Simandu (West Syriac diocese)


Simandu was an archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Tzamandos, Cappadocia, attested between the tenth and twelfth centuries. Thirteen of its bishops are mentioned in the lists of Michael the Syriac and other Jacobite sources.

Location

Simandu was a district near Melitene, known in Greek as Tzamandos. During the twelfth century it was included in the territories of the Frankish County of Edessa.

Bishops and metropolitans of Simandu

Eleven Jacobite metropolitans of Simandu are mentioned in the lists of Michael the Syrian.
NameFromConsecrated in the reign ofPlace of consecration
YaʿqobUnspecifiedIwanis II not known
BasilMonastery of the Mother of GodYohannan VI not known
EliyaMonastery of PeterAthanasius IV Laʿzar Not known
PhiloxenusMor Bar Sauma Monastery, MeliteneDionysius IV Heheh Not known
IgnatiusMonastery of BaridAthanasius V Haya not known
AthanasiusMonastery of BaridYohannan VIII bar Shushan Harran
Yohannan ʿAbdonMonastery of Bar Gaghi, MeliteneBasil II Monastery of Mar Bar Sawma, Melitene
BasilMonastery of BaridAthanasius VI bar Khamoro not known
MattaiMonastery of Beth QenayaYohannan X Maudiana not known
BasilMonastery of Mar Ahron, ShigarAthanasius VII bar Qutreh not known

Two twelfth-century bishops of Simandu omitted from the lists of Michael the Syrian are mentioned in the Chronicon Ecclesiasticum of Bar Hebraeus:
  • Yohannan, previously bishop of Segestan, was awarded the diocese of Simandu at the synod of Kaishum in 1129, at the request of the Frankish count Joscelin I of Edessa.
  • Bar Turkaya, bishop of Tel Bshir, was transferred to Simandu in or shortly after 1132, and after a short residence as bishop of Simandu was again transferred to Habora.
The diocese of Simandu seems to have lapsed around the end of the twelfth century, perhaps after the death of the bishop Basil.