Epistle #29 went to some "John". This is the sniffiest letter in all Ishoʿyahb's episcopal letters; Philip Scott-Moncrieff, once more, missed the point of "XXVII". Ishoʿyahb is more polite to Lulyan whose letter got to him in error, to Hormizd who has been overly-familiar, to Mar Qamishoʿ to whom he owes nothing - even to the monks of Alfâf. John is a common Christian name, of course; one John is archdeacon of Arbela (#50). Another is a priest and beloved mutual friend of teacher Sergius, who may or may not be John of Qanqal (#33). Way down in Gundeshapur, there's a Metropolitan. None of these look like he'd ever have elicited a slap like #29.
#29's John is far from Nineveh, and Ishoʿyahb doubts they'll be coming any closer in the near future. John may have called upon the ʿIraqi bishops for a friendly chat, before - then being "in the area", as it were. When Ishoʿyahb solicits prayer, as is his wont, he might allude to John's talent for composing such - but Ishoʿyahb offers no ear for its content, not for its own sake. Ishoʿyahb certainly doesn't consider himself "vile" or "infirm" or "debilitated" by contrast to this guy.
Best time for #29 is after October AD 631. The Aleppo summit has concluded. John of Cyrrhus is newly (anti)pope, Maruta is his catspaw in Tikrit, and Mount Alfâf is ready to be stirred up once more. Over the ʿIraq Queen Boran with general Rostam may still rule... for now.
FIEY 4/16/23: E. XXIX footnoted ch. II, p. 312 in French.
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