The School of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (sometimes School of Seleucia) was a theological school of the
Church of the East
The Church of the East ( syc, ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ, ''ʿĒḏtā d-Maḏenḥā'') or the East Syriac Church, also called the Church of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the Persian Church, the Assyrian Church, the Babylonian Church or the Nestorian C ...
located in the western half of the city of
Seleucia-Ctesiphon on the right bank of the
Tigris
The Tigris () is the easternmost of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of the Armenian Highlands through the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, and empties into the ...
. It was an independent Christian school, not attached to any particular church or monastery.
The origins of the school are unclear. The Patriarch
Acacius (485–495/6) taught in Seleucia-Ctesiphon after leaving the
School of Edessa
The School of Edessa ( syr, ܐܣܟܘܠܐ ܕܐܘܪܗܝ) was a Christian theological school of great importance to the Syriac-speaking world. It had been founded as long ago as the 2nd century by the kings of the Abgar dynasty. In 363, Nisibis fell t ...
and this has been taken as evidence for the school existing in the late 5th century. According to the foundation legend found in the ''
Chronicle of Siirt'', the Patriarch
Aba I
Aba I (or, with his Syriac honorific, Mar Aba I) or Mar Abba the Great was the List of Patriarchs of the Church of the East, Patriarch of the Church of the East at Seleucia-Ctesiphon from 540 to 552. He introduced to the church the Anaphora (litu ...
(540–552) defeated a
Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic on ...
adversary in a debate and founded the school at that very spot. This, however, is not mentioned in Aba's earlier and more reliable biography. A fragment of
Barḥadbshabba's ''On the Cause of the Foundation of the Schools'' also ascribes the founding of the school to Aba I. The historian
Jean Maurice Fiey Jean Maurice Fiey (30 March 1914 – 10 November 1995) was a French Dominican Father and prominent Church historian and Syriacist.
Biography
Fiey was born in Armentières on 30 March 1914, he entered the Dominican Order at an early age and rece ...
concluded that the school of Acacius was re-founded under Aba. The ''Chronicle of Siirt'' states that it was restored and rebuilt under the Patriarch
Ezekiel
Ezekiel (; he, יְחֶזְקֵאל ''Yəḥezqēʾl'' ; in the Septuagint written in grc-koi, Ἰεζεκιήλ ) is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible.
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ezekiel is acknow ...
(567–581). It was certainly in existence by that time. Its early prestige can be judged by the fact that its headmaster or director, Ishai at the time, took part in the selection of a new patriarch.
Between 596 and 602, the
Roman emperor Maurice Maurice may refer to:
People
* Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr
* Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor
*Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and ...
sent Maruta, bishop of Chalcedon, as ambassador to the
Sasanian king Khosrau II
Khosrow II (spelled Chosroes II in classical sources; pal, 𐭧𐭥𐭮𐭫𐭥𐭣𐭩, Husrō), also known as Khosrow Parviz (New Persian: , "Khosrow the Victorious"), is considered to be the last great Sasanian king (shah) of Iran, ruling fr ...
. The ambassador listened to lectures at the school, gave gifts to the students and was received directions for his return journey from the headmaster, Bokhtisho . The school appears to have been at the centre of the Christian community in the Sasanian capital if it could host a visiting Roman dignitary.
There was some exchange of personnel and texts between the School of Seleucia and the older
School of Nisibis
The School of Nisibis ( syr, ܐܣܟܘܠܐ ܕܢܨܝܒܝܢ, for a time absorbed into the School of Edessa) was an educational establishment in Nisibis (now Nusaybin, Turkey). It was an important spiritual centre of the early Church of the East, and ...
. According to the ''Chronicle of Siirt'', Aba studied at Nisibis before founding the school in Seleucia.
Gregory of Kashkar, who became archbishop of
Nisibis
Nusaybin (; '; ar, نُصَيْبِيْن, translit=Nuṣaybīn; syr, ܢܨܝܒܝܢ, translit=Nṣībīn), historically known as Nisibis () or Nesbin, is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009 and is ...
(c.596) after studying there, originally studied the
Psalms
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
at Seleucia. The Patriarch
Ishoyahb III
Ishoʿyahb III of Adiabene was Patriarch of the Church of the East from 649 to 659.
Sources
Brief accounts of Ishoʿyahb's patriarchate are given in the ''Ecclesiastical Chronicle'' of the Jacobite writer Bar Hebraeus (thirteenth-century), and ...
(649–659) studied at Nisibis and tried to move part of the School of Seleucia to the
Monastery of Beth Abe
Monastery of Beth Abe ( syc, ܒܝܬ ܥܒܐ; ', literally "house of wood"), is an East Syriac monastery located near the on the Great Zab about 80 km northeast of Nineveh. It was founded by Rabban Jacob of Lashom around 595 AD. The monastery ...
, probably to protect it after the
fall of the Sasanian Empire
The Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as the Arab conquest of Iran, was carried out by the Rashidun Caliphate from 633 to 654 AD and led to the fall of the Sasanian Empire as well as the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion.
The r ...
to the
Arabs
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Wester ...
.
In the late 7th and early 8th century,
Gabriel Arya Gabriel Arya (fl. late 7th century), also called Gabriel Qaṭraya, was a biblical exegete who wrote in Syriac. The byname ''Qaṭraya'' indicates that he was a native of Beth Qaṭraye (Qatar). ''Arya'', the Syriac for lion, is probably a nickna ...
of
Beth Qatraye Christians reached the shores of the Persian Gulf by the beginning of the fourth century. According to the ''Chronicle of Seert'', Bishop David of Perat d'Maishan was present at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, around 325, and sailed as far as Ind ...
taught at Seleucia. Among his students were the future patriarchs
Hnanisho I Ḥnanishoʿ I, called Ḥnanishoʿ the Exegete,Hoyland, ''Seeing Islam'', 200–203. was patriarch of the Church of the East between 686 and 698. His name means 'mercy of Jesus'. Hnanishoʿ offended the caliph ʿAbd al-Malik with a tactless rema ...
(686–700) and
Aba II Aba II was Patriarch of the Church of the East from 741 to 751. He is included in the traditional list of patriarchs of the Church of the East.
Sources
Brief accounts of Aba's reign are given in the ''Ecclesiastical Chronicle'' of the Jacobite w ...
(742–753). Gabriel is known to have written biblical commentaries and Aba II works of philosophy. The latter had a dispute with his clergy over the running of the school.
Famous teachers and alumni
*Patriarch
Aba II Aba II was Patriarch of the Church of the East from 741 to 751. He is included in the traditional list of patriarchs of the Church of the East.
Sources
Brief accounts of Aba's reign are given in the ''Ecclesiastical Chronicle'' of the Jacobite w ...
, alumnus
*Patriarch
Acacius, possible teacher late 5th century
*
Cyrus of Edessa
Cyrus of Edessa (or Qiyore of Edessa) was a Syriac writer and teacher in the Church of the East. He was probably a native of Edessa. He studied at the school of Nisibis (c. 533–538) under Aba, the future patriarch, and then taught at the school ...
, director mid-6th century
*Bokhtisho, director c. 600
*
Gabriel Arya Gabriel Arya (fl. late 7th century), also called Gabriel Qaṭraya, was a biblical exegete who wrote in Syriac. The byname ''Qaṭraya'' indicates that he was a native of Beth Qaṭraye (Qatar). ''Arya'', the Syriac for lion, is probably a nickna ...
, teacher late 7th century
*
Gregory of Kashkar, alumnus
*Patriarch
Gregory, teacher of biblical interpretation c. 605
*Patriarch
Hnanisho I Ḥnanishoʿ I, called Ḥnanishoʿ the Exegete,Hoyland, ''Seeing Islam'', 200–203. was patriarch of the Church of the East between 686 and 698. His name means 'mercy of Jesus'. Hnanishoʿ offended the caliph ʿAbd al-Malik with a tactless rema ...
, alumnus
*Ishai, director late 6th century
*Ramisho the Interpreter, teacher late 6th century
*
Titus of Hdatta
Titus Caesar Vespasianus ( ; 30 December 39 – 13 September 81 AD) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death.
Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a mili ...
, alumnus
Notes
Bibliography
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Church of the East
Seleucia
Seleucia (; grc-gre, Σελεύκεια), also known as or , was a major Mesopotamian city of the Seleucid empire. It stood on the west bank of the Tigris River, within the present-day Baghdad Governorate in Iraq.
Name
Seleucia ( grc-gre, Σ ...
Nestorianism
Christian schools
Christianity in the Sasanian Empire
Christianity in the Umayyad Caliphate