Babai of Seleucia-Ctesiphon

For other uses, see Babai (disambiguation).

Babai of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Catholicos-Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Installed	497
Term ended	503
Predecessor	Acacius
Successor	Shila
Personal details
Denomination	Church of the East

Babai, also Babaeus, was Catholicos of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and Patriarch of the Church of the East from 497 to 503. ^[1] Under his leadership, the Church in Sasanian Empire (Persia) became increasingly aligned with the Nestorian movement, declared heretical in the Roman Empire. ^[2]

Babai was also known as patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. When he became patriarch, he was married. With the permission of King Djamasp, Babai was allowed to call a synod (council) in 497/499, at which clerical celibacy was abolished, permitting priests and even bishops to marry. Babai died during the reign of King Kobad, during a time while Kobad was at war with the Byzantine Empire.

References

1. Wigram 1910, p. 175.
2. "Nestorian". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved January 28, 2010.

Sources

• Baum, Wilhelm; Winkler, Dietmar W. (2003). The Church of the East: A Concise History. London-New York: Routledge-Curzon.
• Chabot, Jean-Baptiste (1902). Synodicon orientale ou recueil de synodes nestoriens (PDF). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Till Engelmann, "Monastisch geprägter Theologe oder theologisch gebildeter Mönch? Das Zentrum der Theologie Babais des Großen," in Dmitrij Bumazhnov u. Hans R. Seeliger (hg.) Syrien im 1.-7. Jahrhundert nach Christus. Akten der 1. Tübinger Tagung zum Christlichen Orient (15.-16. Juni 2007) (Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2011) (Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum / Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity, 62),
• Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. The Church in history. Vol. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
• Stewart, John (1961) [1928]. Nestorian missoniary enterprise: The story of a church on fire. India: Mar Narsai Press.
• Wigram, William Ainger (1910). An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church or The Church of the Sassanid Persian Empire 100-640 A.D. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

Church of the East titles
Preceded by Acacius (485–496)	Catholicos-Patriarch of the East (497–503)	Succeeded by Shila (503–523)