Medieval Christian Assyrian icon depicting the
birth of the Christ
The white Syriac type over the blue area reads Molada
or Birth.
ON the left the wise men are bringing gifts.
While in the Western literature the wise Men are known generically
as Magies the early Syriac Christian writers identified them
as Assyrian. The fifth century writer "Narsai Kinnara D
Rukhah" wrote: "When the great Assyria realized this
[that Christ was born] called upon the Magies [astronomers] and
told them to take gifts and present them to the Great King (christ).
This will rejoice Assyria and would please Pars [Persia]."
He added: "King Herod (of Israel) felt demeaned by the Assyrian
[respect to the Christ by the traveling Magies] therefore in
anger he ordered the killing of the infants." (Odishu Malco
Ghivargis "We are none other than Assyrians", JAAS,
Vol. XIV NO. 1, 2000)
Another tradition claims that twelve Assyrian astronomers followed
a bright star to Urhay or Edessa from there they sent three with
presents to visit Jesus, the infant King. The Western names for
the three wise men are Malkoon, Kasper and Bagdassar. The etymology
of the names attest to their Assyrian origin. Malkoon appears
to be a corruption of the Assyrian Malkuna which means 'little
king', Bagdhassar seems to be corruption of the Biblical Belshassar
a variation of the Assyrian name Bell-shar-essur which in Akkadian
it meant 'Bell appointed a King'. Kassper is Khaw-Spar or the
Morning Star. The corruption in these names is understandable
as they were passed on to the West by the Greeks. (Sabro a publication
of (syrian Orthodox church of America), Nov-Dec. 2000. no 7)
Yet another Assyrian tradition states that Abgar O. Kamma the
King of Urhay when informed about how Jesus was being abused
by the Jewish clergies invited him to come and live in his principality
but in reply Jesus wrote he can not becuase he has a mission
to complete, but he will send one of his desciples to come and
heal his sickness. Accordingly Thomas arrived in the city of
Urhay after the Crucifixion. He and his later local disciples
preached Christianity among the Assyrians who willingly embraced
it.
For Iraqi Christians, Christmas represents church,
family, fears
By Larry Kaplow
Statesman
December 24, 2005
His Greek Catholic Church of St. George had its walls blown
out and its insides charred and gutted. The blast blew limbs
off the Jesus figure on the crucifix behind the altar, but the
stately, domed church is being rebuilt, largely by volunteers.
Worshippers plan to hold Mass in the unfinished shell Sunday.
In recent days, children were in the church annex sharpening
their high-pitched Arabic "Jingle Bells" and rehearsing
the localized journey of the Three Wise Men, tracking the nativity
star from the Iraqi cities of Basra, Kirkuk and Suleymaniya.
Amid Christmas trees and tales of the jolly, bearded Baba
Noel (Santa Claus), many in Iraq's Christian minority dream of
leaving the country, but bravely continue with the traditions
of their faith.
"I have to protect the church. There is a priest here,
and our God protects us," Dawood said last week by the palm
tree trunks that form a barrier to the church entrance, adding,
"Yeah, anyone who holds a Kalashnikov is in danger."
On Oct. 16, 2004, bombers struck five Iraqi churches, including
St. George's, nearly simultaneously. That and other church attacks
in 2004 killed 20 or so, according to reports at the time.
But this year wasn't as deadly for Christians, and some say
this third Christmas in the chaotic aftermath of the U.S.-led
invasion will be more relaxed, if only because they are now familiar
with the dangers.
Christmas Eve Mass is now routinely held in the daylight hours
of the afternoon instead of the traditional midnight. Rarely
do they now hold parties that once brought large numbers of Christians
and their Muslim friends together.
"It is a little bit better because more people are used
to the situation," said Amir Oraha, a spokesman for the
largest Christian political party, the Assyrian Democratic Movement.
"People should live their lives."
Estimates vary, but there are perhaps 800,000 Christians in
Iraq, about 3 percent of the population. Dozens of churches are
spread through Baghdad, some graceful and domed and some boxy
and nondescript.
Christian activists give numbers ranging from 20,000 to 200,000
for the number of Iraq's Christians who have fled the country
since the U.S.-led invasion.
But some Iraqi Christians say it has become harder to leave
now than it was during Saddam Hussein's regime, when Christian
countries were freer with asylum requests. So one of Iraq's Christmas
rituals these days is to make phone calls to close relatives
far away. Samir Naum al-Hayak, 43, a tool shop employee, will
get in touch with brothers and other kin in Detroit, Chicago
and Denmark.
Hayak lives around the block from St. George's and notes that
seven families on his half-mile-long street have left the country
since early 2003. Desire to emigrate is almost a given; "If
I have the ability, I will go," he said.
At St. George's, as in many churches, there is an informal
approach to the denominational lines, and Christians of different
sects attend.
They held mass in the church the day after last year's bombing
that, despite the extensive damage, didn't wound anyone. Along
with the reconstruction of the church, its members have added
a 12-foot-high wall around its perimeter.
Anita Dawood, Wasseem's sister, has been brushing up on her
Christmas carols with the church's choir.
Anita Dawood, a 22-year-old philosophy and religion student,
said she would like to go to any country with "peace and
stability," but, for now, she plans to decorate the tree,
bake cakes and make a nativity scene in their house.
"It will be happy even though we live in bad
circumstances," she said, walking home from choir practice.
"All the churches are threatened, but we will go to Mass."
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Ashur TV -----December 2005
Schedule
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Who are
the Christians of Iraq?
Mery Christmas
December =
Canoon Gadmaya
For Iraqi Christians, Christmas
represents church, family, fears Dec. 24, 05
Christians
celebrate a wary Christmas in Baghdad Dec. 24, 05
Iraqi
Christians Pray and Brace for Election Outcome Dec. 24, 05
Safety fears hang
over celebrations in Iraq Dec. 24, 05
Fear overshadows
Christmas joy in Baghdad December 23, 05
U of T pharmacology
postgraduate student from Woodbridge Came to Canada from Iraq
in 1996 Dec.23, 05
Democracy in Iraq
or Ethnic cleansing of the Christians? Dec. 21, 05
Sunnis, Secular
Shiites Threaten Boycott Dec. 21, 05
Large Assyrian
Turnout in Iraq Election Marred By Kurdish Voting Fraud Dec. 21, 05
The Real War
On Christmas Dec. 19, 95
Iraq Expats
Narrowly Favor Christian Assyrian Slate Dec. 19, 05
Concern expressed
for Assyrian Christians in Iraq Dec. 18, 05
Iraqis Vote in Historic
Election toward Freedom, Democracy
Dec. 17, 05
Turkmen
Complain Kurds Cheated in Elections in Kirkuk Dec. 17, 05
Touch of
Assyria in San Jose. Dec. 16, 05
Iraqi
Christians flee to Jordan, Syria in response to increased persecution
Dec.
16, 05
The Mid-East's
beleaguered Christians Dec. 16, 05
Exiled
Iraqi Christians Vote With Concern About Their Future Dec. 15, 05
Tension
Mounting on Day of Iraqi Elections Dec. 15, 05
Iraqi Americans
Cast Their Votes Dec. 14, 05
Information
about Voting in Canada Dec. 14, 05
A vote for democracy 12, 14, 05
Iraqi
expatriates to vote in elections, hopeful new government can
end bloodshed Dec. 13, 05
Iraqi
Americans Ponder Role in Homeland's Vote Dec. 12, 05
Iraqi-Americans
ready for polls Dec 12, 2005
The
Latest information about Iraq's Out-of-Country Voting Dec. 12, 05
Between Iraq
and a hard place, Iraqi Christians in Syria Dec. 12, 05
Half
a Million Iraqi Assyrians (including Chaldeans and Syriacs) have
taken refuge in Syria Dec.
11, 05
Assyrian
Claims Discussed in Australian Parliament Dec. 11, 05
Iraqis
here get voice in Baghdad's future Dec. 11, 05
Official
Information about Iraq's out of the country voting Dec. 10, 05
Iraq's Voting in
Canada Dec. 10, 05
Iraqi
community to cast votes at fairgrounds in Pleasanton Dec. 9, 05
Fostering
creativity in dangerous times Dec. 8, 05
Meet
Miss World Canada 2005, Ramona Amiri Dec. 8. 05
IRAQ:
KURDISH PRESIDENT OFFERS REFUGE TO CHRISTIANS Dec. 8, 05
Iraq Establishes 8
Polling Centers in the U.S. 12, 8, 05
News From Iraq Dec. 8, 05
740 Stained with
the blood of our Martyrs Dec. 6, 05
Kurdistan
Democratic Party Stops Assyrian Group From Campaigning Dec. 6, 05
Campaign
activity, insurgent violence rise in Iraq Dec. 5, 05
Myths
About the Situation in Iraq Dec.
5, 05
Competition
for the best design of the Ancient Assyrian Costumes Dec. 3, 05
List
of "Reported" Assyrians murdered in Iraq in 2005. Dec. 3, 05
Dylan's quest: Six-year-old
needs blood matches Dec. 3, 05
Shades of voter
apathy Dec, 2, 05
Holywood Tapestries
Featuring Semiramis is on Auction Dec. 2, 05
Iraq's Oily Referendum Dec.
1, 05
Iraqi Parliamentary Elections In California Dec. 1, 05
November =
Tishrin II
Burial
pictures of the Two Assyrians Killed Nov. 30, 05
Two
Assyrian Party Members Killed in Iraq, Two Wounded Nov. 29, 05
Iraq
Election Coverage at Ashur T.V. Nov. 29, 05
Iraq's
Elections Could Be 'Magnet' for Success, Adviser Says Nov. 29, 05
Assyrian
Political posters for the upcoming elections Nov. 29, 05
Islamic reformers
struggle to revise school textbooks Nov. 28, 05
Iraq's political-campaign
season in full swing as violence continues Nov. 27, 05
The Crusades Remembered,
a Different Perspective Nov. 26, 05
Iraqi
Factions Seek Timetable for U.S. Pullout Nov. 25, 05
Dora:Baghdad's Neighborhood
Becomes Trouble Spot Nov. 25, 05
Iraq:
Election Official On Expat Voting Set Up Nov. 24, 05
Prediction of
a Better Future for Iraq Nov. 24, 05
Iraqi
Kurdish leadership is more consumed with self-enrichment Nov. 23, 05
Early voting in
Iraq's parliamentary election to begin December 12th Nov.
22, 05
The
Assyrian Church of the East Maintains Its Continuity Nov. 22, 05
Not all Middle Easterners
are Muslim, Arab Nov. 21, 05
The
Middle East Needs Lebanese Christians Nov. 21, 05
Academic
Conference on Seyfo [genocide] Held in Sweden Nov. 20, 05
Anovel
by Abdulsalam
Nov. 20,
05
Harbole": A documentary
film Nov. 20,
05
Letter To the
Hellenic Parliament Nov. 20, 05
My Grandmother
Heranus
Nov.
19, 05
Books About
the Assyrians Nov. 17, 05
A Moslem discovers
the praise of Christian and Jewish scriptures in the Koran
Nov. 17, 05
Iran is behind the Badr Brigade who are accused of jailing
and torturing the Sunnies Nov.
17, 05
Democracy,
the Kurdish Style. Nov. 17, 05
Talabani Promises
Pope Equality and Respect for All Religions Nov.16, 05
Assyrian Wedding
Comes to Australian TV Nov. 15, 05
In Jordan,
Chaldean Catholics help Iraqis Nov. 15. 05
Are you a Christian
in the Middle East? Nov. 14, 05
The
Assyrian General Conference Election Platform for Iraq Nov. 12, 05
Old
hotel may become home for Hurricane Katrina victims Nov. 12, 05
Iraqi
leader affirms Christians' rights Nov.
11, 11, 05
Egypt's
Christian-Muslim divide 11, 11, 05
Assyrian
Family Attacked in Tikrit Nov.
11, 05
Ancinet
Assyrian Style Citadel in Los Angeles Nov.
11, 05
Priests
say Iraqi Christians now victims of extortion Nov. 08, 05
Iraq;
International Religious Freedom Report 2005 Nov. 08, 05
Chaldean
Synod to focus on Iraq and Liturgy Nov. 08, 05
Assyrian
Killed in Kirkuk's Car Bombing Nov. 05, 05
Funeral
of Grace Mgr. J. Y. Cicek Nov.
05, 05
Witnesses Describe Ballot Fraud in
Nineveh Nov. 04, 05
Chaldean
synod should tackle Christian migration and evangelicals' proselytism,
11. 04, 05
Unexpected
Death of His Eminence Mor Julius Yeshu Çiçek Shocks
Assyrians & the Syrian Orthodox Church Nov. 03, 05
Three
Christian schoolgirls beheaded in Indonesia Nov. 03, 05
On
the trail of stolen Iraqi art Nov. 03, 05
Lost
in the Sunni Triangle Leaders of Baghdad church presumed dead. Nov. 03,
05
Who is
Killing the Iraqi's and the Americans? Nov. 02, 05
What Next in Iraq?
Nov. 02, 05
An
American's View of Iraq's Assyrians Nov. 01, 05
October =
Tishrin I
New
Coalitions Emerge for Parliamentary Elections in Iraq10, 31, 05
Should
the U.S. Withdraw? Let the Iraqi People Decide 10, 31, 05
Those
Who Voted Against Constitution Are Terrorists: Iraqi President 10, 30, 05
An
Assyrian Engineer Killed by the Kurds in Kirkuk 10, 30, 05
Kurds
Reclaiming Prized Territory In Northern Iraq 10, 30, 05
Dwyer:
Most Iraqis want a constitution - and want U.S. troops to leave 10, 30, 05
The
oldest lense
10, 28,
05
Westminster
Hall debate on Iraqi Kurdistan i.e. northern Iraq 10, 25, 05
Iraq constitution
approved 10, 25, 05
Assyrian
and Babylonian medicine was surprisingly advanced 10, 24, 05
What's
in a Name? 10,
12, 05
Draft
constitution denies equal rights, say Iraq's Christians 10, 22, 05
Rejection
of Iraqi Referendum Possible as Nineveh Vote Fraud Reviewed 10, 21, 05
Rosie
Malek-Yonan's Schedule of The Crimson Field Book Tour 10, 20, 05
TURKEY
DECRIES the Assyro-Chaldean MONUMENT IN FRANCE 10, 20, 05
Vote Figures for Crucial Ninveh Province Don't Add Up 10, 19, 05
Iraq Constitution: Bad news for Christians 10, 19. 05
Assyrian students
unite 10, 19, 05
Iraq bishops ready
to seek help from Pope 10, 19, 05
Charter vote resonates
with Valley Iraqis Likely passage gives many hope 10. 18.
05
Dividing
the Chaldeans from the Assyrians by the Iraqi Constitution 10, 18, 05
A monument in
France dedicated to the Remembrance of Assyro-Chaldean massacres
by the Ottoman Turks. 10, 17, 05
Swing state' of
Nineveh may be moving in favour of constitution 10, 15,
05
Iraq
votes for the Constitution and for its future 10, 14, 05
Forgotten
victims - Iraqi Christians who speak the language of Jesus 10, 14, 05
Mgr
Sako: people in Kirkuk have not read the constitution but will
vote 10,13,
05
Terrorism
strikes all Iraqis, says Patriarch 10, 13, 05
Assyriska a national
football team without a country 10, 12, 05
Referendum:
'Yes' in Kurdistan and Southern cities and 'No' in Kirkuk, al
Anbar and Diala 10, 12, 05
Chaos
depriving Towns from Voting - The Minorities Fear the Domination
of Islamic Parties10, 12, 05
Bas-reliefs
of winged goddesses discovered in western Iran 10, 12, 05
Immigration
of Iraqi Chaldeans Abroad Passes through Jordan 10, 12, 05
Baghdadis
tell their stories 10,
12, 05
Assyrialogist
Henry Saggs Dies at 84 10,
10, 05
Letter by Ms. Jacqueline
Zomaya The Assyrian representative to the Iraqi National Assembly 10, 10, 05
The
Kurds are "cleansing" their domain and provoking
a civil war in Iraq 10, 09, 05
Nestorian
label "imposed unjustly upon the Assyrians" 10, 08, 05
Iran's Assyrian MP-Felicitation
to the Supreme Leader 10, 8, 05
Syriac Manuscripts
from the Vatican Library: Volume 1 10, 08, 05
Sunnis
Threaten Referendum Boycott if Rules Not Changed 10, 05, 05
Helping
the Iraqi refugees in Jordan 10, 04, 05
Final Draft of
Iraqi Constitution 10, 03, 05
Two
More Assyrian Children Orphaned 10, 02, 05
Discoveries of the
Assyrian antiquities in Syria 10, 01, 05
Sectarian Strife
tears apart Baghdad's Neighborhoods 10, 01,
05
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Thanks to all who contributed
