He became the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon following the death of the previous bishop, Shahdost, in 342. Barba'shmin himself was martyred in 346. Following his death, the episcopal see was left vacant for more than forty years. Thousands of Christians died in that time, andy many fled abroad to avoid the persecution.

Barba'shmin is now considered a saint. His feast day is January 14.

References

• Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.