Barsauma (died 456) explained

Barsauma^[1] (died 456) was a Syriac-speaking monk and holy man, a leading opponent of the Council of Chalcedon of 451. He is the subject of a biography in Syriac composed about a century after his death. He is regarded as a saint by the Oriental Orthodox.

Barsauma was responsible for the destruction of numerous temples and synagogues between 418 and 423. According to ancient sources, when he visited the synagogue of Rabba (Areopolis), its doors miraculously opened, and the synagogue was set on fire. Looting was forbidden by Barsauma's order, and the synagogue burned to the ground. It is unclear if local Jews had converted to Christianity.^[2]

In 438, Barsauma and forty of his followers attacked Jews praying at the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem, killing many.^[3] He was tried, but claimed innocence, saying the stones were cast from heaven, and eventually acquitted.^[3]

Sources

• Sebastian P . Brock . Sebastian P. Brock . Review of . The Journal of Theological Studies . 72 . 2 . 2021 . 1007–1009 . 10.1093/jts/flab128.
• Book: Fiey, Jean Maurice . Jean Maurice Fiey

. Jean Maurice Fiey . 2004 . Saints syriaques . Darwin Press.

• Book: University of California Press . 2020 . The Life of the Syrian Saint Barsauma: Eulogy of a Hero of the Resistance to the Council of Chalcedon . Andrew N. . Palmer . 61 . Transformation of the Classical Heritage . 10.1525/9780520972988. 978-0-520-97298-8 .
• Encyclopedia: Lucas . Van Rompay . Barṣawmo . Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition . . Aaron M. Butts . . Lucas Van Rompay . Beth Mardutho . 2018. Originally printed by Gorgias Press, 2011.

Notes and References

1. .

2. Sivan, Hagith (2008). Palestine in Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. p. 178. . Retrieved 2 Sep 2022.
3. Deux épisodes de l'histoire juive sous Théodose II (423 et 438) d'après la vie de Barsauma le Syrien . 10.3406/rjuiv.1927.5553 . 1927 . Nau . François . Revue des Études Juives . 83 . 166 . 184–206 .