Copyright ©2011 by Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute
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Mar Yahbalaha III, an ethnic Uighur and a monk of the Ch. of E., was born in
the vicinity of Khān Bālīq (Beijing). As a young monk, he took the name
Markos and became devoted to his spiritual master,
Mar Yahbalaha is remembered for his efforts to establish diplomatic contacts
with the Mongols and for his defense of the Ch. of E. against harassment and
massacres by local Muslim rulers. Despite valiant efforts, Yahbalaha
witnessed the decimation of his Church. A particularly savage massacre of
Christians took place at Arbil (
Monks of Kublai Khan, Emperor of China.
For Primary and Secondary Sources, see under