Ignatius Behnam Hadloyo facts for kids

Ignatius Behnam Hadloyo (Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܒܗܢܡ ܚܕܠܝܐ, Arabic: البطريرك بهنام الحدلي) was a very important leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church. He served as the Patriarch of Antioch and the head of his church from 1445 until he passed away in 1454.

About His Life

Early Years and Education

Behnam was born in a place called Ḥadl, in Tur Abdin, during the 14th century. His father was John, from the Habbo Kanni family. This family originally came from Bartella. Behnam received his education from a teacher named Rabban Jacob the Stylite.

Becoming a Church Leader

Behnam became a monk at the monastery of Qartmin. Later, he was ordained as a priest. In 1404, he was consecrated as a maphrian. A maphrian was a high-ranking bishop, often seen as a regional leader in the church.

He was chosen to be the Patriarch of Mardin in 1412. This happened at a special meeting called a synod, held at the monastery of Saint Ananias. On June 24 or July 24, 1412, he was officially made Patriarch and took the name Ignatius.

Working Towards Church Unity

As Patriarch, Behnam worked with the Catholic Church. He sent a representative, Abdallah, to the Council of Florence. This was a big meeting where church leaders discussed important matters.

It is believed that Pope Eugene IV invited Behnam to this council. After successful talks, the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church agreed to unite. This agreement was celebrated in Rome on September 30, 1444. An official document called a papal bull was issued to mark this union.

Uniting the Syriac Orthodox Church

In 1445, another Patriarch, Basil IV Simon, passed away. Behnam traveled to Jerusalem to help heal a long-standing split in the church. This split had been going on since 1293.

He successfully convinced the bishops who had followed Basil IV to accept him as the Patriarch of Antioch. This brought unity back to the church under his leadership. In 1450, Behnam visited Jerusalem again with many bishops, priests, monks, and deacons.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1453, a major historical event happened: the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire. After this, the relationship with the Catholic Church became difficult. Because of this, the union signed in 1444 was ended.

Ignatius Behnam Hadloyo continued to serve as Patriarch of Antioch until his death on December 10, 1454. He was buried at the monastery of Saint Ananias. During his time as Patriarch, he ordained two maphrians and ten bishops, helping to guide the church.

His Writings

Behnam was also a writer. He wrote ten books of special prayers called ḥusoye (propitiatory prayers). Three of these were for Lent, and others were for different saint festivals. He also wrote about the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

He also created an anaphora, which is a type of prayer used during church services. In 1425, he put together a collection of writings from Daniel of Salah's commentary on the Psalms. Besides these, Behnam also wrote eleven poems.