Dionysius of Tel Mahre - His Election As Patriarch

His Election As Patriarch

The reign of the Jacobite patriarch Quriaqos of Tagrit (793–817) was troubled by a dispute about the use of the phrase 'heavenly bread' in connection with the Eucharist. When Quriaqos tried to prevent the use of the phrase, his opponents responded by electing an anti-patriarch, Abraham (or Abarim) of Qartmin. Abraham consecrated several metropolitans, who championed the use of the phrase 'heavenly bread' despite its condemnation by Quriaqos and many of his own metropolitans and bishops.

Quriaqos died in August 817, and the legitimist Jacobite bishops convened a synod in June 818 at Callinicus (Raqqa) in which they reiterated their opposition to the use of the phrase 'heavenly bread'. They then discussed the appointment of a successor to Quriaqos. After considerable discussion, the bishop Theodore of Kaishum proposed the election of Dionysius of Tel Mahre. As bishop of Kaishum, Theodore normally resided in the monastery of Mar Zakkai, and knew Dionysius well. His proposal was approved by most of the bishops present, including the maphrian Basil I.

Dionysius was accordingly brought to Callinicus, received deacon's orders on Friday 30 July in the monastery of the Column and priest's orders on Saturday 31 July in the monastery of Mar Zakkai, and was consecrated patriarch in the Jacobite cathedral in Callinicus on Sunday 1 August 818 by the metropolitan Theodosius of Callinicus.

Abraham and his partisans, seeing their hopes disappointed, maintained their hostile attitude, which led afterwards to the usual scandalous scenes before the Muslim authorities.