party, especially at Nisibis. Many Nestorian writers inveigh against the Henanians. Their chief opponent was Babai the Great (p. 83); canons were drawn up against them.[1] According to Babai they were Origenists, Fatalists, Pantheists. But a significant point is that, among their other crimes, they accepted the Council of Chalcedon and the teaching of St. John Chrysostom rather than that of Theodore of Mopsuestia. So a doubt occurs: were these Henanians really anything but Catholics among the Nestorians?
King Chosroes[2] II (590–628) made war on Rome, captured Jerusalem, and took away the Holy Cross. He appointed Sbaryeshu‘ I Patriarch (596–604). Sbaryeshu‘[3] was a monk who enjoyed a great reputation for piety. As Patriarch he ruled firmly and well, took steps to put down heresies, and spread the faith among idolaters in outlying parts of the kingdom. He was, of course, not allowed to make any propaganda against the State religion. In 603 he was made to accompany the Persian army and pray for its success. But this was less distressing to him than it would have been to his early predecessors, since, as a Nestorian, he looked upon the Romans as heretics.[4] Chosroes II began a fitful persecution of Christians, the last they had to suffer from the old Persian monarchy; there were some martyrs at this time. Sbaryeshu‘ I was succeeded by Gregory (605–609). Then, because of the persecution, there was a long vacancy (609–628). At Chosroes' death peace was restored to the Church. Heraclius (610–641) won victories which frightened the Persian Government. Yeshu‘yab II became Patriarch (628–643), and was sent as ambassador to Heraclius in 630. Arrived at the Emperor's court he made a Catholic profession of faith and was admitted to Communion. On his return to Persia he was violently attacked for this, and for a time his name was struck from the Nestorian diptychs.[5] But this was only a passing phase. He had condemned Chalcedon in his profession of faith already.[6]
Yeshu‘yab II saw the great change which now came over the
