Denha I of Tikrit
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Denha I | |
|---|---|
| Syriac Orthodox Grand Metropolitan of the East | |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| Installed | 649 |
| Term ended | 659 |
| Predecessor | Marutha |
| Successor | Barishoʿ |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 3 November 659 |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 2 October |
| Venerated in | Syriac Orthodox Church |
Denha I (Syriac: ܕܢܚܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܡܦܪܝܢܐ ܕܬܓܪܝܬ, Arabic: دنحا الاول مفريان المشرق)[1] was the Syriac Orthodox Grand Metropolitan of the East from 649 until his death in 659.[2] He is commemorated as a saint by the Syriac Orthodox Church in the Martyrology of Rabban Sliba, and his feast day is 2 October.[3]
Denha became a monk at the monastery of Saint Matthew near Mosul and studied under Marutha, who would later ascend to the office of Grand Metropolitan of the East, the highest-ranking prelate amongst the miaphysite bishops in the former Sasanian Empire.[4] After Marutha's death on 2 May 649 (AG 960), Denha was chosen to succeed him and was thus brought before the Patriarch Theodore and ordained as archbishop of Tikrit and Grand Metropolitan of the East.[5] It was formerly asserted by the French orientalist Rubens Duval that Denha was the first miaphysite Grand Metropolitan of the East to hold the title maphrian,[6] however, it was likely not in use until c. 1100.[7] He served until his death on 3 November 659 (AG 970) and he was buried with Marutha at the cathedral in the citadel of Tikrit.[5]
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