Abdas of Susa
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Abdas, or Abda, was bishop of Susa in Iran (Socrates also calls him "bishop of Persia" 1). Engaged in a dispute with the local Zoroastrians in AD 420 he burnt down one of their temples. King Yazdegerd ordered the bishop to restore and repair the building at his own expense, upon Abdas' refusal the King ordered the destruction of the churches. These events soured the relationship between the Christian church and the Persian government which had previously been good, and caused a wave of persecution against the Christians in Persia 2. Other than he is supposed to have helped Maruthas in driving out a demon from Yezdegerd's3, nothing else certain is known of him. Tradition adds to this that he was one of the first martyred in the persecution (he was clubbed to death), and for this he is considered a saint by the Catholic church. His feast day is 5 September.
[edit] References
- De Lacy & O'Leary; The Syriac Church and Fathers (2002)
- Smith, William & Wace, Henry (editors); A dictionary of christian biography, literature, sects and doctrine, "Abda", (1877). (96MB PDF)
- Theodoret, Ecclesiasistical history, Blomfield Jackson (translator) (1892)
