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Commemorated on February 16
The Monk Maruph
was bishop of a city founded by him, Tigrit (Greek – Martyropolis), – a
border city between the Byzantine empire and Persia. He was famed for his
knowledge and his piety, he wrote about the martyrs, and he suffered for his
faith in Christ under the Persian emperor Sapor. He also left behind other
works in the Syrian language, among which the most famous are: "Commentary
on the Gospel", "Verses of Maruph", "Liturgy of
Maruph" and "The 73 Canons of the OEcumenical Council at Nicea"
(325) with an account of the acts of the Council.
In the year 381 Saint
Maruph participated in the II OEcumenical Council at Constantinople – convened
against the heresy of Macedonius, and in the year 383 – at the local Antioch
Council against the Messalians.
During the years
403-404 Saint Maruph set off to Constantinople to plead with the emperor
Arkadius to protect Persian christians. He was twice sent by the emperor
Theodosius the Younger to the shah Izdegerd to secure the peace between the
empire and Persia.
In the year 414 Saint
Maruph, having done his duty as envoy to the court of Izdegerd, persuaded the
shah to a favourable disposition towards christians, and he assisted greatly in
the freedom of confession of the true faith in Persia. He rebuilt christian
churches razed during the persecution by the Persian shah Sapor. He also
located relics of saints that had suffered martyrdom and transferred them to
Martyropolis (Tigrit). He died there in about the year 422. The relics of Saint
Maruph were later transferred to Egypt and placed in a skete monastery of the
Mother of God.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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