Background
A number of East Syriac dioceses in Iran existed by the beginning of the fifth century, but they were not grouped into a metropolitan province in 410. After establishing five metropolitan provinces in Mesopotamia, Canon XXI of the synod of Isaac provided that 'the bishops of the more remote dioceses of Fars, of the Islands, of Beth Madaye (Media), of Beth Raziqaye (Rai) and of the country of Abrshahr (Tus) must accept the definition established in this council at a later date'. By the end of the fifth century, there were at least three East Syriac dioceses in the Sassanian province of Media in western Iran. Hamadan (ancient Ecbatana) was the chief city of Media, and the Syriac name Beth Madaye (Media) was regularly used to refer to the East Syriac diocese of Hamadan as well as to the region as a whole. Although no East Syriac bishops of Beth Madaye are attested before 457, the reference to Beth Madaye in Canon XXI of the synod of Isaac probably indicates that the diocese of Hamadan was already in existence in 410. Bishops of Beth Madaye were present at most of the synods held between 486 and 605. Two other dioceses in western Iran, Beth Lashpar (Hulwan) and Masabadan, seem also to have been established in the fifth century. A bishop of 'the deportation of Beth Lashpar' was present at the synod of Dadisho in 424, and bishops of Beth Lashpar also attended the later synods of the fifth and sixth centuries. Bishops of the nearby locality of Masabadan were present at the synod of Joseph in 554 and the synod of Ezekiel in 576. Because of its origins in a mass deportation of Roman Christians, the diocese of Hulwan was probably more populous than that of Hamadan during the late Sassanian period. Media became a metropolitan province of the Church of the East during the reign of Ishoyahb II (628–45), and its metropolitans sat at Hulwan rather than Hamadan. In 893The diocese of Hulwan
The bishop 'Hatita' 'of the deportation of Beth Lashpar' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Dadisho in 424. The bishop Brikhoï 'of Beth Lashpar' was one of eleven named bishops listed in the acts of the same synod as having been reproved at the synods of Isaac in 410 and Yahballaha I in 420. The bishop Nuh 'of Beth Lashpar' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Acacius in 486. The priest and secretary Ahaï was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Babaï in 497, on behalf of the bishop Ahron 'of Beth Lashpar'. The bishop Pusaï 'of Hulwan' adhered by letter to the acts of the synod of Joseph in 554. The bishop Shubha 'of Beth Lashpar' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Ezekiel in 576. The bishop Bar Nun 'of Hulwan' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Ishoyahb I in 585. The bishop Bar Hadbshabba 'of Hulwan' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Gregory in 605. The metropolitan Surin of Hulwan was abusively consecrated patriarch in 751/2. The bishop Stephen was appointed for Hulwan by the patriarch Sargis (860–72). The bishop Ishoyahb of Susa was appointed metropolitan of Hulwan by the patriarchThe diocese of Beth Madaye (Hamadan)
The bishop Abraham of 'Madaï' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Acacius in 486. The bishop Babaï of 'Madaï' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Babaï in 497. The bishop Acacius of 'Madaï' was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Joseph in 554, and the bishop 'Auban' 'of Hamadan' (possibly a different diocese) adhered by letter to the acts of the same synod. The bishop Yazdkwast of Beth Madaye was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Gregory in 605. The bishop Abraham of Hamadan was transferred to the diocese of Kashkar by the patriarch Abdisho I (963–86). He was deposed and excommunicated for seven years for misbehaviour, and was eventually restored to his old diocese at the request of the Nestorians of Hamadan.The diocese of Masabadan
The bishop Denha of Masabadan was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Joseph in 554. The bishop Shubha of Masabadan was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Ezekiel in 576.The diocese of Dinawar
The bishop Mari 'of Fars', metropolitan of Hulwan when Eliya Bar Shinaya completed his ''Chronography'' in 1018/19, was formerly bishop of Dinawar.The diocese of Nihawand
The bishop Sabrisho of Nihawand was among the signatories of the acts of the synod of Timothy I in 790.Chabot, 608References
Citations
Bibliography
* * Assemani, J. S., ''Bibliotheca Orientalis Clementino-Vaticana'' (4 vols, Rome, 1719–28) * Brooks, E. W., ''Eliae Metropolitae Nisibeni Opus Chronologicum'' (Rome, 1910) * * Fiey, J. M., ''Assyrie chrétienne'' (3 vols, Beirut, 1962) * * * Wallis Budge, E. A., ''The Book of Governors: The Historia Monastica of Thomas, Bishop of Marga, AD 840'' (London, 1893) * Wallis Budge, E. A., ''The Monks of Kublai Khan'' (London, 1928) * * {{Dioceses of the Church of the East Dioceses of the Church of the East Dioceses of the Assyrian Church of the East Church of the East in Iran Christian organizations established in the 8th century