Heliodorus of Bet Zabdai explained

Heliodorus of Bet Zabdai (died 344) was a Syrian bishop of Bet Zabdai in Mesopotamia and a martyr.

Around 337 Shapur II invaded Roman Mesopotamia, commencing a drawn out war. Under his reign, Christians were persecuted as a reaction to the encouragement of Christianity by Constantine the Great. Shapur beseiged and captured Bet Zabdai. Heliodorus was taken to Persia as a prisoner of war. The prisoners were set on a long march to Bet Huzaje. Along the way, Heliodorus fell ill and named the priest Dausa as his successor.[1] He died as a result of ill treatment and fatigue at Daskarata on the Great Zab, in 344. He is commemorated with a feast day on August 20.

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Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=tgCKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA215&lpg=PA215&dq=Heliodorus+of+Bet+Zabdai&source=bl&ots=GtIdqBE6Eu&sig=ACfU3U1r_R6e_ZPQ5EjLXZMT-ZYtvaDQ2g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiq3tiEnYyHAxWGl4kEHYDKCJw4FBDoAXoECBQQAw#v=onepage&q=Heliodorus%20of%20Bet%20Zabdai&f=false The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars AD 226-363, (Michael H. Dodgeon and Samuel N. C., eds.) Routledge, 2002, p. 215