Ahudemmeh of Balad

Mor Ahudemmeh

Mor Ahudemmeh is the pride of the Syriac Orthodox Eastern Church and one of its noblest dignitaries because of his intelligence, knowledge, piety and support of orthodoxy. Born at Balad, he was consecrated a bishop for the diocese of Ba'arbaya, situated between Nisibin and Sinjar. In 559, he was elevated by Mor Jacob Baradaeus to the office of the metropolitan of the lands of the East and set to work briskly in calling the nomad Arabs who dwelt in that region and in the abodes of Rabi'a to Christianity. He converted a great number of them to Christianity and built two monasteries and some churches for them. He was also honored by God by miracles to support his preaching even to the Magians. Among these Magians was a prince from the royal family, whose conversion angered the King Khosrau I Anushirwan; he imprisoned this saint, who finally received martyrdom on the August 2nd, 575. His body was carried to 'Aquonta opposite to Takrit. He was counted as the first metropolitan of the See of the East after it had been usurped by the Nestorians.

Mor Ahudemmeh was a philosopher and a theologian. He wrote a book of definitions on logical matters and treatises on religious free will, on the soul, on man as a microcosm and on man as consisting of soul and body. This latter treatise was published together with his lengthy biography. He is also mentioned by later authorities as a writer of grammar based on the Greek method.