Antioch & Syriacondemned
Who he was
- Aba was born to pagan parents in a village on the eastern shore of the River Tigris.
- He was educated in the sciences and Persian literature. Because of his high level of education, he was chosen as the chief of the Magi in his village.
- An interesting story led to his conversion from paganism: Joseph called Moses, a student or teacher at the School of Nisibis, sought to cross the River Tigris in the same boat as Aba. Aba refused and tried to cross the river three times without him, but he was prevented by storms. However, when afterwards he allowed Moses to cross with him, he was able to reach the other side of the river with great ease. Aba was captured by his decency and meekness, and as a result was encouraged to learn about Christianity.
- He was taught Greek by a man named Thomas whom he
met in Edessa. They visited Palestine and Egypt together.
- While in Alexandria, Aba studied the Scriptures in Greek, and he also visited monasteries throughout Egypt.
- He and Thomas afterwards went to Athens, Corinth, and Constantinople between 525 and 533. They remained in Constantinople for one year, and it is said that they fled the city suddenly because they refused to condemn Diodore and Nestorius.
- He returned to Nisibis and became a teacher in its school.
- In 540, he was chosen to be Catholicos by the bishops of the Church of the East.
What he wrote
Translations
- The works which Aba translated are: - The Old Testament from Greek to Syriac. - Some works by Theodore of Mopsuestia. - The liturgies of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius from Greek to Aramaic. These liturgies are used by the Assyrian Church of the East during specific times of the year. Other Works
- He wrote exegesis on some books of the Old Testament and the Epistles of St. Paul.
- He tried to restore the disorder within the Church of the East by establishing new laws concerning the rights of bishops, and by holding a synod in Beth Laphat.
- He wrote several articles and letters to organize
matters in the Church of the East.
- The hymns recited daily during Lent in the Assyrian Nestorian Church are ascribed to him.