Christians reached Basra (ancient Perat d'Maishan), near the shores of the Persian Gulf by the beginning of the fourth century. According to the Chronicle of Seert, pp. 236 & 292, Bishop David of Perat d'Maishan was present at the Council of Seleucia, around 325, and sailed as far as India. Gregory Bar Hebraeus, Chron. Eccles, 2.10 (v.3, col.28) indicates that David had earlier ordained one of the other bishops present at the Council.

The monk Jonah is said to have established a monastery in the Persian Gulf on the shores of the black island in the middle of the fourth century.

From the fifth century onward the area fell under the jurisdiction of the Church of the East. Christian sites have been discovered dating from that time until after the advent of Islam in the region at Failaka, Kharg, Jubail/Jubayl, and Sir Bani Yas. A suspected church at Marawah was later shown to be a Neolithic site.

Further Reading

R. Ghrishman, The Island of Kharg, 2nd edition (Tehran: Iranian Oil Operating Companies, 3rd printing, 1965).

G. R. D. King, "Nestorian monastic settlement on the island of Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi: a preliminary report", BSOAS 60.2 (1997), 221-235.