Barhadbeshabba 'Arbaya

Barhadbeshabba of Holwan (late sixth, early seventh century) [Ch. of East] Bp. of Holwan and scholar. Possibly the same as Barhadbeshabba Arbaya. B~ studied under {Henana} in the {School of Nisibis}. During his time at the school (and sometime after 581) he composed, Cause of the Foundation of the Schools, a history of the Schools of Edessa and Nisibis that begins with a treatment of epistemology and is grounded in a survey of earlier educational establishments - in the Bible, Greece, Egypt, and Persia. The history concludes with the headship of Henana (ca.572-ca. 610), whom B~ views favorably. The Anonymous Chronicle edited by I. Guidi describes B~ as "famous for writing books" (p. 22). After becoming Bp. of Holwan (in the mountains N.E. of {Seleucia-Ctesiphon}), B~ attended the synod called by the newly elected Cath. Gregory in 605 and was a signatory of the canons formulated there (Synodicon Orientale, 471-9). Many have identified B~ with his namesake, B~ Arbaya, who was a teacher at the School of Nisibis during the time of Henana. He composed, History of the Holy Fathers, Persecuted on Account of the Truth, known by the title, Ecclesiastical History, which traces the development of Ch. of E. up to the death of Abraham, head of the School of Nisibis (569). The Ecclesiastical History survives as an important source for the early history of Ch. of E. {Abdisho} mentions this work in his entry on B~ Arbaya (BibOr 3.1.169), also attributing to him: a voluminous Book of Treasures, a polemical work against all the Sects, a history of the Followers of Mar Diodor, and commentaries on Psalms and the Gospel of Mark. Only the latter survive, and that only in a few quotations in{Ishodad of Merw} and {Gannat Bussame}. It is possible that a B~ from the region of {Beth Arbaye} came to Nisibis and was eventually consecrated Bp. of Holwan, in which case the two are actually one and the same person, as some scholars believe. Several manuscripts identify the author of Foundation of the Schools as B~ Arbaya, even though {Abdisho} Catalogue of Syriac Writers makes no such connection, omitting any mention of Foundation or of B~ of Holwan per se. Their identification is supported by their contemporaneity, their mutual connection to Nisibis and Henana, the common subject matter of their surviving works, and the lack of positive evidence to the contrary, though it is far from certain that they are one and the same person.

Bibliog. BibOr 3.1.169; Cause de la fondation des écoles, ed. with French translation by A. Scher, PO 4 (1907) 317-404; L'histoire de Barhadbsabba 'Arbaya, ed. with French translation by F. Nau, PO 9 (1913), 489-677; 23 (1932), 179-343; Synodicon Orientale ou recueil de synodes nestoriens, ed. J. B. Chabot (1902), 471-9; Chronicum anonymum, ed. I. Guidi, in Chronica minora I (CSCO 1; 1903); A. Baumstark, Geschichte der syrischen Literatur (1922),136; A. Voobus, History of the School of Nisibis (CSCO 266; 1965) 280-2, 294-6; J. M. Fiey, Jalons pour une histoire de l'Eglise en Iraq (CSCO 310; 1970), 25-6.

By: Jeff W. Childers

Bibliography

• Barhadbeshabba ‘Arbaya, Histoire ecclésiastique , F. Nau (éd.), Patrologia orientalis IX (1913), p. 605 [117]-606 [118]

• Addai Ibrahim Scher (ed), Cause de la fondation des ecoles / Barhadbsabba 'Arbaya, Eveque de Halwan (VIe siecle) ; texte syriaque publie et traduit par Addai Scher. Turnhout, Belgium : Editions Brepols (1971).