Mor Philoxenos of Mabbug (Mor Akhsnoyo) martyrdom +523

Mor Philoxenos of Mabbug (Mor Akhsnoyo) martyrdom +523

August 16th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Philoxenus of Mabbug +523 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known as Mor Akhsnoyo, Xenaya was born in Tahal, Persia. He studied in Edessa followed by Tel'ada Antioch, later joining the Qartmin Monastery (aka Dayro d-Mor Gabriel) & entering priesthood. St. Philoxenus was consecrated bishop of Mabbug (Hierapolis) by HH Patriarch Peter II (Peter the Fuller). This was during a time of great turbulence in Christianity, hardly 30 years had passed since the infamous Council of Chalcedon. Philoxenus was a vehement champion of the Orthodox Miaphysite theology. In AD512 St. Severius the Great Patriarch of Antioch replaced the Chalcedonian Flavius II. Mor Philoxenus became his trusted spokesperson. He was a renowned scholar, among the most learned theologians. He wrote several letters on ascetic life, the perfect Christian life, the Holy Trinity & the incarnation, in addition to three texts of Holy Qurbono, & prayers for different hours. Mor Philoxenus also commissioned Cor-Episcopo Polycarp to produce what is known as the 'Philoxenian Bible' in Syriac which was used in the Miaphysite churches till about the 7th century when it was superceded by the Syriac Peshito (which already existed in the complete form since the 5th century). Regarding the incarnation, Mor Philoxenus wrote espousing the Miaphysite theology: “The very personality of God the word descended from heaven & became man in the womb of the Virgin, personally without conversion. Thus, He became a man who could be seen, felt, handled, & yet as God He continued to possess the spiritual, invisible, & impalpable character essential to Deity. Neither the deity nor the humanity was absorbed one by the other, nor converted one into the other. Nor again by a combination of the two natures was a third evolved as by chemical transformation” Sadly, following the death of the faithful Orthodox Emperor Anastasius, Justin I became ruler. He adhered to the Chalcedonian faith, & began a great wave of persecution on the Orthodox Miaphysites. Justin I exiled both St. Severius & St. Philoxenus. While in exile Mor Akhsnoyo was murdered by suffocation of smoke. Thus on December 10th 523AD, he attained the crown of martyrdom. Mor Philoxenus of Mabbug is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' Oh Mor Akhsnoyo! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. Priesthood according to Mor Philoxenus of Mabbug by Abouna Fr. Roger Akhrass: https://tinyurl.com/bp6rspw6Lust in the Belly: https://tinyurl.com/yw5ej3xj Lecture Series - The Discourses of Mor Philoxenos of Mabbug (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/3nihKHvBL17134