Theodosius Romanus | |
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Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East | |
Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
See | Antioch |
Installed | 887 |
Term ended | 896 |
Predecessor | Ignatius II |
Successor | Dionysius II |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | 1 June 896 |
Theodosius Romanus ( Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܬܐܘܕܘܣܝܘܣ, Arabic: البطريرك ثاودوسيوس) [1] was the Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 887 until his death in 896.
Romanus was born at Tikrit in the 9th century and became a monk at the monastery of Qartmin in Tur Abdin. [2] He was educated in medicine and became known as a skilful physician. [2] His nickname, "the Roman" (Romanus), was derived from his knowledge of Greek. [3] At this time, the patriarchal office had lain vacant for four years after the death of Ignatius II in 883 due to disagreement amongst the church's bishops. [4] In response to the demands of their congregants, the bishops assembled at Amida to deliberate and hold an election by lot in which twelve names were put forward. [4]
Romanus was thus chosen to succeed Ignatius II as patriarch of Antioch, and was consecrated at Amida on 5 February 887 ( AG 1198) by Timothy, archbishop of Samosata, upon which he assumed the name Theodosius. [5] No details of Theodosius' tenure as patriarch are known, [6] except that he had some buildings constructed at the monastery of Qartmin with Ezekiel, bishop of Tur Abdin. [7] He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death on 1 June 896 ( AG 1207) at the monastery of Qartmin, where he was buried. [4] As patriarch, Theodosius ordained thirty-two bishops, as per Michael the Syrian's Chronicle, whereas Bar Hebraeus in his Ecclesiastical History credits Theodosius with the ordination of thirty-three bishops. [5]
Theodosius translated and commented on the Book of Hierotheos at the request of Lazarus, bishop of Cyrrhus. [2] [8] His commentary consisted of five books in three treatises, of which the first two treatises were completed at Amida, whilst the third was finished at Samosata. [2] [6] Although the book had been deemed heretical and repudiated by the Patriarch Quriaqos of Tagrit as the work of Stephen Bar Sudhaile in a canonical statement at a synod, [9] Theodosius seems to have accepted its authenticity and makes no mention of Stephen. [6] Theodosius' positive opinion of the book has been noted to reflect the tradition of mysticism prevalent at the monastery of Qartmin. [8] Theodosius' commentary was later used by Bar Hebraeus in his own commentary on the book, [6] and was also recopied by Abu Nasr of Bartella in 1290 in a manuscript entitled On The Hidden Mysteries of the House of God, but only contained half of the commentary ( Za'faran MS. 213). [2]
Other surviving works include a medical syntagma ( Syriac: Kunnash, "compendium") attributed to Theodosius, as noted by Bar Hebraeus, of which only a fragment survives (Vatican MS. 192). [2] In addition, a synodical epistle to Pope Michael III of Alexandria and a homily for Lent, both of which are in Arabic, is preserved (Brit. Mus. MS. 7206). [2] He also wrote a treatise for the deacon George in which he compiled and explained one hundred and twelve maxims ( Syriac: melle remzonoyoto d-ḥakime, "symbolic sayings of wise men"), [6] most of which were of Pythagorean origin that he had translated from Greek into Syriac; a copy of this treatise in Syriac and Arabic still survives (Paris MS. 157). [2] A few canons were later also attributed to Theodosius. [6]
As patriarch, Theodosius ordained the following bishops: [5]