Dionysius Telmaharensis
Encyclopedia
Dionysius Telmaharensis (died 848) was a patriarch or supreme head of the Syrian Orthodox Church
(818 - 848). He was born at Tell-Mahre (hence the Latin genitive "Telmaharensis") near ar-Raqqa on the Balikh River.
He spent his earlier years as a monk at the convent of Qinnishrin on the upper Euphrates
; when this monastery was destroyed by fire in 815, he migrated northwards to that of Kaisum in the district of Samosata
. At the death of the Jacobite patriarch Cyriacus
in 817, the church was agitated by a dispute about the use of the phrase heavenly bread in connection with the Eucharist
. An anti-patriarch had been appointed in the person of Abraham of Kartamin, who insisted on the use of the phrase in opposition to the recognized authorities of the church.
The council of bishops who met at Raqqa in the summer of 818 to choose a successor to Cyriacus had great difficulty in finding a worthy occupant of the patriarchal chair, but finally agreed on the election of Dionysius, hitherto known only as an honest monk who devoted himself to historical studies. Sorely against his will he was brought to Raqqa, ordained deacon and priest on two successive days, and raised to the supreme ecclesiastical dignity on August 1. From this time he showed the utmost zeal in fulfilling the duties of his office, and undertook many journeys both within and without his province. The ecclesiastical schism
continued unhealed during the thirty years of his patriarchate. The details of this contest, of his relations with the caliph al-Ma'mun
, and of his many travels including a journey to Egypt
, on which he viewed with admiration the great Egyptian monuments, are to be found in the Ecclesiastical Chronicle of Bar-Hebraeus. He sent two bishops, Mar Sabor and Mar Proth
to India
in 825. He died in 848, his last days having been especially embittered by Muslim oppression.
He was the author of an important historical work, which has seemingly perished except for some passages quoted by the anonymous Chronicle of 1234
(which the 1911 Encyclopædia attributed to Bar-Hebraeus
) and by Michael the Syrian
, and an extract found by J.S. Assemani in Cod. Vat. 144 and published by him in the Bibliotheca orientalis (ii. 7277). There are also quotes in the Chronicle of Elias of Nisibis. We learn from Michael the Syrian that his Annals consisted of two parts each divided into eight chapters, and covered a period of 260 years, from the accession of the emperor Maurice
(582) to the death of Theophilus (843).
For accounts up to the 8th century CE, Dionysius used the chronicle of Theophilus of Edessa
. He disapproved of it for two reasons. First, he implied that Theophilus was one which "composed its narratives in a summary and fragmented fashion without preserving either chronological accuracy nor the order of succession of events". In addition he thought that it "deviates from the truth" - meaning, Theophilus was a Maronite while Dionysius was a rival, Jacobite. Despite that, his Chronicle carries more of Theophilus than did Theophilus's other two tradents, Theophanes the Confessor
and Agapius the historian
.
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
(818 - 848). He was born at Tell-Mahre (hence the Latin genitive "Telmaharensis") near ar-Raqqa on the Balikh River.
He spent his earlier years as a monk at the convent of Qinnishrin on the upper Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
; when this monastery was destroyed by fire in 815, he migrated northwards to that of Kaisum in the district of Samosata
Samosata
Samosata was an ancient city on the right bank of the Euphrates whose ruins existed at the modern city of Samsat, Adıyaman Province, Turkey until the site was flooded by the newly-constructed Atatürk Dam....
. At the death of the Jacobite patriarch Cyriacus
Quryaqos of Takrit
Quryaqos of Takrit is the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch during 793—817. He studied and became a monk at the Monastery of the Pillar near Callinicus. He became a scholar of theological science at this monastery.- References :...
in 817, the church was agitated by a dispute about the use of the phrase heavenly bread in connection with the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. An anti-patriarch had been appointed in the person of Abraham of Kartamin, who insisted on the use of the phrase in opposition to the recognized authorities of the church.
The council of bishops who met at Raqqa in the summer of 818 to choose a successor to Cyriacus had great difficulty in finding a worthy occupant of the patriarchal chair, but finally agreed on the election of Dionysius, hitherto known only as an honest monk who devoted himself to historical studies. Sorely against his will he was brought to Raqqa, ordained deacon and priest on two successive days, and raised to the supreme ecclesiastical dignity on August 1. From this time he showed the utmost zeal in fulfilling the duties of his office, and undertook many journeys both within and without his province. The ecclesiastical schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
continued unhealed during the thirty years of his patriarchate. The details of this contest, of his relations with the caliph al-Ma'mun
Al-Ma'mun
Abū Jaʿfar Abdullāh al-Māʾmūn ibn Harūn was an Abbasid caliph who reigned from 813 until his death in 833...
, and of his many travels including a journey to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, on which he viewed with admiration the great Egyptian monuments, are to be found in the Ecclesiastical Chronicle of Bar-Hebraeus. He sent two bishops, Mar Sabor and Mar Proth
Mar Sabor and Mar Proth
Mar Sabor and Mar Proth were two Assyrian Monks who build and ruled many churches in tranvancore and malabar south India....
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 825. He died in 848, his last days having been especially embittered by Muslim oppression.
He was the author of an important historical work, which has seemingly perished except for some passages quoted by the anonymous Chronicle of 1234
Chronicle of 1234
The Chronicle of 1234 is an anonymous West Syriac universal history from Creation until AD 1234. The unknown author was probably from Edessa. The Chronicle only survives in fragments, from which it is known to be divided into two parts: the first on ecclesiastical history, the second on secular...
(which the 1911 Encyclopædia attributed to Bar-Hebraeus
Bar-Hebraeus
Gregory Bar Hebraeus was a catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the 13th century...
) and by Michael the Syrian
Michael the Syrian
Michael the Syrian , also known as Michael the Great or Michael Syrus or Michael the Elder, to distinguish him from his nephew, was a patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1166 to 1199. He is best known today as the author of the largest medieval Chronicle, which he composed in Syriac...
, and an extract found by J.S. Assemani in Cod. Vat. 144 and published by him in the Bibliotheca orientalis (ii. 7277). There are also quotes in the Chronicle of Elias of Nisibis. We learn from Michael the Syrian that his Annals consisted of two parts each divided into eight chapters, and covered a period of 260 years, from the accession of the emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(582) to the death of Theophilus (843).
For accounts up to the 8th century CE, Dionysius used the chronicle of Theophilus of Edessa
Theophilus of Edessa
Theophilus of Edessa , also known as Theophilus ibn Tuma and Thawafil, was a Greek medieval astrologer and scholar in Mesopotamia...
. He disapproved of it for two reasons. First, he implied that Theophilus was one which "composed its narratives in a summary and fragmented fashion without preserving either chronological accuracy nor the order of succession of events". In addition he thought that it "deviates from the truth" - meaning, Theophilus was a Maronite while Dionysius was a rival, Jacobite. Despite that, his Chronicle carries more of Theophilus than did Theophilus's other two tradents, Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
and Agapius the historian
Agapius the historian
Agapius son of Constantine was a 10th century Arabic Christian writer, best known for his lengthy Kitab al-'Unwan . He was the Melkite bishop of Manbij .He was contemporary with the annalist Eutychius , also a Melchite...
.