John X bar Shushan | |
|---|---|
| Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East | |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| See | Antioch |
| Installed | 1063/1064 |
| Term ended | 1072/1073 |
| Predecessor | Athanasius V Haya |
| Successor | Baselius II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Yeshu Early 11th century |
| Died | 6/27 November 1072/1073 |
John X bar Shushan[nb 1] (Syriac:ܝܘܚܢܢ ܒܪ ܫܘܫܢ,Arabic:يوحنا ابن شوشان)[3] was thePatriarch of Antioch, and head of theSyriac Orthodox Church, from 1063/1064 until his death in 1072/1073.
Yeshu was born in the early 11th century atMelitene, where he studied philology, philosophy, and religion, and later became a monk at a nearby monastery.[4][5] He studied under PatriarchJohn IX bar ʿAbdun, and served as hissyncellus (secretary).[5]
After the death of the patriarch John bar Abdun in 1057, Yeshu was elected and consecrated as patriarch of Antioch atAmid by eastern bishops under the jurisdiction of themaphrian, upon which he assumed the name John.[4][5] Western bishops, who outnumbered the eastern bishops, disputed John's election, and elected Athanasius V as patriarch instead, and brought the issue to the Muslim rulers.[5] John subsequently abdicated, allowing Athanasius to serve as patriarch until his death in 1063/1064, after which John was restored to the position.[1][4]
For most of his tenure as patriarch, John made his residence at Amid, and also resided for a time atHarran andMaypherqat, which were under Muslim control, as opposed to Melitene, so to avoideastern Roman persecution.[5][6] Relations with the othernon-Chalcedonian religious leaders were strained during John's reign as the church came under criticism for its practices, and John sent a treatise to theArmenianCatholicosGregory II the Martyrophile in its defence.[4] John also sent a letter to theCopticPope Christodoulos of Alexandria to refute criticism of the practice of mixing of salt and oil with thesacramental bread.[4] He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death at Amid on 6 or 27 November 1072/1073.[5][6]
John wrote extensively on theological, canonical, and liturgical matters.[5] He composed seven books ofpropitiatory prayers (pl.Syriac:ḥusoye), four books of poetry on the Turkish sack of Melitene in 1058, and ananaphora.[4][6] As well as the aforementioned letter and treatise in defence of the church's practices, John wrote two treatises to refute Islam and theMelkite church of Antioch.[4][5]
Notes
Citations
| Oriental Orthodox titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch 1063/1064–1072/1073 | Succeeded by |
