By the end of the 5th century Nestorianism had become an independent Christian body. The prominent Christian school in Edessa (Urfa, Turkey), would eventually aid in promoting the new sect as it began to turn out numerous Nestorian supporters and theologians. Around 489 the Nestorians began to loose support and face persecution and they were forced to leave Edessa and make their way to Persia (Jones 6480) It was not until the 7th century that we can officially prove there was a Nestorian presence in Chang’an.
In 635 Alopen, a Nestorian missionary sometimes referred to as Olopun, brought Nestorianism into western China, from Messopotamia. This was amidst the Tang dynasty and it was Emperor T’ai Tsung who welcomed the foreigners and their religion. Intrigued by Alopen’s message he ruled that, “Olopun and his associates should be allowed to have free course in his dominions” (Legge 46).
