Ishodad of Merv

Ishodad of Merv (Syriac: ܝܫܘܥܕܕ ܕܡܪܒ‎) (fl. 850 AD) was a bishop of Hdatta and a prominent theologian of the Church of the East.

Life

Not very much is known about his early life but he appears to have been born in Merv in Khorasan. He became a bishop of Hdatta. He was a candidate for the patriarchy of the Church of the East around 852 after the death of Abraham II. He is most renowned for his extensive Syriac exegesis of the Old and New Testaments.

He died shortly after 852 AD.

Notes

References

Merv

Merv (Turkmen: Merw, Persian: مرو‎‎, Marv), formerly Achaemenid Satrapy of Margiana, and later Alexandria (Ἀλεξάνδρεια) and Antiochia in Margiana (Greek: Ἀντιόχεια τῆς Μαργιανῆς), was a major oasis-city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, located near today's Mary in Turkmenistan.

Several cities have existed on this site, which is significant for the interchange of culture and politics at a site of major strategic value. It is claimed that Merv was briefly the largest city in the world in the 12th century. The site of ancient Merv has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (See List of World Heritage Sites in Turkmenistan)

History

Merv's origins are prehistoric: archaeological surveys have revealed many traces of village life as far back as the 3rd millennium BC and that the city was culturally part of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. Under the name of Mouru, Merv is mentioned with Balkh in the geography of the Zend-Avesta (commentaries on the Avesta). Mouru was among the sixteen perfect lands created by Ahura Mazda.

Merv (disambiguation)

Merv often refers to the Central Asian city: Merv.

It may also refer to the historical Merv (East Syrian Ecclesiastical Province)

People

Merv may be a nickname for Mervin or Mervyn, variants of Marvin:

Merv (East Syrian Ecclesiastical Province)

Merv was a metropolitan province of the Church of the East between the fifth and eleventh centuries, with several known suffragan dioceses.

Background

At least one East Syrian diocese in Khorasan existed by the beginning of the fifth century, though it was not assigned to a metropolitan province in 410. After establishing five metropolitan provinces in Mesopotamia, Canon XXI of the synod of Isaac provided that 'the bishops of the more remote dioceses of Fars, of the Islands, of Beth Madaye, of Beth Raziqaye and of the country of Abrashahr must accept the definition established in this council at a later date'. By implication, Abrashahr (Nishapur) already had a bishop at this period.

Four East Syrian dioceses in Khorasan and Segestan are attested a few years later. The bishops Bar Shaba of Merv, David of Abrashahr, Yazdoï of Herat and Aphrid of Segestan were present at the synod of Dadishoʿ in 424. The uncommon name of the bishop of Merv, Bar Shaba, means 'son of the deportation', suggesting that Merv's Christian community may have been deported from Roman territory.