The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Julian Saba
d. AD 377 · Hermit of the Euphrates · Osrhoene, near Edessa
The Nicene Age
Who Julian Saba was
A Syrian solitary of the Euphrates country famous in his own lifetime, who — the story runs — came down from his cave at the church's summons to steady the faithful against the Arian ascendancy at Antioch. Ephrem the Syrian hymned him while he still lived, and Theodoret gives him a chapter of the Historia Religiosa.
Also listed in desert fathers & mothers.
Common questions
When did Julian Saba die?
Julian Saba is dated d. AD 377 in the archive, which places Julian Saba in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Julian Saba?
Julian Saba is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from (ascribed to) Ephrem the Syrian and Theodoret of Cyrrhus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Julian Saba from?
The archive associates Julian Saba with Osrhoene, near Edessa. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Julian Saba’s contemporaries?
The archive links Julian Saba to 2 other figures, including Ephrem the Syrian and Marcianus of Cyrrhus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Hymns on Julian Saba (transmitted under Ephrem's name; the elder pieces arguably contemporary, c. AD 367–373; original Syriac, summarized)
c. AD 370[Hymned at Edessa while the memory was fresh; the ascription is debated. The cycle praises the old man of the cave who took food once a week, whose psalmody outlasted his companions on the road to Sinai, and who raised the shrine upon the summit.](ascribed to) Ephrem the Syrian · source text
Theodoret, Historia Religiosa 2 (c. AD 440; original Greek, working translation)
c. AD 449When the Arians boasted that the great Julian held their doctrine, the faithful of Antioch brought the old man down from his desert; and his mere entry, with the wonders worked as he passed through the streets, overthrew the lie.Theodoret of Cyrrhus · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Julian Saba, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.