Denha I | |
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Syriac Orthodox Grand Metropolitan of the East | |
Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
Installed | 649 |
Term ended | 659 |
Predecessor | Marutha |
Successor | Barishoʿ |
Personal details | |
Died | 3 November 659 |
Sainthood | |
Feast day | 2 October |
Venerated in | Syriac Orthodox Church |
Denha I ( Syriac: ܕܢܚܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܡܦܪܝܢܐ ܕܬܓܪܝܬ, Arabic: دنحا الاول مفريان المشرق) [1] was the Syriac Orthodox Grand Metropolitan of the East from 649 until his death in 659. [2] He is commemorated as a saint by the Syriac Orthodox Church in the Martyrology of Rabban Sliba, and his feast day is 2 October. [3]
Denha became a monk at the monastery of Saint Matthew near Mosul and studied under Marutha, who would later ascend to the office of Grand Metropolitan of the East, the highest-ranking prelate amongst the miaphysite bishops in the former Sasanian Empire. [4] After Marutha's death on 2 May 649 ( AG 960), Denha was chosen to succeed him and was thus brought before the Patriarch Theodore and ordained as archbishop of Tikrit and Grand Metropolitan of the East. [5] It was formerly asserted by the French orientalist Rubens Duval that Denha was the first miaphysite Grand Metropolitan of the East to hold the title maphrian, [6] however, it was likely not in use until c. 1100. [7] He served until his death on 3 November 659 ( AG 970) and he was buried with Marutha at the cathedral in the citadel of Tikrit. [5]
Denha wrote a hagiography of Marutha (Brit. Mus. MS. 14645), which was later translated by the French Syriacist François Nau. [4]