Pheloxinus of Mabbug

MOR Philoxenus of Mabug

Philoxenus was a master of eloquence and a distinguished philologist. An outstanding person in intelligence, knowledge and deeds, he was also abstinent and God-fearing. His style was stately and lucid. He masterfully portrayed good manners and sublime Christian virtues, producing a book on the perfect life which contains much benefit and is written in an infinitely beautiful style.

Philoxenus thoroughly studied the origin of religion. Read his book on The Trinity and the Incarnation and you will find this master well versed in theological matters and fathoming their depths. Read his letters and you will know what an ambitious soul and magnanimous heart he had. He was an indefatigable contestant whose challengers, always defeated and retaliated by dispraising him. Moreover, he was patient in enduring ordeals and hardships for the cause of the orthodox faith until he won the crown preserved for those who struggle for the faith and the wreath of confessors.

Philoxenus was born at Tahl in Beth Garmai (in Iraq) shortly before the middle of the fifth century. His Syriac name, Akhsnoyo (Stranger) was changed upon his consecration as a bishop, into the Greek name Philoxenus (Lover of Strangers). While young, his parents took him to Tur 'Abdin, where he entered the Monastery of Qartmin with his brother Addai to study Syriac and Greek literatures and the science of religion. Later, he transferred to the School of Edessa and finished his philosophical and theological studies. But it was at the great Monastery of Tal'ada in the province of Antioch that he finished his studies of Greek and Syriac. Then he became a monk and was ordained a priest. In 485, he was consecrated a chorepiscopus by the Patriarch of Antioch, Peter II and then bishop of Mabug. Philoxenus did his best to defend the true belief of the Orthodox Church. He participated in the doctrinal disputes of his time and ardently opposed the Nestorians and the Chalcedonians, who were angered by his intensive defense. This situation caused their extremists to antagonize him, while some of them even vilified him with slanderous remarks, showing that they were full of spite, foolish talk and erroneous views but he refuted all of them.

In 499, he went to Constantinople to complain to the emperor against Flavian II of Antioch who was wavering in his faith, but the Persian Wars with the Byzantines prevented the investigation of the case. When peace was established, he revisited the capital and was able to have Flavian deposed and Severus of Antioch installed in his place in 512. However, Justin, who succeeded Anastasius, exiled the orthodox bishops in the Fall of 518. Philoxenus was then banished to Philippopolis in Thrace and later to Gangara in Paphlagonia. At Gangara, he was jailed in a house with its openings blocked and a fire burning inside. He died suffocating from smoke, as a martyr for his faith, on December 10, 523, in the eighth decade of his life after he had been a bishop for thirty-eight years. He is commemorated by the church.

Sources: 

• Patriarch Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum (2004), The Scattered Pearls, A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences, Translated and Edited by Matti Moosa, New Jersey