Ignatius John XIV bar Shay Allah was the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1483 until his death in 1493. Biography Early life John was the son of Shay Allah, who was the son of Sad al-Din, also known as Ibn al-Asfar, and his family was originally from Bartulli. He was born in the city of Mardin in 1442, and became a monk at the Monastery of Mor Hananyo. Whilst at the monastery, John received a special education equal to that of Aziz, the nephew of Ignatius Chaleph of Maʿdan, Patriarch of Antioch, and was educated in Syriac literature by the priests Simon of Amid and John of Mardin, as well as the monks Joshua of Basibrina and David bar Qashafo of Qalat al-Imra'a. Simon of Amid was a priest at the Church of the Forty Martyrs in Mardin, but died during his education of John and was succeeded by John of Mardin who educated him until he was eighteen. David bar Qashafo taught John astronomy and an anonymous tutor from Constantinople educated him in the use of the use of the astrolabe. John also received an education in dialectics, philosophy, and theology in Mardin, Syria and Egypt. In 1471, according to official church documents, John was ordained Bishop of Amid, however, it has been argued that the ordination took place in 1474. After his ordination as bishop, John became Ignatius Chaleph's companion and adviser, and was put in charge of his financial affairs. John extended his title to Bishop of Amid and Sawro, so named after the village of Sawro near the Monastery of Mor Abay, where he resided. As bishop, John immediately began to restore dilapidated churches and monasteries throughout his diocese, including the Monastery of Mor Abay. He also restored the monasteries near the village of Qellet and bought and returned land formerly belonging to the monasteries that had been seized by Muslims. As well as this, John built an extension to the Church of the Forty Martyrs in Mardin, and ransomed eight Georgian captives enslaved by Turkish raids. John gifted the Georgians with horses and supplies to help them to return to Georgia. As a result of his building activities, John accumulated large debts to Ibrahim Beg, Emir of Mardin. Patriarchate Following the death of Ignatius Chaleph in 1483, the Syriac Orthodox population of Mardin was divided over who would succeed