
patriarchate of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot").
The Alexandrian episcopate was revered as one of the three major episco ...
during the reign of the Emperor
Zeno
Zeno ( grc, Ζήνων) may refer to:
People
* Zeno (name), including a list of people and characters with the name
Philosophers
* Zeno of Elea (), philosopher, follower of Parmenides, known for his paradoxes
* Zeno of Citium (333 – 264 BC), ...
(474–491) on account of the ''
Henoticon
The ''Henotikon'' ( or in English; Greek ''henōtikón'' "act of union") was a christological document issued by Byzantine emperor Zeno in 482, in an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile the differences between the supporters of the Council of Chalc ...
'' (482). They developed a distinct hierarchy, separating from the ''Akephaloi'', during the time of the Patriarch
Damian Damian ( la, links=no, Damianus) may refer to:
*Damian (given name)
*Damian (surname)
*Damian Subdistrict, in Longquanyi District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
See also
*Damiani, an Italian surname
*Damiano (disambiguation)
*Damien (disambiguation)
*Dam ...
(578–607).
The Barsanuphians were limited to
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...
and a few villages in the eastern
Nile Delta
The Nile Delta ( ar, دلتا النيل, or simply , is the delta formed in Lower Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the world's largest river deltas—from Alexandria in the west to Po ...
. They do not seem to have had more than three bishops. Patriarch
Agatho (661–677) ransomed some fugitive Barsanuphians along with members of his own flock, causing some to convert. During the reign of the Patriarch
Alexander II (705–730), some Barsanuphians of
al-Muna were converted back to orthodox monophysitism by John of Sa and others by Isaac of Samannud. Around the same time, an enterprising Christian civil servant received permission from Governor
Qurra ibn Sharik to charge twice the normal ''
jizya
Jizya ( ar, جِزْيَة / ) is a per capita yearly taxation historically levied in the form of financial charge on dhimmis, that is, permanent Kafir, non-Muslim subjects of a state governed by Sharia, Islamic law. The jizya tax has been unde ...
'' (tax) on the Barsanuphians and other schismatics (
Gaianites
The Gaianites were a Julianist faction within the Egyptian miaphysite church between the sixth and ninth centuries.Theresia Hainthaler, "The Struggle between Chalcedonians and Anti-Chalcedonians", in ''Christ in Christian Tradition, Volume 2: Fro ...
and
Julianists). This had the intended effect of bringing many back into the patriarch's fold. Under Patriarch
Michael I Michael I may refer to:
* Pope Michael I of Alexandria, Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in 743–767
* Michael I Rhangabes, Byzantine Emperor (died in 844)
* Michael I Cerularius, Patriarch Michael I of Constantinopl ...
(744–768), Bishop John of
Samannud
Samannud ( ar, سمنود ) is a city (''markaz'') located in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Known in classical antiquity as Sebennytos ( grc-gre, Σεβέννυτος), Samannud is a historic city that has been inhabited since the Ancient Egyptia ...
converted many Barsanuphians to orthodoxy.
By the early 9th century the sect was based mainly in
Fustat
Fusṭāṭ ( ar, الفُسطاط ''al-Fusṭāṭ''), also Al-Fusṭāṭ and Fosṭāṭ, was the first capital of Egypt under Muslim rule, and the historical centre of modern Cairo. It was built adjacent to what is now known as Old Cairo by ...
. Around 810, it was led by two bishops, George and his son Abraham. Patriarch
Mark II
Mark II or Mark 2 often refers to the second version of a product, frequently military hardware. "Mark", meaning "model" or "variant", can be abbreviated "Mk."
Mark II or Mark 2 may refer to:
Military and weaponry
* 16"/50 caliber Mark 2 gun ...
baptized them at the
monastery of Saint Mina
The Monastery of Saint Mina is a monastery of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria located in the Western Desert near Alexandria. It is dedicated to Saint Menas. The modern monastery is built close to the ruins of Abu Mena, the original pi ...
and consecrated them as orthodox bishops (albeit without dioceses). The conversion of the rest of the movement soon followed. Mark appointed George and Abraham to the first bishoprics to become available. For George this was
Tanbudha, for Abraham
Atripe. The reconciliation of the Barsanuphians necessitated some bending of
canon law
Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...
. There is, for example, no evidence that George was widowed or separated from his wife. Mark II also rebuilt and reconsecrated one of the former churches of the Barsanuphians.
Based on a passage in
Sophronius (died 638), Arieh Kofsky links them to the teachings of
Barsanuphius of Gaza, rather than the otherwise unknown bishop. Kurt Schimke also treats them as followers of the
Chalcedonian
Chalcedonian Christianity is the branch of Christianity that accepts and upholds theological and ecclesiological resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held in 451. Chalcedonian Christianity accepts the Christolo ...
ascetic of Gaza and primarily a monastic movement.
Notes
Bibliography
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Christian denominations established in the 6th century
History of Christianity in Egypt
Non-Chalcedonianism
9th-century disestablishments in the Abbasid Caliphate