[4] Saba was consecrated as archbishop of Salah by the Patriarch Ignatius Ismail of Mardin in 1354, upon which he assumed the name Basil.
[4] Saba attempted to speak with Ismail at the patriarchal residence at the monastery of Saint Ananias, but was rebuked and refused entry.
[6] After having waited at the gate of the monastery for three days, he left and rallied support for his cause by writing letters to the bishops of Tur Abdin.
[4] Saba returned to the patriarchal residence, accompanied by a number of notables and clergymen, including the bishops Yuhanna Yeshu of Qartmin and Philoxenus of Hah,[4] but he was again refused entry and waited outside the monastery for four days.
[6] He received a decree from al-Malik al-Adil Fakhr al-Din Sulayman I al-Ayyubi, Melik of Hasankeyf, thereby confirming his patriarchate within his domain, and Saba was consecrated as Patriarch of Tur Abdin and Hasankeyf on the Feast of the Transfiguration on 6 August in the same year, upon which he assumed the name Ignatius.