Juan Boldames Ibáñez

Juan Boldames Ibáñez or Juan Roldán Ibáñez, O.C.D. (17 August 1574 – 5 September 1633), also known as John Thaddeus of Saint Eliseus in English publications was a Spanish Discacled Carmelite and a prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Ispahan (1632–1633) and Auxiliary Bishop of Toledo (1632–1633).

Early life Juan Boldames Ibáñez was born on 17 August 1574 in Calahorra, Spain to Juan Roldán and Catalina Ibáñez.

Juan's fervor for missionary work in a Muslim region, proposed to the Congregation in Italy, initially faced censure from his superiors. This response was influenced by the division within the Order and the subsequent dispatch of several Spanish Religious to establish a presence in Italy, which stemmed from the General of the Spanish Congregation's unequivocal prohibition against any sanctioned missionary endeavors. However, over time, significant factions within the Italian Congregation became persuaded that it should incorporate a missionary dimension into its activities. In 1604, Pope Clement VIII sought to dispatch religious envoys to Shah Abbas I, presenting them as apostolic ambassadors. Noticing the Carmelites of Italy planning missionary endeavors in Palestine, the Pope convinced them to undertake his mission in Safavid Iran instead. Upon receiving the three missionaries designated to travel to Persia, Pope conferred upon Fr. Juan the extra name 'Thaddeus', commemorating one of the two Apostles traditionally credited with visiting the region. and moved on to Kazan on April 2, 1606. The murder of Dmitry in May, resulted in numerous impediments to their travel. The new ruler of Muscovy, Vasily IV exhibited hostility, causing Fr. Juan Thaddeus and his associates to be detained in Tsaritsyn throughout the winter of 1606-1607 after departing Kazan on July 24, 1606. They endured semi-starvation, maltreatment, and an epidemic that claimed the lives of two members of their group.

On July 24, 1607, they departed from Tsaritsyn and, after encountering difficulties in Astrakhan (where Marina Mniszech and Nicolas de Melo was entrapped), entered Safavid realm approximately ten miles north of Baku on September 27, 1607. He met Teimuraz of Kakheti, bringing him a letter of condolence from Shah on the death of his wife Anna Gurieli and later moved on to Derbend, where the governor proposed a site for a convent. He arrived in Astrakhan on March 25, 1611. There, the governor, Ivan Dmitrievich Khvorostinin, suspecting a conspiracy between Abbas and Sigismund III Vasa to invade Muscovy, arrested Fr. John Thaddeus along with his companions, imprisoning and even torturing them. His suspicions were further confirmed when he discovered that Juan carried letters for the Sigismund and for the Roman Pope, which made him believe that Juan was either a real spy dressed as a Roman friar or a Roman friar playing the real role of a spy and conspiring against Muscovy. ). By August 1623, he had established a residence for the Carmelites there. In 1624, Fr. John completed a report on the mission, which included an analysis of Shah Abbas I's reign and was finalized in Rome after Shah Abbas' death in 1629. Fr. John continued to travel between Shiraz, Isfahan, and Masqat, managing missionary matters, paying debts, and acting as Vicar Provincial Substitute. After falling ill in Shiraz in 1625, he continued his work and eventually left Isfahan for Europe in 1628, carrying credentials from the Armenians of Iran to discuss unity with the Holy See. Other candidates, including Giovanni Agostino Spinola (also known as Agatangelo di Gesù Maria) and a brother of Cardinal Spada, were also considered.

On 6 September 1632, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Alexander VII as Bishop of Ispahan and Auxiliary Bishop of Toledo. The new bishop was assigned jurisdiction over the entire Safavid Empire, including Armenia, Georgia, and Alinja in Nakhchivan, but excluding Assyria and Mesopotamia. Due to concerns about his age and ensuring continuity after his death, a coadjutor with the right of succession, Timoteo Pérez Vargas from the Calced Carmelites, was appointed as Bishop of Babylon. Both bishops were consecrated on 18 September 1632 by Bernardino Spada, Cardinal-Priest of Santo Stefano al Monte Celio.

However, this appointment lasted short. In 1633, Bishop John Thaddeus set out from Rome to return to Iran, accompanied by his nephew, Fr. John of the Annunciation, and three other priests. He traveled via Spain, aiming to secure passage on a Portuguese fleet to Goa and transport books for work among the Armenians. He also hoped to recruit more priests in Spain to help establish the Armenian seminary. However, while crossing the mountains of Catalonia, his mule became frightened, causing him to fall and violently strike his side against a rock. Despite being taken to Lerida for care, he died from internal injuries three days later on 5 September 1633.