Father Isaac was the Abbot of the monastery in Ir-Ruhaiyeh when it was threatened by Persian invasion. At the time, he was in his seventies, with a waist length white beard. He had been Abbot for more than 20 years and a monk for 30 before that. He discussed his concerns with the prior, Father John. John suggested that, given the state of the Empire, perhaps it would be better to be ruled by the Persians. However, Isaac disagreed. He had learned that the Persians were forcing Christians to become Nestorians, a heretic sect.