Dying as a Christian in Sasanian Iran: Torture, Burial and the Cult of Relics in the Persian Martyr Acts

Abstract

This article examines the themes of torture and burial in the Persian Martyr Acts in relation to the cult of relics, a topic that has attracted increasing scholarly attention over the past two decades. These martyrdom narratives do not indicate that Christians in Sasanian Iran were subjected to continuous persecution over a period exceeding four centuries. The Persian Martyr Acts, which depict the experiences of converts from Zoroastrianism to Christianity, provide substantial information on the veneration of relics. Like hagiographical texts, these narratives address the devotional life of Christians and contain significant elements of exaggeration. According to the texts, many things that the saint was able to do during his lifetime could also be accomplished after his death through sacred relics. Christians have sought to possess all kinds of relics, including pieces of the body left behind by deceased saints, as a means of healing or protecting themselves from various calamities. A major obstacle faced by Christians wishing to perform burial rites in Sasanian Iran stemmed from Zoroastrian prohibitions against interring bodies before the separation of flesh from bone. In this context, the Persian Martyr Acts reveal the determination of Christians to recover relics and inter the martyrs despite the resistance of Zoroastrian clergy supported by political authority. The cult areas mentioned in the texts under discussion have the potential to serve as references for local history research and toponymy studies. The study aims to examine narratives illustrating how early Christian culture took shape around the theme of martyrdom in the context of Sasanian Iran, alongside examples of religious architecture that emerged as a result of the interest in sacred relics.

Keywords

• Sasanians
• Christianity
• Martyrdom
• Burial Practices
• Relic Cult.

Sâsânî İran’ında Hristiyan Olarak Ölmek: Pers Şehidi Anlatıları’nda İşkence, Defin ve Rölik Kültü

Abstract

Bu makale, yaklaşık yirmi yıldır akademik araştırmaların konusu olan Pers Şehidi Anlatıları’ndaki işkence ve defin temalarını kutsal emanet kültüyle birlikte ele almaktadır. Söz konusu şehitlik anlatıları, Sâsânî İran’ındaki Hristiyanların dört asrı aşan bir zaman zarfında fasılasız bir kovuşturmaya maruz kaldıklarını düşündürmemelidir. Genel itibarıyla Mecûsîlikten Hristiyanlığa geçenlerin olumsuz deneyimlerini betimleyen Pers Şehidi Anlatıları, kutsal emanet değeri taşıyan röliklere dair hayli malumatı ihtiva eder. Aziz yaşam öykülerinde olduğu gibi Hristiyanların manevî dünyalarına hitap eden bu anlatılar içerisinde fazlasıyla abartı bulunmaktadır. Metinlere göre, diriminde azizin güç yetirebildiği pek çok şey ölümünden sonra rölikleri vasıtasıyla yerine getirilebilmektedir. Hristiyanlar, cesetten parçalar dâhil müteveffa azizden artakalan her türlü yadigâra şifa bulmak veyahut çeşitli musibetlerden korunmak maksadıyla sahip olmaya çalışmışlardır. Sâsânî İran’ında defin işlemini yapmak isteyen Hristiyanların karşılaştıkları en büyük zorluk, Mecûsîlerin et kemikten ayrışmadan cesetlerin toprağa gömülmesini hoş karşılamamalarıdır. Bu noktada Pers Şehidi Anlatıları siyasi erkin desteğini arkasına alan Mecûsî din adamlarının engellemelerine rağmen, röliklere ulaşmak ve şehitleri tedfin uğrunda Hristiyanların güçlü arzularını yansıtır. Bahis konusu metinlerde geçen kült alanları, yerel tarih araştırmaları ve toponimi çalışmaları için referans teşkil etme potansiyeline sahiptir. Çalışma, Sâsânî İran’ı bağlamında erken dönem Hristiyan kültürünün şehitlik teması etrafında şekillenişini gösteren anlatıları, kutsal emanetlere duyulan ilginin bir sonucu olarak ortaya çıkan dinî mimari örnekleriyle birlikte incelemeyi hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

• Sâsânîler
• Hristiyanlık
• Şehitlik
• Defin Uygulamaları
• Rölik Kültü.

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