„Apostoł” Arabów – Ahudemmeh. Kilka uwag na temat sporów doktrynalnych i wiarygodności przekazów źródłowych

Abstract

Ahudemmeh was a Miaphysite bishop (559) involved in missionary activity among Arab tribes in north Mesopotamia. He suffered martyr’s death approx. 575 during reign of Khosrau I Anushirvan (531-579). The present paper is an analysis of information about Ahudemmeh included in source records and coming from antagonistic (Miaphysite and Theodorian) religious milieu in the context of Christians situation in Iran in VI. Reorganisation of Theodorian church was launched in 554 and the bishop Ahudemmeh of Nineveh participated in a synod. Five years later he left the church and became a Miaphysite bishop. In conflict with Theodorians from Nisibis, Ahudemmeh gained the support of Persian king and as a result he built two monasteries in Beth ‘Arbaye. The most exhaustive source text mentioning Ahudemmeh is his biography which takes no notice of the bishop’s Theodorian past. The biography focuses on Ahudemmeh’s apostolic activity crowned by his martyr’s death and this fact enforced Khosrau’s presentation in unfavourable light. Lack of independent source records relating to baptism of king’s son and his escape to Byzantium entails rejection of authenticity of records saying about this event.