Simandu (West Syriac diocese)


Simandu was an archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in 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 Tzamendos. 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
PhiloxenusMonastery of Mar Bar Sawma, 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 Khamara 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:
The diocese of Simandu seems to have lapsed around the end of the twelfth century, perhaps after the death of the bishop Basil.