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Quote of the day:
"Viddy well, little brother. Viddy well." -- Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) |
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 Mel Gibson to direct Jesus movie in old tongues
By Wonko on September 23, 2002 11:12 AM
Mel Gibson is planning to direct a film about the last 12 hours of Jesus's life, entitled Passion. The kicker is that the characters will only speak authentic Latin and Aramaic, effectively guaranteeing that nobody in the world will understand what they're saying.
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on September 23, 2002 12:20 PM
Well, this film has to include Benicio Del Torro because nobody can understand him anyway.
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 29, 2003 2:11 AM
i want to learn your tongues how to use it
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 15, 2003 4:09 AM
Please, begin teaching us.
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 13, 2003 5:19 AM
assyrian chirstians are the oldest christians in teh world there church called the assyrian church of the east we they speak aramaic or you can say (syriac) our bishops and patriarchs will understand every single word in this movie maybe u wont understand all of it becouse i was born in another english country but i will understand most of the words here is the list of assyrians and there church leaders the first christians of the world
A Narrative History of Assyrians
Peter BetBasoo
On March 21st, 1997, Assyrians celebrated their 6747th new year. I wonder if those first Assyrian settlers of the city of Nineveh, in 5000 B.C., realized that their children would one day, 6700 years later, find themselves dispersed throughout the world, far from their homeland, yet still maintaining their proud heritage.
From the seed that those first settlers planted grew what was to become a magnificent legacy; indeed, the very basis of life for most societies in the world, for these settlers were among the early pioneers of the sedentary, agrarian societies. And it is here, in the Assyrian heartland, the land between two rivers, that the first agricultural societies are found. It is here that we find the first system of writing, the first cities, the first legal codes. It is here where the history of ideas begins. And it is here that the great Assyrian cities of Ashur, Nineveh, Arbela and Nimrod, arise to prominence by the end of the fourth millennium B.C.
The first Assyrian dynasty began in 2371 B.C. with Sargon of Akkad, who as an infant was placed in a basket and set afloat on the Tigris river. He was found and raised by an Assyrian couple. Sargon of Akkad was the first recorded Assyrian king, and he listed 173 kings before him. Although Sargon's empire was small in comparison to the second and third Assyrian empires, it laid the foundation for eighteen hundred years of Assyrian rule, beginning with Sargon I in 2400 B.C. and ending with the tragic fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C.
But before Assyrian hegemony would come to an end, the Assyrians would bring the highest civilization to the then known world. From the Caspian to Cyprus, from Anatolia to Egypt, Assyrian imperial expansion would bring into the Assyrian sphere nomadic and barbaric communities, and would bestow the gift of civilization upon them.
And though today we are far removed from that time, some of our most basic and fundamental devices of daily survival, to which we have become so accustomed that we cannot conceive of life without them, originated in Assyria. One cannot imagine leaving his home without locking the door; it is in Assyria where locks and keys were first used. One cannot survive in this world without knowing the time; it is in Assyria that the sexagesimal system of keeping time was developed. One cannot imagine driving without paved roads; it is in Assyria where paved roads were first used. And the list goes on, including the first postal system, the first use of iron, the first magnifying glasses, the first libraries, the first plumbing and flush toilets, the first electric batteries, the first guitars, and so on.
But it is not only things that originated in Assyria, it is also ideas, ideas that would shape the world to come. It is the idea, for example, of imperial administration, of dividing the land into territories administered by local governors who report to the central authority, the King of Assyria. This fundamental model of administration has survived to this day, as can be seen in America's federal-state system.
It is in Assyria where the mythological foundation of the old and new testament is found. It is here that the story of the flood originates, 2000 years before the old testament is written. It is here that the first epic is written, the Epic of Gilgamesh, with its universal and timeless theme of the struggle and purpose of humanity. It is here that civilization itself is developed and handed down to future generations. It is here where the first steps in the cultural unification of the Middle East are taken by bringing under Assyrian rule the diverse groups in the area, from Iran to Egypt, breaking down ethnic and national barriers and preparing the way for the cultural unification which facilitated the subsequent spread of Hellenism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
It is, indeed, here in Assyria where the history of ideas begins. This is the legacy of the pre-Christian Assyrians.
But the end of the Assyrian empire in 612 B.C. did not signal the end of the Assyrians; they continued living in their homeland until that momentous moment in human history, when the Lord Son of God gave himself for the salvation of mankind. Very soon after the crucifixion, the bulk of the Assyrian population converted to Christianity, although there remained to be Ashur worshippers, the original Assyrian religion, until 256 A.D. It was the Apostle Thomas, with Thaddeus and Bartholomew who came to the Assyrian city of Edessa and founded the Assyrian Church of the East, the first and oldest church in the world.
Armed with the word of God, and after 600 years of dormancy, the Assyrians once again set out to build an empire, not a military empire, but a religious empire founded on divine revelation and Christian brotherhood. So successful was the Assyrian missionary enterprise, by the end of the twelfth century the Assyrian Church was larger than the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches combined, and it spanned the Asian continent, from Syria to Mongolia, Korea, China, Japan and the Philippines.
When Marco Polo visited China in the thirteenth century, he was astonished to find Assyrian priests in the Chinese royal court, and tens of thousands of Chinese Christians. The Assyrian missionaries had reached China in the sixth century. With only the bible, a cross, and a loaf of bread in hand, these messengers had walked thousands of miles along the old silk road to deliver the word of God. So successful were the missionaries, when Genghis Khan swept through Asia, he brought with him an army over half of which belonged to the Assyrian Church of the East. So successful were the missionaries, the first Mongolian system of writing used the Assyrian alphabet.
Armed with the word of God, Assyrians once again transformed the face of the Middle East. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries they began a systematic translation of the Greek body of knowledge into Assyrian. At first they concentrated on the religious works but then quickly moved to science, philosophy and medicine. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Galen, and many others were translated into Assyrian, and from Assyrian into Arabic. It is these Arabic translations which the Moors brought with them into Spain, and which the Spaniards translated into Latin and spread throughout Europe, thus igniting the European renaissance.
By the sixth century A.D., Assyrians had begun exporting back to Byzantia their own works on science, philosophy and medicine. In the field of medicine, the Bakhteesho Assyrian family produced nine generations of physicians, and founded the great medical school at Gundeshapur. Also in the area of medicine, Hunayn ibn-Ishaq*s textbook on ophthalmology, written in 950 A.D., remained the authoritative source on the subject until 1800 A.D.
In the area of philosophy, the Assyrian philosopher Job of Edessa developed a physical theory of the universe, in the Assyrian language, that rivaled Aristotle*s theory, and that sought to replace matter with forces.
One of the greatest Assyrian achievements of the fifth century was the founding of the first university in the world. The School of Nisibis had three departments: theology, philosophy and medicine, and became a magnet and center of intellectual development in the Middle East. The statutes of the School of Nisibis, which have been preserved, later became the model upon which the first Italian university was based.
When Arabs and Islam swept through the Middle East in 630 A.D., they encountered 600 years of Assyrian Christian civilization, with a rich heritage, a highly developed culture, and advanced learning institutions. It is this civilization which became the foundation of the Arab civilization.
But this great Assyrian Christian civilization would come to an end in 1300 A.D. The tax which the Arabs levied on Christians, simply for just being Christian, forced many Assyrians to convert to Islam to avoid the tax; this inexorably drained the community, so that by the time Timurlane the Mongol delivered the final blow in 1300 A.D., by violently destroying most cities in the Middle East, the Assyrian Christian community had dwindled to its core in Assyria, and henceforth the Assyrian Church of the East would not regain its former glory, and the Assyrian language, which had been the lingua franca of the Middle East until 900 A.D., was completely supplanted by Arabic (except amongst the Assyrians). This, from 1300 A.D. until World War One, became the second Assyrian dark age.
It was the momentous events of World War One which brought the Assyrians out of their 700 year seclusion and thrust them into the world scene once again. This time, the Assyrians united with the Allies, fighting against the Turks. The Assyrian losses were devastating; 750,000 Assyrians, three out of four, were massacred by the Turks, along with one million Armenians. As a result of the Turkish genocide, Assyrians fled to other countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. They also fled to Europe and America. It is at that time that the first significant Assyrian population came to America, and it is at that time, for the first time in their history, that the Assyrians became a diasporic nation. It remains to be seen whether the Assyrians can survive the diaspora.
But the biggest exodus of Assyrians from their homeland began in the sixties and continued into the late seventies. Hundreds of thousands of Assyrians emigrated to the West, mostly to America. There are now 300,000 Assyrians in America, with 80,000 in Chicago, 80,000 in Detroit, 40,000 in the Bay Area, 20,000 in the Los Angeles Area, 20,000 in San Diego and 5,000 in Yonkers..
This large exodus of Assyrians was precipitated by oppressive policies practiced by Arab/Muslim governments, which most Assyrians find themselves living under. Not having their own state, Assyrians have become the victims of intolerant governments, prejudiced societies, and opportunistic nationalists. In Iraq, Assyrians are not recognized as a national minority, even though there are two million living there, and they are not granted citizenship, yet they are expected to die for the country, as 40,000 Assyrians died in the Iran-Iraq war.
And the exodus continues. As a result of the Gulf War, one hundred thousand Assyrians have left Iraq, and the remaining ones are living in extremely harsh and inhuman conditions.
Wherever Assyrians live, they are a law-abiding people, with strong family and Christian values. They are also loyal citizens of their host country. After all, was it not Khalil Gibran, an Assyrian, who said, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?
Assyrians
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the Assyrians?
A: A semitic peoples indigenous to North Iraq; builders of the great Mesopotamian civilizations; ethnically distinct from Arabs and Jews (the other semitic poeples of the region).
Q: What language do they speak?
A: They currently speak modern Assyrian (also known as neo-Syriac), which is the oldest extant language, and was the lingua franca of the Middle East until 700 A.D., when it was supplanted by Arabic. Before this they spoke Akkadian (the switch from Akkadian to Aramaic was completed by 750 B.C.). Modern Assyrian is written right to left, and has a lot of Akkadian influence in it.
Q: What is their religion?
A: All Assyrians are Christians. They belong to three main Assyrian churches: 1) The Assyrian Church of the East ("Nestorian"), established in 33 A.D. by Theodos, Thomas, and Bartholomew; 2) the Assyrian Orthodox Church ("Jacobite"), established in 450 A.D.; 3) the Chaldean Church of Babylon (Roman Catholic), established in 1550 A.D.
Q: Where do they live?
A: The majority of Assyrians live in their ancestral homeland, which is now part of Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Here is a geographical breakdown
Iraq 1,500,000 France 15,000
Syria 700,000 Georgia 14,000
USA 300,000 Holland 10,500
Armenia 180,000 Denmark 10,000
Brazil 80,000 England 8,000
Iran 50,000 Austria 7,000
Lebanon 40,000 Greece 5,000
Russia 35,000 Belgium 5,000
Sweden 35,000 New Zealand 3,000
Australia 30,000 Switzerland 3,000
Germany 30,000 Italy 3,000
Turkey 20,000 Other 100,000
Canada 20,000
Total 3,203,500
Q: What are important dates for Assyrians
A: March 21st, Assyrian New Year. The Assyrian year is now 6747 (1997 A.D.). August 7th, Assyrian Martyrs day.
A Brief History of the Assyrian Churches
Peter Jasim
Introduction
Assyrians of today belong to three major churches: the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ("Nestorian"), The Assyrian Orthodox Church ("Jacobite") and the Chaldean Church of Babylon ("Chaldeans", who are Roman catholic uniates). Precise numbers are difficult to estimate, but there are about 800,000 members in the Church of the East, 1,000,000 members in the Chaldean Church, and about 700,000 members in the Assyrian Orthodox Church.
Beginnings
The Assyrian Church of the East (hence forth ACE), whose official name is the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, was established in 33 A.D. by the apostles Thomas (Toma in Assyrian), Theodos (Addai in Assyrian), and Bartholomew (Bar Tulmay in Assyrian). The first Patriarch of ACE was Addai, although Thomas and Bartholomew are also officially listed as the first Patriarchs (see Table of Apostolic Succession below).
ACE spread from the Assyrian city Arbela (in North Iraq; Arbela means "Four Gods" in Assyrian) to the surrounding areas of Persia, Syria, and Iraq, and later became centered in Seleucia-Ctesiphon (just south of Baghdad). Through an incredible missionary enterprise, ACE became the largest Church in the world by the 12th century, extending from Syria to China, Korea, Japan, and the Phillipines. ACE was overwhelmed by the Mongol Timurlane and after the thirteenth century could never recover its past glory. It was reduced to a small church in the Assyrian heartland in North Iraq.
The significant achievements of ACE include the first University in the world (Nisibis), and the incredible translation movement of its clergy and laity, which saw the translation of all the major Greek works of science, philosophy and religion into Assyrian (then into Arabic), and which produced original Assyrian thinkers who wrote extensively and diversely
The First Division
ACE was centered in the Sassanid empire, which was rival to the Byzantine empire to the west. Political tension between the two empires separated Eastern from Western Christians, and doctrinal disputes over the nature of Christ (monophysites/diophysites) further distanced the Christian communities. The monophysitic movement gained a stronghold in the Byzantine realm and the Church of the East divided along these geopolitical/doctrinal lines by 450 A.D. -- The Assyrian Orthodox Church (AOC) was born.
The Second Division
In 780 A.D. there occurred a division in AOC, and Mar Maron took his followers from Syria and settled in Mount Lebanon, founding the Maronite Church. The Christians of Lebanon are known as "Maronites", after Mar Maron. The Maronite Church has since become a Roman Catholic Uniate.
The Third Division
In 1552 A.D. there arose a debate over how the Patriarch of ACE should be chosen. The Patriarch had been elected, but a faction in the Church desired that the Patriarchate become hereditary. The Hereditary faction lost its dispute and as a result sough allegiance with the Catholic Church of Rome. The Roman church made the hereditary faction Roman Catholic Uniates and called the new church the Chaldean Church of Babylon (CCB), to distinguish it from ACE. But in an interesting reversal, the hereditary faction returned fifty years later and took control of ACE, and the election faction took control of CCB.
Table of Apostolic Succession for the Assyrian Church of the East
Year Patriarch
33 Toma
33 Bar Tulmay
33 - 45 Addai
45 - 81 Agai, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
48 - 81 Mari, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
90 - 107 Abris, relative of the Virgin Mary
130 - 152 Oraham I
172 - 190 Yacob I, relative of Yosip the Carpenter
191 - 203 Ebid M'shikha
205 - 220 Akhu d'Awu
224 - 244 Shakhlupa of Kashkar
247 - 326 Papa Bar Gaggai
328 - 341 Shimun Bar Sabbai
345 - 347 Shahdost
350 - 358 Bar Bashmin
383 - 393 Tumarsa
393 - 399 Qaiyuma
399 - 411 Eskhaq
411 - 415 Akhkhi
415 - 420 Yoalaha I
420 Maana
421 Qarabukht
421 - 456 Dadishu
457 - 484 Bawai or Babu
484 - 496 Aqaq
496 - 502 Bawai
505 - 523 Sheela
524 - 535 Narsai
524 - 538 Elisha (dual Patriarchate)
539 - 540 Polos
552 - 567 Yosip
570 - 581 Khazqiyil
581 - 595 Eshuyow I, Arzunaya
596 - 604 Soreshu I Garmaqaya
605 - 608 Greghor, Partaya
628 - 644 Eshuyow II (Gdalaya or Arab)
647 - 650 Mar Immeh
650 - 660 Eshuyow III, Kdayawaya
681 - 684 Gewargis I
684 - 692 Yokhannan I, Bar Marta
686 - 693 Khnaishu I (dual Patriarchate)
693 - 694 Yokhannan II, Garba
714 - 728 Sliwazkha
731 - 740 Pethyon
741 - 751 Awa
752 - 754 Surin
754 - 773 Yacob II
774 - 778 Khnanishu II (the Assyrian monument in China was erected during his reign)
780 - 820 Timotheus I
820 - 824 Esho-barnon
825 - 832 Gewargis II
832 - 836 Soreshu II
837 - 850 Oraham II, Margaya
850 - 852 Teadasis (Theodoros)
860 - 872 Sargis, Suwaya
873 - 884 Annush d'beth Garmay
884 - 892 Yokhannan III, Bar Narsai
892 - 898 Yokhannan IV
900 - 905 Yokhannan V
906 - 937 Oraham III, Abraza
937 - 949 Ammanoel I
961 - 962 Esrail Karkhaya
963 - 986 Odishu Garmaqaya
967 - 1000 Mari Aturaya
1001 - 1012 Yokhannan VI
1013 - 1022 Yokhannan VII
1023 - 1027 Eshuyow IV
1028 - 1049 Elia I
1049 - 1057 Yokhannan VIII
1057 - 1072 Soreshu III (Bar Zanbur)
1072 - 1090 Odishu II (Bar Ars) Aturaya
1092 - 1109 Makkikha I (Bar Shlemon)
1111 - 1132 Elia II
1133 - 1135 Bar Soma (Of Suwa)
1135 - 1136 Bar Gabbara
1138 - 1147 Odishu III (nephew of Elia II)
1148 - 1175 Eshuyow V (from Beth Zodai, Baladaya)
1176 - 1190 Elia III (Abukhalim)
1191 - 1222 Yoalaha II (Bar Qaiyuma)
1222 - 1226 Soreshu IV
1226 - 1256 Soreshu V (from Baghdad)
1257 - 1265 Makkikha II
1265 - 1281 Dinkha I, Arbilaya (from Arbil)
1281 - 1318 Yoalaha III, Bar Turkaye (Turkish by race)
1318 - 1328 Timotheus II, Arbilaya
1329 - 1359 Dinkha II
1359 - 1368 Dinkha III
1369 - 1392 Shimun III
1403 - 1407 Shimun IV
1407 - 1420 Elia III
1420 - 1447 Shimun V
1448 - 1490 Shimun VI
1491 - 1504 Elia V
1505 - 1538 Shimun VII
1538 - 1551 Eshuyow Shimun VIII
1552 - 1558 Dinkha Shimun IX (Bar Mama)
1558 - 1580 Yoalaha Shimun X
1580 - 1600 Dinkha Shimun XI
1600 - 1653 Elia Shimun XI
1653 - 1690 Eshuyow Shimun XIII
1690 - 1692 Yoalaha Shimun XIV
1692 - 1700 Dinkha Shimun XV
1700 - 1740 Shlemon (Sulaiman) shimun XVI
1740 - 1741 Mikhail (Muukhattis) Shimun XVII
1740 - 1820 Yonan (Yuna) Shimun XVIII
1820 - 1860 Oraham Shimun XIX
1860 - 1903 Ruwil Shimun XX
1903 - 1918 Binyamin Shimun XXI
1918 - 1920 Polos Shimun XXII
1920 - 1975 Eshai Shimun XXIII
1975 - Mar Dinkha IV
Table of Apostolic Succession for the Syrian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Year
St. Peter 37
Euodius 67
Ignatius 68
Heros 107
Cornelius 127
Heros II 154
Theophilus 169
Maximianus 182
Serapion 191
Asclipiades 211
Philetus 220
Zebinus 231
Babylas 237
Fabius 251
Demetrianus 254
Paul 260
Domnus I 268
Timaeus 273
Cyril 283
Arannus 304
Vitalius 314
Philogonius 320
Paulinus 323
Eustathius 324
Meletius 360
Flavian I 381
Porphyrius 404
Alexander 412
Theodotus 417
John I 428
Domnus 442
Maximus 449
Peter II 468
Palladius 488
Flavian II 498
Severus 512
Sergius 544
Paul II 550
Peter III 581
Julian I 591
Athanasius 595
John II 631
Theodore 649
Severus II 667
Athanasius 683
Julian 11 686
Elias I 709
Athanasius 724
Iwannis I 740
George I 758
Joseph 790
Kyriakos 793
Dionysius 817
John III 846
Ignatius II 878
Theodosius 887
Dionysius 897
John IV 910
Basil I 923
John V 936
Iwannis II 954
Dionysius III 958
Abraham 962
John VI 963
Athanasius 986
John VII 1004
Dionysius 1034
John VIII 1049
Athanasius 1058
John IX 1063
Basil II 1074
Dionysius V 1077
Iwannis III 1080
Dionysius VI 1088
Athanasius 1091
John X 1129
Athanasius 1138
Michael 1166
Athanasius 1200
John XI 1208
Ignatius III 1222
John XII 1263
Ignatius IV 1264
Philoxenus 1283
Michael II 1292
Michael 11 1312
Basil HI 1387
Philoxenus 1394
Basil IV 1421
Behnam 1445
Khalaf 1455
John XIII 1483
Noah 1493
Yeshue I 1509
Jacob I 1512
David I 1517
Abdullah I 1520
Ne'matallah 1557
David II 1576
Pilate 1591
Hadayatallah 1597
Simon 1640
Yeshue II 1659
Abdulmassih 1662
George II 1687
Isaac Azar 1709
Shukrallah 1722
George III 1745
George IV 1768
Matthew 1782
Jonah 1817
George V 1819
Elias II 1838
Jacob II 1847
Peter IV 1872
Abdulmassih 1895
Abdullah II 1906
Elias III 1917
Ephrem I 1933
Jacob III 1957
Zakka I 1980
References
The Might That Was Assyria; H.W.F. Saggs; Sidgwick and Jackson; 1984.
History of Assyria; A.T. Olmstead.
Hagarism: the Making of the Islamic World; Patricia Crone, Michael Cook; Cambridge University Press; 1977.
History of Christianity in Asia: Volume One, Beginnings to 1500; Samuel Moffet; Harper Collins; 1994.
Cambridge Ancient History: The Roman Republic, 133-44 B.C.; W. W. Tarn; Cambridge University Press; 1985; pp 597.
By Foot to China: Mission of the Church of the East, to 1400; John M. L. Young; Grey Pilgrim Publications; Lookout Mountain, GA; 1991.
The Nestorians and their Rituals; George Percy Badger.
A Short History of Syriac Christianity; W. Stewart McCullough.
Patriarch, Shah, and Caliph; William G. Young.
An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church; W. A. Wigram.
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 12, 2003 6:38 AM
ASSYRIAN CHIRSTIANS WIL UNDERSTAND THIS MOVIE JUST LOOK AT OUT CHURCHES OUR WRITINGS AND OUR HISTOY HERE ARE LINKS
http://www.cired.org/
http://www.aina.org/aol/peter/narative.htm
I HOPE MEL GIBSON WILL ACCEPT A INVITATION FROM OUR PATRIARCH THE ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST
Iraq War Pushes Little-Known Assyrians to Fore
By SIMONA SHAPIRO
FORWARD CORRESPONDENT
CHICAGO — Waving American flags, more than 400 people gathered last Sunday in Chicago's Warren Park, carrying signs that read "God Bless America." At first glance, the scene was unremarkable in this time of rallies for and against the war. But there was something unusual about this crowd. Their Middle Eastern looks. The hand-lettered signs that read, "Thank you for freeing my homeland."
Most striking to a Jewish observer were the oddly familiar yet mysterious syllables resounding occasionally from the platform. "Shlam Alukhem," one speaker said, "Talbakh min maren esho meshikha qat khame l'da atra..." It didn't quite sound like Arabic. It certainly wasn't Hebrew. To the scholarly ear it sounded curiously like the language of the Talmud, Aramaic.
It was. Asked what language they were speaking, attendees at the rally said it was "Assyrian" and that they were members of the Assyrian people. Rare media accounts of this group tend to group them with other, larger Iraqi minorities, such as the Kurds or the Shiites. Like these groups, Assyrians have suffered atrocities at the hands of Saddam Hussein. But the Assyrians are unique, Joseph Tamraz, Midwest director of the Assyrian American National Federation, told the Forward. "We are the oldest indigenous people of Iraq. We are different in our ethnicity and in our Christianity."
Assyrians have been culturally distinct from their Arabic-speaking neighbors since Arab peoples invaded Mesopotamia in the year 637 of the current era. Due to ongoing persecution, most Assyrians now reside abroad; estimates of their worldwide numbers vary from less than 1 million to 3 or 4 million. The Assyrian language, known to linguists as neo-Aramaic, is a modern evolution of the ancient language familiar to Jews from the Kaddish prayer, the Passover song "Chad Gadya" and the Talmud.
Last Sunday's rally was organized by the umbrella organization for Assyrian associations in Chicago. It was conducted in both Assyrian and English and consisted of prayers, songs, praise for the American troops and expressions of concern for the future of the Assyrian homeland, which they call Bet Nahrain, or "between two rivers."
Benjamin Lincoln Tamraz, an American veteran, told the crowd that a group of Iraqi-born Chicago Assyrians had volunteered for the war.
Joseph Gemayez, a specialist in the U.S. Army, addressed the rally, saying: "Iraq will be liberated. I'm going back to Assyria, the land between the rivers. Keep all of our troops in your prayers because they are doing it for the right reasons. This is not a war for oil. This is not a war for any of the wrong reasons. There are women who have been gang-raped. There are people whose rights have been violated."
Gemayez also expressed nationalist aspirations. "It's time for the Assyrian nation to come back to its land and form a nation of its own called Assyria," he said to loud cheers and applause. "We should all together write letters to Washington, D.C., stating that, when we liberate Iraq, the Assyrians should at least get a piece of land over there that we can call our own."
Not everyone there was calling for immediate statehood. "For now we would like to have our rights — we would love to see Assyrians being recognized in Iraq, that's our hope right now," said Benjamin Samir, a currency exchange clerk.
The speeches were frequently punctuated by outbursts from the crowd. "We lost our country because we are Christian!" one man shouted. Others chanted, "Down with Saddam!"
One demonstrator, who identified himself only as Jendo, a doctor, said Assyrians had been massacred by Muslims throughout the 20th century, most recently by Saddam. "I have the names of 180 villages that were destroyed in the 1980s — all the churches, all the houses. People were moved and some people are missing until now."
Some demonstrators refused to speak on the record for fear of retribution against their families in Iraq. Asked whether they thought Saddam reads the Forward, one man replied, seemingly seriously, that the Iraqi dictator "reads everything."
Several demonstrators told the Forward that Israel and Jews should support the Assyrian cause. "If the Israeli people support our people to get back our country, then the Israeli people will be tougher in the Middle East. They will have more freedom," said George Atto, a taxi driver.
"Who's related to the Israelis in the Middle East more than us?" Atto said. "We have a prayer in church, "Allah barech la bnei yisrael" — "God bless the people of Israel."
When asked about the policies of Prime Minister Sharon, George Khoshaba, a factory worker, said: "I support him 100%. He is doing the right thing. To protect his own people, his country."
Such views are common in the Assyrian community, said Peter Dagher, a former White House aide and Assyrian activist. "Many Assyrians are not pro-Arab," he said. "Their views and those of Arabs are not the same. In that part of the world they look at Israel as an example of what to do, rather than what not to do."
Jewish and Assyrian paths have crossed before. In 1943 the American Zionist leader Hayim Greenberg was approached by an Assyrian activist seeking help in their quest for independence. Greenberg later wrote of his misgivings, wryly recalling that the Assyrians' ancient forebears shared some blame for the Jews' modern plight.
More recently, the California-based Assyrian National Congress appeared jointly with Hadassah before a United Nations committee in January 2000 to apply for recognition as nongovernmental organizations. Hadassah was accepted, but the Assyrian group could not overcome Arab hostility.
Still, there are profound cultural similarities between Assyrians and Jews. Assyrians this week celebrated their New Year, Kha B'Nissan, the first day of the month of Nissan, a date described in the Mishna as one of four New Years of Judaism. And while neo-Aramaic is much changed from its ancient counterpart, many words remain the same.
The cultural affinities arise from the fact that Aramaic was the lingua franca of the ancient Near East prior to the Arab conquest, said Samuel Fox, a linguist and author of "The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Jilu." Over the centuries the Arabic language and Muslim religion became dominant in what is now Iraq. "The Assyrians were people who retained their Christian identity and traditional language, mainly in the mountainous region near the Iran-Iraq-Turkish border, in Iranian Azerbaijan, and in the plain of Mosul," Fox said.
While many Assyrians continue to dream about self-determination, Dagher said, their main concern is ensuring the safety of their brethren in a post-Saddam Iraq. "If I thought it wouldn't hurt our cause, I would be pushing for an Assyrian state, but I think we're not organized enough, we're not there. We don't have our own Ed Jacobson, just yet," he said, referring to President Truman's Jewish friend, who was instrumental in persuading the president to recognize the nascent Jewish state.
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RE: assyrian/chaldeans
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 27, 2004 11:56 AM
are chaldeans the same as assyrians? Please write back if anyone is familiar with the answer to this.... Trickplyaa@comcast.net
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by wonko (ryan@wonko.com) on September 23, 2002 1:03 PM
Speaking of which, that bastard shoved me on the set of The Hunted. He deserves death. Well, not really. But Tommy Lee Jones does.
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RE: Tongue twister.
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Posted by Jack (jack@dtheatre.com) on September 23, 2002 2:12 PM
I got to see him (Mr. Del Toro) urinating behind a jeep on set.. That bastard!
Which reminds me. I see your in the IMDB credits for The Hunted.. you bastard!
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ˇTírese al piso, mi amor! ˇMi amorrrr!
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Posted by Skullfire (skullfire@clarinmail.com) on September 26, 2002 10:51 AM
What's the problem with Mr.del Toro? First almost all spanish part with an Oscar.
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In English: I need to pee, my love, my looooove!
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on September 26, 2002 11:35 AM
I don't have a problem with him. I just commented that I can't hear what he's saying sometimes. This is a good quality for the above film don't you think? (OK, I admit..... I was trying to be funny too).
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To tell you the truth...
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Posted by Skullfire (skullfire@clarinmail.com) on October 3, 2002 9:56 AM
...I didn't understand his spanish either.
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RE: To tell you the truth...
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on October 4, 2002 5:45 AM
HE SPOKE SPANISH......???
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RE: Ching-whatever!!!
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on October 5, 2002 3:20 AM
Do you think it makes a differance if it was Spanish or Esperrrrannnnto? The guy has a seriously swollen tongue! ; )
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RE: Ching-whatever!!!
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on October 6, 2002 10:05 AM
Yeah. Sad isn't it. I think I'm gonna start mumbling.
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Try swedish or scottish!
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Posted by Skullfire (skullfire@clarinmail.com) on October 7, 2002 5:23 PM
Both Connery and Max von Sydow have Oscars...
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RE: Try swedish or scottish!
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on October 8, 2002 7:13 AM
OK. Point taken. Well, we're starting to get to an "all star cast" for this film. It's bound to be a box-office smash. Think of the money that will be saved by not needing sub-titles. (Mumble mumble mumble mumble is the same in all languages).
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RE: Try swedish or scottish!
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Posted by Skullfire (skullfire@clarinmail.com) on October 11, 2002 6:35 PM
We have you, Frenchie, Yako, me. What else do you need?
Ah. Talent.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on November 18, 2002 11:48 AM
I hope Gibson makes this movie authentic and good. Nobody's ever made a true-to-life Jesus movie. I want to see Gibson recreate the crucifixion how it really happened. I'm a Christian, so of course I hope that the movie does well.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on December 4, 2002 1:19 PM
About 12 years ago when I heard rumor that Scorsesee was going to make a film on the Life of Christ, I was really excited. I have always wanted someone to do a realistic re-creation of the Trials and Death of Christ. Then he came out with Last Temptation, and I thought, what a waste. I hope Mel Gibson does this right. I love the language thing, put subtitles on the DVD as a viewing option. I hope that he takes it through to the ascension. Or maybe that is for the sequal!
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 15, 2003 7:36 AM
I too am excited about this new movie and agree that the language should being authentic (with subtitle on the DVD). I do however disagree with you in one respect. There was a "true-to-life" movie made about Jesus based I believe on the book of Luke. It was put out many years ago, but is still available. I think it was called the Jesus film. Anyways, just thought I'd let you know. Love in Christ.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 15, 2003 8:51 AM
I saw some clips of the production of this film on Fox's O'Reilly factor, along with an interview with Mr. Gibson.
I like the fact that it's going to be "real". Unfortunately, the actor that portrays Christ has long hair, and is more or less the "traditional" look. This look is NOT real and NOT Biblical. Christ had short hair. I'm tired of the beaten hippie look in all these movies. If your going to do it right, then do it RIGHT!
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 15, 2003 3:56 PM
Actually, Christ was a Nazarene, which involves a vow with God, which includes no haircut after a certain age, so he most certainly did have long hair. Most men of that culture at that time had longer hair. I'm not sure where you are getting your information saying that Christ having long hair in unscriptural. I've read the scriptures.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 16, 2003 7:04 AM
This is correct, and Nazarene's also were required to wear a "lock" of hair, to identify them. There is one on the man in the Shroud of Turin.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 16, 2003 10:41 AM
Where'd you get the idea that JEsus was a Nazarene? He was from Nazareth, but he wasn't a Nazarene...Nazarenes weren't suppose to drink wine, and there's evidence favoring that JEsus probably DID drink wine...nazareth=nazarite...not nazarene
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 17, 2003 7:23 AM
You both are flip-flopped. Christ was a Nazarene from Nazareth. The Nazarite had to take vow of not cutting his hair and not drinking wine and the whole not being around dead people (Numbers 6). Read it. I don't believe Christ had long hair, but I don't believe he had a military buzz either, so ... And what does it matter? Honestly, folks. Jesus was the Christ whether or not He had long hair.
What I'm interested in seeing is if Christ is going to be depictd as something other than the malnourished rail that is depicted on all Catholic crucifixes. Jesus raised by a carpenter and was followed around by a dozen navy men. These fellows aren't going to be skin and bones
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 18, 2003 1:02 PM
I agree with you 100% . Nazarites are not necessarily people from the city of Nazareth. They could have been from anywhere. I could take a Nazarite vow and have to keep my hair long and all that if I wanted to. Jesus was not a NazarITE. He was a Nazarene though, simply because he was from the city of Nazareth. Anyway, I 'm also very excited about this movie and I hope this one will depict accurately how gruesome the crucifixion scene really was. I 'm sick of seeing people playing Jesus who just have some whip marks, a little blood and some blood from the crown of thorns running down his face and body. People who have studied what all was done to Jesus (and others who were crucified) say you would not even be able to recognize him because he would be so terribly mangled. The fact that people plucked out his beard and no doubt tore hunks of flesh out with it, is never seen on the screen. And when they whipped him, they should show the barbs that were traditionally used back then at the end of the whips and how those would tear chunks of flesh from his back when they yanked them out. I mean, they whipped him 50 times--he would hardly have any flesh on his back at all by the time they were through! I just hope it's realistic for once. It shows how much pain Christ willingly went through because he loved us so much. Way to go Mel and Jim!
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 3, 2003 8:05 AM
Actually, Matthew(or Levi) was a tax collector not a "navy man."
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 13, 2003 8:39 PM
Whoops, my mistake. A dozen navy men save the publican.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 19, 2003 3:03 PM
Judas wasn't a fisherman either.So that makes only 10 fisher man.Not that it matters.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 19, 2003 8:40 PM
I agree with you that I hope that the movie is authentic, well made and does well. However, there have been true to life movies about the life of Christ. There is even one that was done with Dean Jones that corresponds directly with scripture. They have the exact scripture of the scene you are watching in the bottom corner of the screen. It is really impressive. Just go out and look for some of this stuff and you will find it. The thing is that there have never been any major, high profile movies done about Jesus that were completely true to scripture. Peace be with you and may God bless you brother.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 22, 2003 3:12 PM
I go to a Christian school and our science teacher talked to us about the movie in class. He said they couldn't put in the scene of the third whipping because it would be to grusome. This leads me to think that they will depict the crucifiction to it's full extent.
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by MandiKaeFBCT (BOXCARRACER_CHICK69@YAHOO.COM) on January 14, 2004 8:37 PM
This movie looks very authintic... I was at youth group tonight and our pastor showed us the trailer... OMG it looks so real we all were so silent and in awe of just the trailer... Our whole youth group and some other are going to see it when it opens... It looks Awesome
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RE: More power to you!
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Posted by MandiKaeFBCT (BOXCARRACER_CHICK69@YAHOO.COM) on January 14, 2004 8:41 PM
And also they did put the scene in or them whiping him its in the trailer, only thing about that scene is that you dont see it actually hit his skin... but it does show like skin on the whip where it had the shreads of glass and metal to stick in his back. the whole end of the movie looks pretty grusome from the trailer.
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mel Gibson to direct movie about JesusChrist
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on December 16, 2002 1:53 PM
I can't wait!! when its the movie Coming out
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can't wait to see Mel Gibson play Jesus role!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 15, 2003 9:07 AM
You go for it Mel. It's about time for a realistic movie to be done about Jesus most powerful moments on earth. I stand behind him and all of us who believe and worship Jesus the Christ should do so also. Where ever this movie shows up, we should all go see it. After seeing Mel's performances in Braveheart and The Patriot it is likely to be an award winning performance!
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RE: can't wait to see Mel Gibson play Jesus role!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 6, 2003 2:09 PM
AMEN and AMEN
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5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by assyrian_king (No Email) on December 30, 2002 8:59 AM
the language which jesus spoke. we assyrians will understand. it there is 1.2 million assyrians in north iraq and about 4.5 million assyrians world wide we are catholics and orthadox. there is no assyrian muzlims unless they converted. in our churches when they prey they pray in aramaic, so there will be people around the world that will understand, what there saying in the movie becouse assyrians spoke the language of jesus aramaic.
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 16, 2003 2:44 PM
Religious Jews like me will understand it cause the Talmud is written in Aramaic. But I doubt any religious Jew would watch this film. Cause we have a totally different version of the story.
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 22, 2003 12:06 PM
Shlomo,
You are forgetting one thing my friend. That Assyrians are not the only people who speak Aramaic...there are the Syrian Orthodox Christians who speak the language too...remember, the oldest Christian people?
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 12, 2003 6:19 AM
dear brother, you need to read and learn about history ,becouse i want you to read this and then you tell me who is oldest. http://www.aina.org/aol/peter/narative.htm
I want the whole world to know that Assyrians are the oldest christians its a fact and also alexander the great said all i see is assyrians and assyrian villages and he sais this after the fall of nineveh 612 bc. so please before you say something make sure you have studied history of the assyrian church of the east the oldest christians.
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 13, 2003 5:16 AM
you were say8ing syrian orthadox is oldest chirstians ??? i got news for you brother assyrian church of the east is was and allways will be as long as there is assyrians around
A Narrative History of Assyrians
Peter BetBasoo
On March 21st, 1997, Assyrians celebrated their 6747th new year. I wonder if those first Assyrian settlers of the city of Nineveh, in 5000 B.C., realized that their children would one day, 6700 years later, find themselves dispersed throughout the world, far from their homeland, yet still maintaining their proud heritage.
From the seed that those first settlers planted grew what was to become a magnificent legacy; indeed, the very basis of life for most societies in the world, for these settlers were among the early pioneers of the sedentary, agrarian societies. And it is here, in the Assyrian heartland, the land between two rivers, that the first agricultural societies are found. It is here that we find the first system of writing, the first cities, the first legal codes. It is here where the history of ideas begins. And it is here that the great Assyrian cities of Ashur, Nineveh, Arbela and Nimrod, arise to prominence by the end of the fourth millennium B.C.
The first Assyrian dynasty began in 2371 B.C. with Sargon of Akkad, who as an infant was placed in a basket and set afloat on the Tigris river. He was found and raised by an Assyrian couple. Sargon of Akkad was the first recorded Assyrian king, and he listed 173 kings before him. Although Sargon's empire was small in comparison to the second and third Assyrian empires, it laid the foundation for eighteen hundred years of Assyrian rule, beginning with Sargon I in 2400 B.C. and ending with the tragic fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C.
But before Assyrian hegemony would come to an end, the Assyrians would bring the highest civilization to the then known world. From the Caspian to Cyprus, from Anatolia to Egypt, Assyrian imperial expansion would bring into the Assyrian sphere nomadic and barbaric communities, and would bestow the gift of civilization upon them.
And though today we are far removed from that time, some of our most basic and fundamental devices of daily survival, to which we have become so accustomed that we cannot conceive of life without them, originated in Assyria. One cannot imagine leaving his home without locking the door; it is in Assyria where locks and keys were first used. One cannot survive in this world without knowing the time; it is in Assyria that the sexagesimal system of keeping time was developed. One cannot imagine driving without paved roads; it is in Assyria where paved roads were first used. And the list goes on, including the first postal system, the first use of iron, the first magnifying glasses, the first libraries, the first plumbing and flush toilets, the first electric batteries, the first guitars, and so on.
But it is not only things that originated in Assyria, it is also ideas, ideas that would shape the world to come. It is the idea, for example, of imperial administration, of dividing the land into territories administered by local governors who report to the central authority, the King of Assyria. This fundamental model of administration has survived to this day, as can be seen in America's federal-state system.
It is in Assyria where the mythological foundation of the old and new testament is found. It is here that the story of the flood originates, 2000 years before the old testament is written. It is here that the first epic is written, the Epic of Gilgamesh, with its universal and timeless theme of the struggle and purpose of humanity. It is here that civilization itself is developed and handed down to future generations. It is here where the first steps in the cultural unification of the Middle East are taken by bringing under Assyrian rule the diverse groups in the area, from Iran to Egypt, breaking down ethnic and national barriers and preparing the way for the cultural unification which facilitated the subsequent spread of Hellenism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
It is, indeed, here in Assyria where the history of ideas begins. This is the legacy of the pre-Christian Assyrians.
But the end of the Assyrian empire in 612 B.C. did not signal the end of the Assyrians; they continued living in their homeland until that momentous moment in human history, when the Lord Son of God gave himself for the salvation of mankind. Very soon after the crucifixion, the bulk of the Assyrian population converted to Christianity, although there remained to be Ashur worshippers, the original Assyrian religion, until 256 A.D. It was the Apostle Thomas, with Thaddeus and Bartholomew who came to the Assyrian city of Edessa and founded the Assyrian Church of the East, the first and oldest church in the world.
Armed with the word of God, and after 600 years of dormancy, the Assyrians once again set out to build an empire, not a military empire, but a religious empire founded on divine revelation and Christian brotherhood. So successful was the Assyrian missionary enterprise, by the end of the twelfth century the Assyrian Church was larger than the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches combined, and it spanned the Asian continent, from Syria to Mongolia, Korea, China, Japan and the Philippines.
When Marco Polo visited China in the thirteenth century, he was astonished to find Assyrian priests in the Chinese royal court, and tens of thousands of Chinese Christians. The Assyrian missionaries had reached China in the sixth century. With only the bible, a cross, and a loaf of bread in hand, these messengers had walked thousands of miles along the old silk road to deliver the word of God. So successful were the missionaries, when Genghis Khan swept through Asia, he brought with him an army over half of which belonged to the Assyrian Church of the East. So successful were the missionaries, the first Mongolian system of writing used the Assyrian alphabet.
Armed with the word of God, Assyrians once again transformed the face of the Middle East. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries they began a systematic translation of the Greek body of knowledge into Assyrian. At first they concentrated on the religious works but then quickly moved to science, philosophy and medicine. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Galen, and many others were translated into Assyrian, and from Assyrian into Arabic. It is these Arabic translations which the Moors brought with them into Spain, and which the Spaniards translated into Latin and spread throughout Europe, thus igniting the European renaissance.
By the sixth century A.D., Assyrians had begun exporting back to Byzantia their own works on science, philosophy and medicine. In the field of medicine, the Bakhteesho Assyrian family produced nine generations of physicians, and founded the great medical school at Gundeshapur. Also in the area of medicine, Hunayn ibn-Ishaq*s textbook on ophthalmology, written in 950 A.D., remained the authoritative source on the subject until 1800 A.D.
In the area of philosophy, the Assyrian philosopher Job of Edessa developed a physical theory of the universe, in the Assyrian language, that rivaled Aristotle*s theory, and that sought to replace matter with forces.
One of the greatest Assyrian achievements of the fifth century was the founding of the first university in the world. The School of Nisibis had three departments: theology, philosophy and medicine, and became a magnet and center of intellectual development in the Middle East. The statutes of the School of Nisibis, which have been preserved, later became the model upon which the first Italian university was based.
When Arabs and Islam swept through the Middle East in 630 A.D., they encountered 600 years of Assyrian Christian civilization, with a rich heritage, a highly developed culture, and advanced learning institutions. It is this civilization which became the foundation of the Arab civilization.
But this great Assyrian Christian civilization would come to an end in 1300 A.D. The tax which the Arabs levied on Christians, simply for just being Christian, forced many Assyrians to convert to Islam to avoid the tax; this inexorably drained the community, so that by the time Timurlane the Mongol delivered the final blow in 1300 A.D., by violently destroying most cities in the Middle East, the Assyrian Christian community had dwindled to its core in Assyria, and henceforth the Assyrian Church of the East would not regain its former glory, and the Assyrian language, which had been the lingua franca of the Middle East until 900 A.D., was completely supplanted by Arabic (except amongst the Assyrians). This, from 1300 A.D. until World War One, became the second Assyrian dark age.
It was the momentous events of World War One which brought the Assyrians out of their 700 year seclusion and thrust them into the world scene once again. This time, the Assyrians united with the Allies, fighting against the Turks. The Assyrian losses were devastating; 750,000 Assyrians, three out of four, were massacred by the Turks, along with one million Armenians. As a result of the Turkish genocide, Assyrians fled to other countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. They also fled to Europe and America. It is at that time that the first significant Assyrian population came to America, and it is at that time, for the first time in their history, that the Assyrians became a diasporic nation. It remains to be seen whether the Assyrians can survive the diaspora.
But the biggest exodus of Assyrians from their homeland began in the sixties and continued into the late seventies. Hundreds of thousands of Assyrians emigrated to the West, mostly to America. There are now 300,000 Assyrians in America, with 80,000 in Chicago, 80,000 in Detroit, 40,000 in the Bay Area, 20,000 in the Los Angeles Area, 20,000 in San Diego and 5,000 in Yonkers..
This large exodus of Assyrians was precipitated by oppressive policies practiced by Arab/Muslim governments, which most Assyrians find themselves living under. Not having their own state, Assyrians have become the victims of intolerant governments, prejudiced societies, and opportunistic nationalists. In Iraq, Assyrians are not recognized as a national minority, even though there are two million living there, and they are not granted citizenship, yet they are expected to die for the country, as 40,000 Assyrians died in the Iran-Iraq war.
And the exodus continues. As a result of the Gulf War, one hundred thousand Assyrians have left Iraq, and the remaining ones are living in extremely harsh and inhuman conditions.
Wherever Assyrians live, they are a law-abiding people, with strong family and Christian values. They are also loyal citizens of their host country. After all, was it not Khalil Gibran, an Assyrian, who said, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?
Assyrians
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the Assyrians?
A: A semitic peoples indigenous to North Iraq; builders of the great Mesopotamian civilizations; ethnically distinct from Arabs and Jews (the other semitic poeples of the region).
Q: What language do they speak?
A: They currently speak modern Assyrian (also known as neo-Syriac), which is the oldest extant language, and was the lingua franca of the Middle East until 700 A.D., when it was supplanted by Arabic. Before this they spoke Akkadian (the switch from Akkadian to Aramaic was completed by 750 B.C.). Modern Assyrian is written right to left, and has a lot of Akkadian influence in it.
Q: What is their religion?
A: All Assyrians are Christians. They belong to three main Assyrian churches: 1) The Assyrian Church of the East ("Nestorian"), established in 33 A.D. by Theodos, Thomas, and Bartholomew; 2) the Assyrian Orthodox Church ("Jacobite"), established in 450 A.D.; 3) the Chaldean Church of Babylon (Roman Catholic), established in 1550 A.D.
Q: Where do they live?
A: The majority of Assyrians live in their ancestral homeland, which is now part of Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Here is a geographical breakdown
Iraq 1,500,000 France 15,000
Syria 700,000 Georgia 14,000
USA 300,000 Holland 10,500
Armenia 180,000 Denmark 10,000
Brazil 80,000 England 8,000
Iran 50,000 Austria 7,000
Lebanon 40,000 Greece 5,000
Russia 35,000 Belgium 5,000
Sweden 35,000 New Zealand 3,000
Australia 30,000 Switzerland 3,000
Germany 30,000 Italy 3,000
Turkey 20,000 Other 100,000
Canada 20,000
Total 3,203,500
Q: What are important dates for Assyrians
A: March 21st, Assyrian New Year. The Assyrian year is now 6747 (1997 A.D.). August 7th, Assyrian Martyrs day.
A Brief History of the Assyrian Churches
Peter Jasim
Introduction
Assyrians of today belong to three major churches: the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ("Nestorian"), The Assyrian Orthodox Church ("Jacobite") and the Chaldean Church of Babylon ("Chaldeans", who are Roman catholic uniates). Precise numbers are difficult to estimate, but there are about 800,000 members in the Church of the East, 1,000,000 members in the Chaldean Church, and about 700,000 members in the Assyrian Orthodox Church.
Beginnings
The Assyrian Church of the East (hence forth ACE), whose official name is the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, was established in 33 A.D. by the apostles Thomas (Toma in Assyrian), Theodos (Addai in Assyrian), and Bartholomew (Bar Tulmay in Assyrian). The first Patriarch of ACE was Addai, although Thomas and Bartholomew are also officially listed as the first Patriarchs (see Table of Apostolic Succession below).
ACE spread from the Assyrian city Arbela (in North Iraq; Arbela means "Four Gods" in Assyrian) to the surrounding areas of Persia, Syria, and Iraq, and later became centered in Seleucia-Ctesiphon (just south of Baghdad). Through an incredible missionary enterprise, ACE became the largest Church in the world by the 12th century, extending from Syria to China, Korea, Japan, and the Phillipines. ACE was overwhelmed by the Mongol Timurlane and after the thirteenth century could never recover its past glory. It was reduced to a small church in the Assyrian heartland in North Iraq.
The significant achievements of ACE include the first University in the world (Nisibis), and the incredible translation movement of its clergy and laity, which saw the translation of all the major Greek works of science, philosophy and religion into Assyrian (then into Arabic), and which produced original Assyrian thinkers who wrote extensively and diversely
The First Division
ACE was centered in the Sassanid empire, which was rival to the Byzantine empire to the west. Political tension between the two empires separated Eastern from Western Christians, and doctrinal disputes over the nature of Christ (monophysites/diophysites) further distanced the Christian communities. The monophysitic movement gained a stronghold in the Byzantine realm and the Church of the East divided along these geopolitical/doctrinal lines by 450 A.D. -- The Assyrian Orthodox Church (AOC) was born.
The Second Division
In 780 A.D. there occurred a division in AOC, and Mar Maron took his followers from Syria and settled in Mount Lebanon, founding the Maronite Church. The Christians of Lebanon are known as "Maronites", after Mar Maron. The Maronite Church has since become a Roman Catholic Uniate.
The Third Division
In 1552 A.D. there arose a debate over how the Patriarch of ACE should be chosen. The Patriarch had been elected, but a faction in the Church desired that the Patriarchate become hereditary. The Hereditary faction lost its dispute and as a result sough allegiance with the Catholic Church of Rome. The Roman church made the hereditary faction Roman Catholic Uniates and called the new church the Chaldean Church of Babylon (CCB), to distinguish it from ACE. But in an interesting reversal, the hereditary faction returned fifty years later and took control of ACE, and the election faction took control of CCB.
Table of Apostolic Succession for the Assyrian Church of the East
Year Patriarch
33 Toma
33 Bar Tulmay
33 - 45 Addai
45 - 81 Agai, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
48 - 81 Mari, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
90 - 107 Abris, relative of the Virgin Mary
130 - 152 Oraham I
172 - 190 Yacob I, relative of Yosip the Carpenter
191 - 203 Ebid M'shikha
205 - 220 Akhu d'Awu
224 - 244 Shakhlupa of Kashkar
247 - 326 Papa Bar Gaggai
328 - 341 Shimun Bar Sabbai
345 - 347 Shahdost
350 - 358 Bar Bashmin
383 - 393 Tumarsa
393 - 399 Qaiyuma
399 - 411 Eskhaq
411 - 415 Akhkhi
415 - 420 Yoalaha I
420 Maana
421 Qarabukht
421 - 456 Dadishu
457 - 484 Bawai or Babu
484 - 496 Aqaq
496 - 502 Bawai
505 - 523 Sheela
524 - 535 Narsai
524 - 538 Elisha (dual Patriarchate)
539 - 540 Polos
552 - 567 Yosip
570 - 581 Khazqiyil
581 - 595 Eshuyow I, Arzunaya
596 - 604 Soreshu I Garmaqaya
605 - 608 Greghor, Partaya
628 - 644 Eshuyow II (Gdalaya or Arab)
647 - 650 Mar Immeh
650 - 660 Eshuyow III, Kdayawaya
681 - 684 Gewargis I
684 - 692 Yokhannan I, Bar Marta
686 - 693 Khnaishu I (dual Patriarchate)
693 - 694 Yokhannan II, Garba
714 - 728 Sliwazkha
731 - 740 Pethyon
741 - 751 Awa
752 - 754 Surin
754 - 773 Yacob II
774 - 778 Khnanishu II (the Assyrian monument in China was erected during his reign)
780 - 820 Timotheus I
820 - 824 Esho-barnon
825 - 832 Gewargis II
832 - 836 Soreshu II
837 - 850 Oraham II, Margaya
850 - 852 Teadasis (Theodoros)
860 - 872 Sargis, Suwaya
873 - 884 Annush d'beth Garmay
884 - 892 Yokhannan III, Bar Narsai
892 - 898 Yokhannan IV
900 - 905 Yokhannan V
906 - 937 Oraham III, Abraza
937 - 949 Ammanoel I
961 - 962 Esrail Karkhaya
963 - 986 Odishu Garmaqaya
967 - 1000 Mari Aturaya
1001 - 1012 Yokhannan VI
1013 - 1022 Yokhannan VII
1023 - 1027 Eshuyow IV
1028 - 1049 Elia I
1049 - 1057 Yokhannan VIII
1057 - 1072 Soreshu III (Bar Zanbur)
1072 - 1090 Odishu II (Bar Ars) Aturaya
1092 - 1109 Makkikha I (Bar Shlemon)
1111 - 1132 Elia II
1133 - 1135 Bar Soma (Of Suwa)
1135 - 1136 Bar Gabbara
1138 - 1147 Odishu III (nephew of Elia II)
1148 - 1175 Eshuyow V (from Beth Zodai, Baladaya)
1176 - 1190 Elia III (Abukhalim)
1191 - 1222 Yoalaha II (Bar Qaiyuma)
1222 - 1226 Soreshu IV
1226 - 1256 Soreshu V (from Baghdad)
1257 - 1265 Makkikha II
1265 - 1281 Dinkha I, Arbilaya (from Arbil)
1281 - 1318 Yoalaha III, Bar Turkaye (Turkish by race)
1318 - 1328 Timotheus II, Arbilaya
1329 - 1359 Dinkha II
1359 - 1368 Dinkha III
1369 - 1392 Shimun III
1403 - 1407 Shimun IV
1407 - 1420 Elia III
1420 - 1447 Shimun V
1448 - 1490 Shimun VI
1491 - 1504 Elia V
1505 - 1538 Shimun VII
1538 - 1551 Eshuyow Shimun VIII
1552 - 1558 Dinkha Shimun IX (Bar Mama)
1558 - 1580 Yoalaha Shimun X
1580 - 1600 Dinkha Shimun XI
1600 - 1653 Elia Shimun XI
1653 - 1690 Eshuyow Shimun XIII
1690 - 1692 Yoalaha Shimun XIV
1692 - 1700 Dinkha Shimun XV
1700 - 1740 Shlemon (Sulaiman) shimun XVI
1740 - 1741 Mikhail (Muukhattis) Shimun XVII
1740 - 1820 Yonan (Yuna) Shimun XVIII
1820 - 1860 Oraham Shimun XIX
1860 - 1903 Ruwil Shimun XX
1903 - 1918 Binyamin Shimun XXI
1918 - 1920 Polos Shimun XXII
1920 - 1975 Eshai Shimun XXIII
1975 - Mar Dinkha IV
Table of Apostolic Succession for the Syrian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Year
St. Peter 37
Euodius 67
Ignatius 68
Heros 107
Cornelius 127
Heros II 154
Theophilus 169
Maximianus 182
Serapion 191
Asclipiades 211
Philetus 220
Zebinus 231
Babylas 237
Fabius 251
Demetrianus 254
Paul 260
Domnus I 268
Timaeus 273
Cyril 283
Arannus 304
Vitalius 314
Philogonius 320
Paulinus 323
Eustathius 324
Meletius 360
Flavian I 381
Porphyrius 404
Alexander 412
Theodotus 417
John I 428
Domnus 442
Maximus 449
Peter II 468
Palladius 488
Flavian II 498
Severus 512
Sergius 544
Paul II 550
Peter III 581
Julian I 591
Athanasius 595
John II 631
Theodore 649
Severus II 667
Athanasius 683
Julian 11 686
Elias I 709
Athanasius 724
Iwannis I 740
George I 758
Joseph 790
Kyriakos 793
Dionysius 817
John III 846
Ignatius II 878
Theodosius 887
Dionysius 897
John IV 910
Basil I 923
John V 936
Iwannis II 954
Dionysius III 958
Abraham 962
John VI 963
Athanasius 986
John VII 1004
Dionysius 1034
John VIII 1049
Athanasius 1058
John IX 1063
Basil II 1074
Dionysius V 1077
Iwannis III 1080
Dionysius VI 1088
Athanasius 1091
John X 1129
Athanasius 1138
Michael 1166
Athanasius 1200
John XI 1208
Ignatius III 1222
John XII 1263
Ignatius IV 1264
Philoxenus 1283
Michael II 1292
Michael 11 1312
Basil HI 1387
Philoxenus 1394
Basil IV 1421
Behnam 1445
Khalaf 1455
John XIII 1483
Noah 1493
Yeshue I 1509
Jacob I 1512
David I 1517
Abdullah I 1520
Ne'matallah 1557
David II 1576
Pilate 1591
Hadayatallah 1597
Simon 1640
Yeshue II 1659
Abdulmassih 1662
George II 1687
Isaac Azar 1709
Shukrallah 1722
George III 1745
George IV 1768
Matthew 1782
Jonah 1817
George V 1819
Elias II 1838
Jacob II 1847
Peter IV 1872
Abdulmassih 1895
Abdullah II 1906
Elias III 1917
Ephrem I 1933
Jacob III 1957
Zakka I 1980
References
The Might That Was Assyria; H.W.F. Saggs; Sidgwick and Jackson; 1984.
History of Assyria; A.T. Olmstead.
Hagarism: the Making of the Islamic World; Patricia Crone, Michael Cook; Cambridge University Press; 1977.
History of Christianity in Asia: Volume One, Beginnings to 1500; Samuel Moffet; Harper Collins; 1994.
Cambridge Ancient History: The Roman Republic, 133-44 B.C.; W. W. Tarn; Cambridge University Press; 1985; pp 597.
By Foot to China: Mission of the Church of the East, to 1400; John M. L. Young; Grey Pilgrim Publications; Lookout Mountain, GA; 1991.
The Nestorians and their Rituals; George Percy Badger.
A Short History of Syriac Christianity; W. Stewart McCullough.
Patriarch, Shah, and Caliph; William G. Young.
An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church; W. A. Wigram.
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by JTWorkman (ask and ye shall recieve) on January 17, 2003 6:51 PM
As I understand it, you say that Aramaic is a living language. I've never heard of the Assyrians before, and a quick Google brought up this ABCNews.com page:
Is Jesus' Language at Death's Door?
The answer appears to be yes. These people speak the language that Jesus spoke, and they live in Iraq. They're Christians as well.
This article didn't answer all the questions I have, though. Do they have the same basic canon of Scripture that western Christians have? Since they conduct their services in Classical Aramaic, would they have any books that we don't have in the West - sayings of Jesus, perhaps, in the original language?
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Yehua (Jesus) spoke Hebrew!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 18, 2003 7:20 AM
Jesus (Yeshua) was Jewish. He spoke in Hebrew. I took a class on the Jewishness of Jesus and we learned a lot of Hebrew.
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RE: Yehua (Jesus) spoke Hebrew!
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 18, 2003 12:46 PM
Actually Jesus did speak Aramaic. The Roman empire was ruling during Jesus's day but, the Romans were more barbaric and uneducated than the scholarly Greeks. Although they conquered the land, they adopted the Greek ways, including their language (Aramaic). It even says in the Lexicon Encyclopedia that Aramaic was the native tongue of Jesus Christ and the language of the Jewish Talmud.
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RE: Yehua (Jesus) spoke Hebrew!
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Posted by JTWorkman (ask and ye shall recieve) on January 18, 2003 12:52 PM
Jesus certainly knew Hebrew, but the common language of Palestine was Aramaic. The NT preserves several actual Aramaic sayings of Jesus, and certain sayings become puns in Aramaic (the "rich man going through the eye of a needle" is an example).
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/mag/TSmgenB2.html
I don't think anyone's denying that Jesus was Jewish. : )
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RE: Yehua (Jesus) spoke YeHebrew y-dig-it!
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Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on January 19, 2003 11:13 AM
Yehua... Yeshua.... Yoohoo..... Yihaaah..... Whatever....!
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RE: 5 million assyrians will understand
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 12, 2003 6:35 AM
i will send you to the assyrian church of the east and all your answers will be there.
http://www.cired.org/
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He died to save the World
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 17, 2003 2:59 PM
I have always had hard me viewing the crucifixion scenes in movies even when they are toned down. I am, however, glad that we will see a realistic depiction of what Christ really suffered. Pictures are worth a thousand words. God taking on Himself our sin! How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? God loves us that much!
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RE: He died to save the World
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on May 16, 2003 6:32 PM
Amen
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 22, 2003 12:01 PM
I would like to point out that there are people in this world who still speak Aramaic: those are the Christian Syrian Orthodox of Syria and Turkey as well as the Assyrians of Iraq. The language is a dying language because the Moslem population of the Middle East do not allow these people to teach their own language in schools. The language survives in the Liturgy of the Church. Aramaic is also known as its Christian counterpart: Syriac. The Syrian Orthodox Christians are considered to be the OLDEST Christian people.
Through Mel's movie, he is opening up to the world the existence of a beleaguered minority in the Middle East.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 26, 2003 2:00 AM
Simply provide subtitles. Then those who don't speak Latin can still appreciate it.
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Go for the Subtitles
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 4, 2003 6:47 PM
I am proud of Mel for his resolve and financial commitment to the movie. I think it is a BIG mistake not to have subtitles though. Also, being a follower of Jesus I admit to being a little leary and defensive about the movies historical accuracy and appropriate "tone". It sounds like Mel has that part covered though.
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mel gibson jesus movie
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 5, 2003 1:45 PM
is hollywood going to produce the movie
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Who said Aramaic was dead?
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 13, 2003 2:57 PM
I disagree completely with the notion that "no one in the world will understand the movie" and "two dead languages". There are over 2 million Assyrians and Chaldeans in the world who speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
Well done Mel, at last some recognition for other people's cultures, not just "Amerrican" culture!!!
Benyamin Aziz
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Posted by coasty10 (coasty10@hotmail.com) on March 19, 2003 8:39 AM
Hey man jesus is the best thing in the world
Praise God if he wants to do it and its acurit then go for i say
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on May 22, 2003 12:46 PM
LISTEN BOYS N GURLS, WHEN THE F IS THE MOVIE COMMIN OUT!!!!!!!! DOES ANYONE KNOW, CUZ I WANNA DOWNLOAD IT PYRATE STYLE! WHOS COMMIN WITH ME? :) PLEASE SOMEONE TELL US WHEN ITS COMMIN OUT WHAT ITS GONNA BE CALLED AN HOW LONG IT IS, FANKS:)
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on June 6, 2003 3:26 PM
aramaic is not a dead language. People in my neighbourhood speak aramaic. (Melbourne Australia)
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on June 17, 2003 7:05 AM
I watched an interview Mel did on TBN where he said he felt that he needed to accurately portray the last days of Jesus. He did not lighten up on anything. He has caught a lot of flack for doing this movie and I don't think it will end...probably get worse as the release gets closer. We need to figure out how to encourage a studio to release this movie. Any suggestions?
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RE: Interview with Mel
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 29, 2003 12:05 AM
I totally agree with you, and I'm glad someone else feels the same way as me. I saw the interview and was imediately overcome with the urge to pray for Mel and the successfull release of this movie. This movie comes at a time when it is imperative that we get ready for the return
of Christ, and what better way to reach the world ,than to make the
world relive the crucifixtion. Its perfect. Now instead of
reading it in the Bible
we get to actually be
there up close and personal. Now if that wont tear your heart out
and make you cry for our
Lord, I dont know what will. You know God never ceases to amaze and delight me. How clever of him. God Bless
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 17, 2003 3:12 PM
We need movies like this that may help many of us to see what Jesus went through for us. Many christians as well as non christians need to see this to wake them up and show them what Jesus really went through. Many of us have heard the story of the crucifiction but I think for some people it will take something more visual to make them realize exactly what our savior went through. I hope it makes us all realize he did this for us so why don't we totally give our lives to him.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 25, 2003 11:36 PM
Praise the Lord someone has the guts to stand up for the lord In Hollywood. Too many If i could change the world attitudes and nothing being done for nobody but themselves. I say go for it with God backing you you dont need anyone else. Of course there is a big fuss that has come about this movie and that is because the majority of hollywood movies cater for no one else but Satan. Sex Drugs Under age Sex Sex before marriage same gender relationships and so on and so on. So Mel you stand for God and keep standing and be sure that we are all praying for you and this project. People are gonna try to get you down or stop this film but keep your eyes on Jesus and continue to fight the good fight. Good on you mate may God Bless you and your family.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 25, 2003 11:57 PM
Praise the Lord someone has the guts to stand up for the lord In Hollywood. Too many If i could change the world attitudes and nothing being done for nobody but themselves. I say go for it with God backing you you dont need anyone else. Of course there is a big fuss that has come about this movie and that is because the majority of hollywood movies cater for no one else but Satan. Sex Drugs Under age Sex Sex before marriage same gender relationships and so on and so on. So Mel you stand for God and keep standing and be sure that we are all praying for you and this project. People are gonna try to get you down or stop this film but keep your eyes on Jesus and continue to fight the good fight. Good on you mate may God Bless you and your family. West Auckland New Zealand V.T 74.
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 26, 2003 12:11 AM
Can anybody tell me if Mel Is a born again Christian? Just wanting to know thats all. Mel let no Man stand in your way!! Amen and Amen!!
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