Abraham the Great of Kashkar
Encyclopedia
Abraham the Great of Kashkar was the father of the Assyrian monastic
revival in the 6th century. He is hailed as a doctor and saint
of the Assyrian Church of the East
.
He was born in Kashkar in Persia around 492. He left there to preach the Gospel
at Al-Hirah
, leaving there to study monastic life at Scetes.
Monasticism was very popular in early Syrian and Mesopotamian Christianity
. Some held the view that only a life of celibacy
could lead to salvation. Initially, all monks and nuns were hermit
s, but in about 350 Mar Awgin
founded the first cenobitic
monastery of Mesopotamia on Mt. Izla above the city Nisibis
after the Egyptian model. Soon there were many monasteries.
But at the synod of Beth Lapat the Assyrian Church of the East
decided that all monks and nuns should marry.
Obviously, this was in order to please the Zoroastrian
rulers, who held family life sacred.
The decision severely weakened the church. Spiritual life declined and some opponents left altogether
and joined the new Monophysite Church.
The decision was reverted in 553, and in 571 Abraham founded a new monastery on Mt. Izla with strict rules. Abraham died in 586.
The third abbot of this monastery was his student Babai the Great
(551-628).
Babai finally drove out the married monks from Mt. Izla, and as 'visitor of the monasteries of the north' ensured that the monastic ideal was taken seriously throughout northern Mesopotamia.
Abraham's feast day is celebrated on the 6th Friday after Epiphany.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
revival in the 6th century. He is hailed as a doctor and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
.
He was born in Kashkar in Persia around 492. He left there to preach the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
at Al-Hirah
Al-Hirah
Al Hīra was an ancient city located south of al-Kufah in south-central Iraq.- Middle Ages:Al Hīra was a significant city in pre-Islamic Arab history. Originally a military encampment, in the 5th and 6th centuries CE it became the capital of the Lakhmids.The Arabs were migrating into the Near East...
, leaving there to study monastic life at Scetes.
Monasticism was very popular in early Syrian and Mesopotamian Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Some held the view that only a life of celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
could lead to salvation. Initially, all monks and nuns were hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
s, but in about 350 Mar Awgin
Mar Awgin
Mar Awgin , also known as Saint Eugenios, founded the first cenobitic monastery of Asia.Originally, Saint Eugenios was a pearl-fisher from the island Clysma or Kolzum near Suez in Egypt. After having worked for 25 years, he joined the monastery of Pachomius in Upper Egypt, where he worked as a baker...
founded the first cenobitic
Cenobitic
Cenobitic monasticism is a monastic tradition that stresses community life. Often in the West, the community belongs to a religious order and the life of the cenobitic monk is regulated by a religious rule, a collection of precepts...
monastery of Mesopotamia on Mt. Izla above the city Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
after the Egyptian model. Soon there were many monasteries.
But at the synod of Beth Lapat the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
decided that all monks and nuns should marry.
Obviously, this was in order to please the Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
rulers, who held family life sacred.
The decision severely weakened the church. Spiritual life declined and some opponents left altogether
and joined the new Monophysite Church.
The decision was reverted in 553, and in 571 Abraham founded a new monastery on Mt. Izla with strict rules. Abraham died in 586.
The third abbot of this monastery was his student Babai the Great
Babai the Great
Babai the Great was an early church father of the Church of the East. He set several of the foundational pillars of the Church, revived the monastic movement, and formulated its Christology in a systematic way. He served as an unofficial head of the Nestorian Church from 611 to 628 AD, leaving a...
(551-628).
Babai finally drove out the married monks from Mt. Izla, and as 'visitor of the monasteries of the north' ensured that the monastic ideal was taken seriously throughout northern Mesopotamia.
Abraham's feast day is celebrated on the 6th Friday after Epiphany.