The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Barbaʿshmin
bishop AD 343/344–346; martyred 14 January 346 · Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon · Martyr · Seleucia-Ctesiphon (Sasanian Persia)
The Nicene Age
Who Barbaʿshmin was
Nephew of Simeon bar Sabbae and the third primate of the Persian church to be killed in six years, executed on 14 January 346 with sixteen of his clergy. Sozomen names him at the head of the roll of martyred bishops in the Greek form Barbasymes. After his death the see of Seleucia-Ctesiphon stood vacant for a long period — the persecution had reached the point of decapitating the church rather than merely thinning it.
Named once in the sources within the horizon; no other ancient witness names him.
Also listed in martyrs and bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Barbaʿshmin live?
Barbaʿshmin is dated bishop AD 343/344–346; martyred 14 January 346 in the archive, which places Barbaʿshmin in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Barbaʿshmin?
Barbaʿshmin is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Sozomen. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Barbaʿshmin from?
The archive associates Barbaʿshmin with Seleucia-Ctesiphon (Sasanian Persia).
Who were Barbaʿshmin’s contemporaries?
The archive links Barbaʿshmin to 3 other figures, including Simeon bar Sabbae, Shahdost and Shapur II. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History II.14 (the persecution under Shapur II)
c. AD 445The bishops Barbasymes, Paulos, Gaddiabes, Sabinos, Mareas, Mokimos, Ioannes, Hormisdas, Boulidas, Papas, Iakobos, Romas, Maares, Agas, Bochres, Abdas, Abdiesous, Ioannes, Abramios, Abdelas, Sabores, Isaak — named in the roll of bishops slain in Persia by Sapor, besides obscure individuals.Sozomen · Ecclesiastical History II.14 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Barbaʿshmin in the sources
These figures are placed with Barbaʿshmin by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Barbaʿshmin naming them in return.
- Abdas
- Abdelas
- Abdiesous
- Abramios
- Agas
- Bochres
- Boulidas
- Gaddiabes
- Hormisdas
- Iakobos
- Ioannes (first of the name in Persia)
- Ioannes (second of the name in Persia)
- Isaak
- Maares
- Mareas
- Mokimos
- Papas
- Paulos
- Romas
- Sabinos
- Sabores
Events in this lifetime
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Barbaʿshmin.