Saint Philoxenus of Mabbug – The Defender of True Faith

Saint Philoxenus of Mabbug, one of the greatest Syriac theologians and church leaders, was born in the 5th century. As a bishop and scholar, he dedicated his life to defending the Orthodox faith and preserving the theological traditions of the Church. His writings emphasize deep spiritual reflection, asceticism, and the importance of a pure heart in seeking God.

ܡܪܝ ܦܝܠܟܣܝܢܘܣ ܕܡܒܘܓ ܗܘܐ ܚܕ ܡܢ ܪܒ̈ܐ ܡܠܦ̈ܢܐ ܘܐܦܣܩܘܦܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ. ܒܪ ܡܐܐ ܚܡܫܐ ܐܝܬ ܗܘܐ ܘܡܢ ܚܝ̈ܘܗܝ ܩܕܡ ܒܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ ܘܢܛܪ ܡܠܦܢܘܬܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ.

Philoxenus is well known for his defense of the true nature of Christ. He opposed heretical teachings and worked tirelessly to ensure that the faith remained uncorrupted. His deep knowledge of Scripture and his poetic style made his theological works both profound and accessible to believers.

ܦܝܠܟܣܝܢܘܣ ܗܘܐ ܡܢ ܢܛܘܪ̈ܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ ܕܐܠܗܘܬܐ ܕܡܪܢ. ܩܡ ܩܕܡ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܠܘ ܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ ܘܡܕܠܠ ܗܘܐ ܕܐܢ ܬܩܘܡ ܥܕܬܐ ܥܠ ܫܪܪܐ.

His spiritual teachings focused on the necessity of prayer, fasting, and humility. He taught that the human heart must be purified to fully experience the presence of God. His words continue to inspire Christians to seek holiness in their daily lives.

ܡܠܦܢܘܬܗ ܥܠ ܚܝ̈ܐ ܪܘܚܢܝܐ ܢܛܪܬ ܗܘܬ ܒܨܘܡܐ, ܨܠܘܬܐ ܘܡܟܝܟܘܬܐ. ܠܡܕ ܗܘܐ ܕܠܐ ܫܟܚ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܢܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܡܡܠܝ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܐܠܐ ܡܢ ܕܢܕܟܐ ܠܒܗ.

Let us remember and honor Saint Philoxenus of Mabbug, a true pillar of the Syriac Orthodox faith, whose wisdom and courage still strengthen the Church today.

ܢܕܟܪ ܘܢܫܒܚ ܠܡܪܝ ܦܝܠܟܣܝܢܘܣ ܕܡܒܘܓ, ܕܗܘܐ ܥܡܘܕܐ ܕܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ ܘܚܝܠܗ ܘܚܟܡܬܗ ܥܕܝܠܡܐ ܡܫܠܝܢ ܠܥܕܬܐ.