The nāṭar kursyā (or nāṭar kursi, Syriac ܢܛܪ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ, meaning "guardian of the throne") was an officer of the Church of the East. Originally charged with administering the church in the interim between the death of one patriarch and the election of a new one, the office had evolved by the end of the 15th century so that its holder was the designated successor of the reigning patriarch. At first, the bishop of Kashkar was ex officio guardian of the throne, but by the 14th century the honour had been transferred to the metropolitan of Elam. It was under Patriarch Shemʿon IV (died 1497) that the office was transformed. Endeavouring to keep the patriarchal office in his family and in violation of canon law, he appointed his nephew to the office and designated him his chosen successor. This prac