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Ignatius Abraham bar Gharib

Ignatius Abraham bar Gharib (Syriac: ܐܒܪܗܡ ܒܪ ܓܪܝܒ, Arabic: البطريرك ابرهيم بن غريب)^{[1][nb 1]} was the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Mardin from 1381 or 1382 until his death in 1412.

Biography[edit]

Abraham was the son of Quryaqos, son of Gharīb of Amid, and had a brother named Joseph, who would later become metropolitan bishop of Amid.^[7] He became a monk at the monastery of Saint Ananias and was ordained as a priest before 1355.^[8] He was appointed as his brother Joseph's successor as metropolitan bishop of Amid in c. 1375 with the name Cyril.^[8] Abraham was elected as patriarch of Mardin at a synod at Amid in 1381 or 1382, upon which he assumed the name Ignatius.^{[9][nb 2]}

Soon after his ascension to the patriarchal office, Abraham designated a brother as his successor as patriarch, according to the anonymous continuator of the Ecclesiastical HistoryofBar Hebraeus.^[11] In doing so, he attempted to establish his own familial succession in imitation of the preceding patriarchs of Mardin, Ignatius Shahab (r. 1365/1366–1381) and Ignatius Ismail (r. 1333–1365/1366), both of whom were nephews of their predecessor.^[11] This was unsuccessful, however, as Abraham's brother would predecease him.^[12]

In 1396, Timur's attack on Mardin resulted in damage to the nearby monastery of Saint Ananias, including the destruction of the wall, cells, and door of the sanctuary.^[3] Abraham promptly set about raising funds to restore the monastery through gathering donations and the sale of the monastery's furniture, manuscripts, and vessels.^[13] Eventually, he spent 50,000 coins of an unknown currency on rebuilding the monastery, at which time he may have also transferred the relics of Saint Eugene and others there.^[14] Abraham served as patriarch of Mardin until his death in 1412 and was buried in the mausoleum of the monastery of Saint Ananias.^[2]

Works[edit]

Abraham wrote a book of propitiatory prayers (Syriac: ḥusoyo) for the morning service of Lazarus Saturday, and compiled a liturgy of anaphorasofChurch Fathers, including a 13-page anaphora written by his brother Joseph.^[8]

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