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Our newly completed English translation of Ancient Chronicle of the Church of the East sheds much light on the history of Christianity in Najran, Arabia and More…
We just completed the English translation of Ancient Chronicle of the Church of the East, first translated into Arabic by al-Khūry Buṭrus ‘Azīz, Deputy Patriarch of the Chaldeans in 1909 (taqwīm l-kanīsa l-kaldānīyya n-nasṭūriyya; تقويم الكنيسة الكلدانية النسطورية).
This invaluable record from the Church of the East contains a significant amount history about Christianity in the Arabian Peninsula (and elsewhere) that is not widely known -which is why we decided to translate it into English. The information reported by the Church of the East in this document includes, for example:
▪︎The Church of Najran (1260 AD)
▪︎The Church of Medina (1240 AD)
▪︎The Church of Okaz (1240 AD)
▪︎The Church of Sana’a (13th century)
▪︎The Church of Zabīd (1210 AD)
▪︎The Church of Aden (1250 AD)
▪︎Bishop Emmanuel of Sana’a, who served in Bombay
▪︎Bishop Abdullah from the Hejaz region, who served in Patna (India)
▪︎And much more, including some fascinating insights about Genghis Khan…
Download the new book here
Kindle a fire upon the mountain top, that the overnight guest would come to it, the sojourner who passes by night…
St. Arethas (Harith)
We posted a new article here about al-Harith bin Ka’b (Arethas), the legendary martyr of Najran of present-day Saudi Arabia. Not only was Harith a courageous leader and devoted follower of Christ, but he is also a famous Arab poet, and even has a large, respected tribe named after him (Bilharith bin Ka’b; a member of the tribe goes by al-Harthi). Harith called upon his people to kindle a fire of faith upon the mountain top, echoing Christ who had proclaimed, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…” (Matt. 5:14).
The Village of Paul in Arabia | قرية بولس
New Discoveries | اكتشافات جديدة
A place called Būlah (i.e., Paul, formerly “Būlas”) still exists in al-Haḍn of Najran in present-day Saudi Arabia, and is still referred to by local residents. See our free book for more details (p. 41), with associated references. The village of Paul, and an ancient well referred to as Būlah well, is marked on this map.
The Apostle Paul sojourned in Arabia for three years (Gal. 1:17-18). Because Najran was a strategic gateway city on the caravan route, which was the main highway that passed through Arabia, we cannot discount the possibility that he may have visited the city. We have found new evidence which suggests that Paul may have spent time in Najran, based on comments by the famous 10th-century historian, al-Hamdāni, comments which were quietly tucked away in the margins of a manuscript. The historian al-Akwa’ writes:
As for the chief of historians [known as] the Tongue of Yemen [i.e., al-Hamdāni], the one who served his people with history, [I present] to you a text in his very words, which I found in the margins of the biography of ibn Hishām al-Ma’āfirī, the manuscript [of which is dated] 1067 AH [1657 AD], as transmitted by al-Hamdāni, who said: “The people of Najran drew my attention to the remnants of a place and a lodging of the village of al-Hajar Najran between the [settlements] of the tribes of Rabī’ah and the tribes of Yām, in the heart of al-Haḍn, [a place] by the name of Būlas [Paul]. Būlas was one of the disciples [of Jesus], and the location was called by the name of the one who visited it… This is further verified by what appeared in the biography of al-Hādī Muhayya bin al-Husayn which relates that he visited a location called Būlas.” (al-Akwa’; al-yaman al-khaḍrā; p. 157).
A small farming and residential area centrally located in the charming oasis village of al-Haḍn in Najran is still known as Būlah by the local community.
Najran had two Bishops named Paul in the 6th century, both ordained by the renowned Philoxenus of Mabbug of the Syriac Orthodox Church (see p. 54 of The Church of Najran of present-day Saudi Arabia) . Paul II was the brother of the Najrani deaconness and martyr, Elizabeth. It is possible that these Najrani bishops were given the name Paul when ordained in light of this history.
The martyrs of Najran referenced the Apostle Paul’s letters in their testimonies. For example, Sister Ruhm boldly proclaimed: “It is better for us to die than to obey. If we die in this faith, we will live” (p. 6 of The Church of Najran of present-day Saudi Arabia). Or as the Apostle Paul put it: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Phil. 1:21-23).
When speaking of the faithful martyrs of Najran, Fr. Francis rightly said: “Arethas (i.e., Harith) called for vigorous resistance and fidelity to Christ, the Son of God. ‘We must not abjure Christ, for he is life for us… To die for him is to find Life.’ He was beheaded. More than 4,000 Christians were also martyred… St. Paul mentions that he ‘went to Arabia’ (Gal. 1:17) for three years. It was like a preparation for his mission, because in the desert, God speaks directly to the heart. Like St. Paul, our experience in the desert allows us to become strong, to be able to say with St. Arethas: ‘To die for Christ is to find life!’” (Fr. Francis; OSST; Rome; 28th Sep. 2020; see Unforgotten Martyrs of Arabia: St. Arethas and Companions, Martyrs; by J. Sarmiento; 2020)
