John III of the Sedre facts for kids

John III of the Sedre (Syriac: ܝܘܚܢܢ ܕܣܕܪ̈ܘܗܝ, Arabic: يوحنا ابو السدرات) was an important leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church. He served as the Patriarch of Antioch, which is like being the main bishop, from 631 until he passed away in 648. The Syriac Orthodox Church honors him as a saint, and his special day is December 14.

John III's Life Story

Early Life and Education

John was born in a village called Beth ‘Ellaya. When he was older, he became a monk at a monastery. There, he studied important subjects like Greek, Syriac, and theology (the study of religious beliefs). He became a deacon, which is a church helper. Later, he became the secretary for the Patriarch Athanasius I Gammolo.

A Mission for Unity

After a long war between the Roman and Sasanian empires, John went on a special trip. His goal was to help bring together different groups of Syriac Christians. These groups were in different empires and had become separated.

John traveled to the Mar Mattai Monastery and met with church leaders there. He talked to them and convinced them to agree to reunite. After more meetings, the different Christian groups decided to become one again. This was a big success for John's mission.

Becoming a Church Leader

In 631, John became the new Patriarch of Antioch, taking over from Athanasius. This was a very important job. Soon after he became Patriarch, big changes happened in the world around him. The Muslim armies began to take over lands that were once part of the Roman Empire, including Syria.

During this time, John also wrote letters to another important church leader, Marutha of Tikrit. These letters helped them share information about how Christians were being treated in different empires.

Important Discussions and Translations

One interesting story about John is a discussion he had with a Muslim leader, an emir. This happened in 644. The emir wanted to talk about the Christian Bible, the idea that Jesus is divine, and Christian laws. John spoke for all Christians and was praised for how well he handled the discussion.

The emir also asked John to have the Gospel (part of the Bible) translated from Syriac into Arabic. John agreed, but the emir first wanted some parts removed, like mentions of Jesus's name or the Cross. John refused to remove these important parts, and the emir eventually agreed to a full translation.

His Passing

John III passed away on December 14, 648. He was buried in a church in a place called Amid. His work helped unite Christians and spread Christian teachings during a time of great change.

His Writings and Legacy

John III was known for his writings, which is why he earned the nickname "of the Sedre." He wrote nine special prayers called sedre for different times, like during Lent or for repentance. He also wrote three prayers for the Eucharist, a church service, and a sermon about consecrating Chrism (holy oil).

He also wrote a long document explaining his Christian faith. In this writing, he discussed different Christian beliefs and argued against ideas he disagreed with. His writings helped guide the Syriac Orthodox Church.