Surin was an Iranian aristocrat from the Suren family, who briefly served as the Patriarch of the Church of the East in 753.
They rounded them up and, standing by the very gates of the altar with drawn swords, forced them to consecrate Surin, which they did with tears in their eyes.
Yaʿqob, metropolitan of Jundishapur, as he spoke the words of the consecration over him, raised his hands to heaven and prayed that no good would befall him.
Yaʿqob was eventually released, and was asked by the faithful to send Surin to Basra, since its metropolitan had died.
Yaʿqob granted their request, but Surin was hated by the people of Basra, and while he was received by some, he was shunned by others.