Yahballaha I


Yahballaha I was bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, grand metropolitan and primate of the Church of the East from 415 to 420. He is included in the traditional list of patriarchs of the Church of the East.

Yahballaha's reign

The following account of Yahballaha's reign is given by Bar Hebraeus:

After Ahai, Yahballaha. His name means 'gift of God'. He was a pious and learned man, and was consecrated in the sixteenth year of Yazdegerd, king of the Persians. He is said to have brought back to life a dead man. He was held in great honour by the Persians. When he had fulfilled his office for five years he was warned by the spirit that Yazdegerd was about to return to his insanity and launch a further persecution against the Christians. Then, as he had sought in prayer, he departed to God.