Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Transliteration and Terminology; Introduction; Introduction to the Text; The History ofthe Heroic Deeds of Mar Qardaghthe Victorious Martyr; Index of Scriptural Citations; 1. TheChurchoftheEast and the Hagiographyof the Persian Martyrs; 2. "We Rejoice in Your Heroic Deeds!" Christian Heroismand Sasanian Epic Tradition; 3. Refuting the Eternity ofthe Stars: Philosophy between Byzantium and Late Antique Iraq; 4. Conversion and the Family in the Acts ofthe Persian Martyrs
5. Remembering Mar Qardagh: The Origins and Evolution of an East-Syrian Martyr CultEpilogue: The Festival of Mar Qardagh at Melqi; Appendix; Select Bibliography; Index
Summary
Explores the history of Christianity in Iraq. This study uses an early seventh-century Christian martyr legend to elucidate the culture and society of late antique Iraq. It introduces a hero of epic proportions whose characteristics confound simple classification
