Simon Bar Sabbʿi

Simon Bar Sabbʿi

Simon Bar Sabbʿi (also known as Shimun bar Ṣabbaʿe) was a pivotal figure in the history of the Church of the East, serving as the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (the capital of the Sasanian Persian Empire) during the early 4th century. He is widely revered as the protomartyr of the "Great Persecution" initiated by the Sasanian King Shapur II, a period of intense suffering for Christians in Persia that began around 340 CE.

Little is known about Simon's early life, though his name "Bar Sabbʿi" might indicate a family profession, possibly related to dyeing, or simply mean "son of the old man." He succeeded Papa bar ʿAggai as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, a role that placed him at the head of the entire Christian community within the vast Persian Empire. This position carried immense spiritual authority and also significant practical responsibilities in representing the Christian population to the Sasanian authorities.

The political climate of the 4th century was volatile. The Roman Empire, increasingly Christianized, was frequently at war with the Zoroastrian Sasanian Empire. Christians in Persia, despite their loyalty to the Sasanian crown, often faced suspicion of harboring sympathies with their coreligionists in the Roman West. Shapur II, engaged in prolonged conflicts with Rome, saw the growing Christian population as a potential fifth column.

The immediate trigger for the Great Persecution, and Simon's martyrdom, was allegedly Shapur II's demand for a double tax from the Christian community. Simon Bar Sabbʿi, as their leader, refused to collect this exorbitant tax, arguing that it would inflict severe hardship on his already poor flock and that his loyalty was ultimately to God. This refusal was seen by the king as an act of rebellion and defiance.

Arrested and brought before Shapur II, Simon steadfastly refused to renounce his Christian faith or to worship the sun, which was central to Zoroastrian practice. He reportedly engaged in a courageous dialogue with the king, asserting the supremacy of his Christian God. According to hagiographical accounts, he witnessed the execution of many of his fellow Christians, including priests and a royal eunuch named Gushtazad who had re-affirmed his faith upon seeing Simon.

On Good Friday, April 14, 345 CE (though some sources suggest 341 or 344), Simon Bar Sabbʿi was beheaded. He was executed alongside a large number of his clergy and other believers, marking the beginning of a prolonged and brutal persecution that saw thousands of Christians martyred under Shapur II's reign.

The story of Simon Bar Sabbʿi's martyrdom is preserved in two main Syriac texts: "The Martyrdom of Simeon" and "The History of Simeon." These accounts, while hagiographical, provide invaluable insights into the challenges faced by Christians in Sasanian Persia and the profound significance of martyrdom in shaping their identity. Simon Bar Sabbʿi remains a deeply venerated saint in the Assyrian Church of the East, the Syriac Orthodox Church, and other Christian traditions, remembered for his unwavering faith and his courage in the face of immense persecution. His legacy underscores the resilience of early Christian communities in the face of imperial hostility.