n amin Mar un th e Present Pa riarch an th e 1 8th Catholicos y Shim , t d 3 Ass n h ristian C urch was consecrate A ril 1 2 1 0 yria C h , d p , 9 3 e wields h is author ity from the little Alpine v illage of Quc h anis in the Kur h and 1 du- ect lme al s n a v of t he Mountai ns . bears t e title s the repre e t ti e prelate wh o sat sxx t h at t he Council of Nicea
Th e
D e ath of a Nation
The Ever Persecuted Nestoriano or
By
Abraham Yohannan, Ph .D .
With 27 Illustrations and a Map
’ G . P. Putnam s Sons
New Yorkand L ondon t he ‘lmtclmboclm mm 191 6
Q.
THE AFFL ICTED CON UNITY OF m
ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS
t is 0 mee the w hes of my friends, I have consented to give the history of the
neral an to ake li n ge , d m pub c some further i formation on the snfierings and massacres to whi as o ch, the result f this terrible war, they are su to- da bjected y.
Nestorians are undergoing from time to time ar e similar t o those that have hm endured
Ar nians and s and eir by the me the Jew , th r t eatment by the hostile nations is identical .
Of rou l s of Ar nians and ews the t b e the me J , o r hm ui of n h weve , we q te te , while the
Nestorians in rsia an ur n Pe d T key, by reaso ,
ro a l of eir s all nu er and lackof p b b y, th m mb li rar r r sen i os te y ep e tat ves, have excited alm t no in terest . They have no advocates in the ci i s t e of Europe and Asia. I n the highlands vi Preface of k n rsia Tur ey a d Pe , they l a r or a vis r and are rar l visi e de d e , e y ted by travelers. Of the world outside the region in
li no no in which they ve they k w th g . They are hemmed in by the fastnesses of the in
i l oun ains hosp tab e m t . During a titanic struggle marking the death of n ions W il oral oun a ions of at , h e the m f d t
orl s to o it is not an the w d eem be m ved, easy matter to awaken interest in small com munities Which heretofore have claimed but little of the thought or concern of the public ; but the tragedy enacted against the Syrian
Nestorians in rumia rsia in ro or ion U , Pe , p p t to ir nu rs and social condi ion is the mbe t ,
ar dl uall and n r c in his h y eq ed , eve ex eeded
or h as rou al ul influence t y . It b ght b ef , de v astatin li and hi ous cri s in its g b ght, de me
rain No su issu s a r or t . ch e h ve eve bef e confronted Christian states as those raised
urin his war d g t . A large part of the material used in this
oo h as n a r o arious sourc s b k bee g the ed fr m v e , and in order to be more accurate in the state Preface vii
I av uote e sometimes ver ment , h e q d th m. “ bally. As Montaigne wrote : I have made
brought nothing of my own. but the thread that ties them together . In preparing this little workI have tried t recia ion to m re o giv e credit, with app t . y p decessors; a glance at the footnotes will prov e this. I have freely quoted from the able
— Church and have often consulted Dr.
’ ’ L abourt 8 L a Christianisme dons I Empire
P arse.
Mr L re nd r To Dr. Shedd, . aba e, a othe members of the Amm'iean Mission in Urumia on the events that tookplace in Urumia and its surrounding district s during the Turkish and Kurdish invasion ; and for the aid they have giv en me on special points. It is a pleasing duty to ex press my sincere thanks to Professor W. W. Rockwell of the
nion olo ical eminar and Dr. h arl s U The g S y, C e viii Preface rendered in reading and correcting ev ery page of roo it ca ro o osi or n p f as me f m the c mp t , a d
to of
NEW You ,
September. 1916. CONTENTS
Bmu oc u m
A PERSE CUTED CH URCH
— ' I . FOUNDATION on THE Ns s rom CHURCH UNDER THE PARTHI
- ANS (50 225A.D .)
II — EDESSA m STARTING Pom'r
— III . MISSION or MARI
— IV. THE CHURCH UNDER THE SAS SANIAN c s (225—651 )
— ' V. Tm: Emscom m or PAPA
VL — TB E GREAT PERSECUTION op
HAP R . ZUL AKTAF S U II , (339 379)
VIL — Rnoncm m n on or PERSIAN ' Ns sronmn CHURCH (379- 399)
ix x Contents
’ AGB — VIII . Cntmcn DURING THE Rmcn or YAZDIGIRD I (399- 420)
— S T or YAZDI IX . PER ECU ION GIRD
— X . PERSECUTION or Baum V Gun
AND ms COUNCIL (42 1 - 456)
— > XII . Tmum n or NESTORIAN CHURCH
— ~ . PATRIARCH MARABHA ANUSHI R XIII ,
WAN AND THE R Pno- Cmus , O mm KINGS
— T XIV. THE Ns sr omm TABL E — XV . Tas EL ECTION or SABHRISHO (596- 604)
— XVI . Om s n MEANS or SPREADING Cnmsrmm'rv
— Anvsm r L XVII . o IS AM
— L I XVIII . Sm c TERATURE
— s NDER ARAB XIX . THE Cumsm m U RUL E THE CONSTITUTI ON OF OMAR Contents
’ AGI
- IN XX . CAL IPHS INTERESTED Remm OUS QUESTIONS
— FL OF THE A Y I A XXI . IN UENCE SS R N PHYSICIANS UPON Cu xm s
— P T BY THE AL XXII . ERSECU ION C IPHS
- I TIA ZAT on T XXIII . CHR S NI ION HE KA RIAT Tums
— T1m CL AX or m Ns sro XXIV. IM m CHURCH
- T1m N AL L r m NE S XXV . DOW F o TORIAN CHURCH UNDE R THE MONGOL KHANS
— NSL A HT XXVI . T1m O UG or m TAR TAB S AND KURDS
A CHAP TER OF HORRORS
— R I TORM E ER I . U UM A THE S C NT
— II . T1m Fu cnr
- O SE O GE III . TB E H U F REFU
— F 1 IV. STATEMENT O GE RMAN M 5 SIONARIE S x ii Contents
V — A H M1ssmmmv . EROIC
— VI A nu. H I . G ERO NE
II - V . Tms AMERICAN FL AG FEARED
— MA SA R AND RAP WE VIII . S C E INE RE THE ORDER OF 1 rm: DAY
— Hm m ss Asu ssms IX . THE
— TAT T A M A Y XI . S EMEN OF ISSION R IN Ummm P IA , ERS
- RED ORROR XII . H
— R P XIII . A E
— AB TI XIV. DUC ON
' ' - E r rro XVI . x on n
— T IA m m K STA XVII . NES OR NS URDI N MOUNTAINS
INDEX x iv Illustrations
Courtesy of F. C. Burlcitt
EDESSA
SE APUR
THE NESTORIAN TABL ET
Ponn ons or rm: Ns s'rom TABL ET
Scmm ns TAT m ac AND An QUO ION, S
' - mc . S r. KE x n. 10 . DATED 1 2 6 LU , 3 7
A.D.
(Komafim)
From Vambéry, Travel s in Central Asia
1 ABRAHAM Ma 83 mm, 1 36m PAm u cn OF THE ASSYRIAN Cmusm s
REFUGEES n on THE KURDI STAN MOUN 1: TAINS 1 THE RUSSIAN CONSUL ATE ,
URUMIA, Pansm Illustrations I V
A CARAVAN OF THE Camsmm Fu m e s Fu mmc n on m fi l m sn MASSACRE
ru ns IN c 1r1
AWEDDING Pnocs ssmN IN Ulumm
REFUGEE GmL s FROM THE KURDISTAN MOUNTAINS
KURDI SH INFANTRY AND A Tunmsn Om en
THE Jemu) (HOL Y WAR) DECL ARED IN CONSTANTI NOPL E
K I S T B Ummm URD H RI ESMEN,
Courtesy of Mr. Paul Shiman
AGL IMPSE or Ummm
Htcnwu THROUGH WHICH THE Pu m ancn L ED 1 1m REFUGEE S
EV . K. Omsno AND ms C IL MEM R H DREN, BERS or 1 111: Pansscu'mn Cnmsrmn
CHURCH m URUMIA, Ps asm
MAP 01? m s TERRITORY on THE ASSYRIAN CHRI STIANS At the
L IST OF WORKS REFERRED TO DR QUOTED FROM
- Acta S. Maris cd. Abbeloos. Brux lles ei , e L p
z i 88 . g, 1 5 Arnol h Wes mins er d. Preac ing of Islam. t t .
1 896 .
ss ols. A emani. Bibliotheca Orientalis. 4 v
- om 1 1 28 . R e, 7 9 n Ando. Dictionnaire de la Langue Chaldéen e. M 8 ossoul , 1 97 .
- ad e . Nes n . 2 ols. B g r t01 ians a d their Rituals v ,
New Yor 1 8 2 . k, 5
h ebre us. hroni Eocl ols cd. Bar C con os . 3 v , — Abbeloos and am . L ovann 1 8 2 . L y , 7 77
d cta Mart r m n r m. 8 Be jen. A y u et Sa cto u
l aris 1 8 0 f . vo s. P , 9
B nson A. C. if of E . W. Benson som ime e , L e , et
f an er ur . L nd n 1 8 Archbish op o C t b y o o , 99
Bud e . The B ookof the B ee . x ford 1 886. g O ,
s hris iani . New Burkitt. Early Ea tern C t ty
Yor 1 0 . k, 9 4
Chronicon riacum cd. B ed an. aris 1 8 0. Sy , i P , 9
Cosmas Indico leustes. To o ra hia. on on p p g p L d ,
1 897 .
Cureton. Anci n riac Documen s. L nd n e t Sy t o o ,
1 864. x viii L ist of Works Referred to
a m d la an Araméenne. D vid. Gra maire e L gue
Mossoul , 1 897 . ’ Dictionnaire d Arch éologie Chrétienne et do
ur . L it gie. 1 . Paris, 1 907 ’ D Herbelot. Biblio he u ri n al . aris t q e O e t e P ,
1 78 1 .
Doc rin of A dai. ondon 1 8 6. t e d L , 7 ’ uval. re d Edesse. aris 1 8 2 D Histoi P , 9
Duval. L a Littérature Syriaque.
1 899.
- l Duval. L es Dialectes Néo Araméens de Sa a
mas. Paris, 1 883 . Elia Metropolite Nisibeni Opus Chronologicum
. Broo s. aris 1 1 0 . cd k P , 9
Eusebius. Eccles ias ica l is or ed. Cure on. t H t y, t ondon 1 861 L , Gibbon. Decline and Fall of Roman Empire. on on 1 88 1 L d ,
Gran Moun ain N . B n 1 8 . t. t estorians osto , 74
Grant. Nes orians t Tribes. t , 01 the Los New Yor 1 8 k, 41
E w ell, F. N., and Margoliouth , Mrs , eds.
Kur s and Chris ians. ondon 1 1 . d t L , 9 3 Histoire de Jabalaha et de trois autres Patri
archee ed. B ed an. aris 1 8 , j P , 95.
‘ Hoflman. Ausz ti e. ei z i 1 880. g L p g,
Howorth . is or of the Mon ols. L nd n H t y g o o , — 1 876 88 .
Jackson. Persia Past and Present . New York.
1906. L ist of Works Referred to x ix
E Eccl ical John of ph esus. esiast History, ed.
Cure on. on on 1 861 t L d ,
s 1 . Pari , 904
L ayard. Nineveh and its Remains. New edi Y 2 tion. New ork, 1 85 .
M E. Nestorius and his Plaoe in the His
or of C ris ian Doc rin . Cambri t y h t t e dge,
19 14.
Marco Polo. ra els cd. ri ht. ondon T v , W g L ,
1899.
Markham. is or of rsia. on on 1 8 . H t y Pe L d , 74 ’ L i - Masudi. es Prair es d or. Paris, 1 866 77.
Moore G. F. The h olo ical chool a Nisibis , T e g S t h r of i i n (ih Studies in t e Histo y Rel g o s. Presented to Crawford Howell Toy by
u ils Coll a ues and Frien s. New P p , e g , d 2 2 York. 1 91 , pp. 55 e ccl i ical is ur Mosh im. E es ast H tory, cd. M
ock. L ond n 1 88 . d o , 5
Mshikha Zkha. ourc s ria u s. Vol. i. S e Sy q e ,
ed. Min ana. Mossoul and i i 1 0 . g Le pz g, 9 7
u l ha cd. W ir. Edinbur 1 1 . M ir. Ca ip te, e gh, 9 5 Murdock. Translation of Syriac New Testa
m n on on 1 8 6 . e t. L d , 9
Neale. ol Eas ern Churc . on on 1 8 0. H y t h L d , 5
Pa ne Smith . hesaurus riacus. on on y T Sy L d , x x L ist of Works Referred to
Sprenger. Das Leben und die Lehre des
M hamma . B erlin 1 86 . o d , 9
nodicon rien al cd. Chabo . Paris 1 8 Sy O t e. t , 99.
Tabari. Gesch . der assanid n ed. Né ldeke. S e ,
ei n 1 8 . L de , 79
homas of Mar a cd. Bu e 1 8 T g , dg , 93 .
Wellhausen. i en und orar i en. Berlin Sk zz V be t ,
- 1 884 99.
- Wi ram. Th e Ass rian Churc 100 6 0 A.D g y h, 4 .
ondon 1 10. L , 9
T he Death of a N ation
INTRODUCTION
WHO AND WHERE ARE THE NESTORIANSP
HEY hav e been known under
a l a ion s ppe l t s, a Arameans —but the expression was dis li of ked by them , as it seemed to smack h a n s r e the i m , and they insist that the te m was a misnomer given by the Jews to all who were outside the pale of Judaism .
Chaldeans - is the name by which they
naire n vi de la L angae Chaldéemw, Introductio , p. 9. Da d,
‘ A ar i. 2 1 n cd ssemani, iv ., pp. 1 , 3 . L ay d, , p. 7, ew B a er h ir R i 1 nt dg , The Nestoricm and t e ituals, ., p. 79. Gra , 2 The Death of a Nation have been recorded in certain ecclesiastical
n s t i na eir docume ts and ritual , o des g te th
n a an eir rela ion ancie t origin as a r ce, d th t
“ ro r of al to Abraham, who was f m U the Ch ” es ma re or ustl la de . They y, the f e, j y y n n claim to the title, as the desce da ts of the
n n no ali o c ion ancient Chaldea s, a d v d bje t
n ion is can be urged agai st the assumpt . It ,
l his ns a s m ni us s ev ident y, in t se e th t A se a e
rm n sa s : al ans or As the te , whe he y Ch de
o a ar of lo syrians ; wh m, from th t p t the g be ” i in a i r ri n als. wh ch they h b t , we te m O e t
ins his Travel a Res c in A worth, in s nd ear hes
sia i a eso otamia l A M nor nd M p , correct y
s l s l ans and Mr a ar ty e them Cha de . L y d. n his a its i o i Nineveh nd Rema ns, ad pts the
a an same nomencl ture . On the other h d,
r ain r s of Hur ce t write s, like Gabriel, Bi hop
miz das hir and Dani l o Aina i n i , e , f Resh , de t fy Who Are the Nestorians ?
al eans i as rolo ers and ere i the Ch d w th t g h t cs,
as su in 1 1 and treat them ch . S ce 68 , when the Metropolitan of Diarbekir was first
Po e consecrated, by the p , as the Patriarch of exclusively to those members of the comma
nia U ts.
’ As syrians - There can be but little doubt that the Chaldeans were of the same family with the Assyrians. And the similarity of the physiognomy of certain tribes of this race to that of the Assyrians and Chaldeans
u n an i on n s as sculptured po the c ent m ume t , which have been ex cavated in the ruins of
in h r a a l N ev e , is em rk b e. Syrians ’ : —It is claimed that the term is merely the shortened form and a Christian
i Ass ri n adaptat on of the word, y a s, which
n i Badger, i., p. 1 79. Assema i, v ., pp. 1 , 375.
u 1 el H i. . an ZD G ga ges, p. 5. N deke, in armer, , p 443 , d M . v a ir la L an Ar x ., p. 1 13 . David, Gr mma e dc gue améemw, ro u 1 1 A o Dicti nair a Int d ction, p. nd , on c de la L e gue
Chaldémne, Introduction, p. 9. ‘ 4 I he Death of a Nation they may with equal right take to themselves as ir os ro r and a ori the m t p pe name ; th t , gin all are not ro ria ro r as y , they f m Sy p pe the
rians oul su s t o term Sy w d gge t, bu fr m
N stori - his na as e ans T me , which h a
lo ical si ni n was a li theo g g fica ce , pp ed to them,
robabl n uri s a r N s orius was fi y ce t e fte e t , and first used by the Roman Catholics to con
ve s i a of a r s who oun it ne y the t gm he e y, f d cessar y to bestow upon them such a title in contradistinction to the name Chal deans which they applied only to the Assyrian
proselytes to Rome . Notwith standing the fact that the name Nestorians is disliked and disavowed by o l s ill sin it h e n the pe p e themselve , st , ce as b e
orc u on and sinc a na f ed p them , e by th t me
are s kno n to the orl a they be t w w d, they h ve
been obliged to recognize it .
Y n i o Mar ohanna , the Nestori an B shop f
x B N t and t ir Ri ls . 1 8 adger, es orian: he tua , i., p 7 . L ay
Ni Remai i iv . ard, neveh and 123 ns, ., p. 259 . Assemani, , 1 DD. . 375° 0 Who Are the Nestorians ? 5
Urumia rsia sai to issi n r , Pe , d the m o a y, “ Justin Perkins : We shall soon be at war if ‘ m you do not cease calling as Nestorians
THE HOME OF THE Nasmm s ‘
The original home of the Nestorians is su os to in Ass ria or so pp ed be y Me potamia, wi its a uar ers at l u ia- esi on th he dq t Se e c Ct ph , the twin capital of Persia, on the River
i ris is au i ul coun r as a conn c T g . Th be t f t y, e t in lin n s g kbetween East a d West , ha been doomed to be the battlefield for the ev er lastingly contending races of the Eastern and
s rn ir t r s We te emp es ; firs , between the G eek
n ar ans n o ans a d P thi , the between the R m and rsians and la r n ur s Pe , te betwee the T k and Persians. A war between the Eastern and Western st ates always spelled persecution
2 n Assemani iv . 1 Mosheim Introduction, p. 0, ; , , p. ; ,
B er i. . 1 8 1 8 1 ii. . 6. L a ar p. 203 , n. 1 . adg , , pp 7 , ; , p 37 y d,
2 1 n . i., p. 7 , ew ed
’ the author s introduction to his Modem Syuba- Englisb
B 2 6 r i. . 20 new ed. Asse adger, i., p. 5 . L aya d, , p 4, mani, iv ., p. 1 . 6 The Death of Nation
for them. A Persian war with Rome and a usually gone hand in h and ; it made little difierence to the persecuted which caused
in ern and s rn ir both the East We te emp es, in either empire they were looked upon as sus e n athi rs i r p cts, a d symp ze w th thei co religionists in the land of their enemies.
ons u l C eq ent y, whenever the emperor of
i r s a n ro w e the t te retur ed f m ar defeated, he would wreak his vengeance on the Christians of his own lan n a i d, a d m ke them pay the b ll .
o r st a s na urall ro c . The the te , t y, p te ted them urin r sen war o r ur s D g the p e t , h weve , the T k and rsians who had al a s n in ar s Pe , w y bee m n a or o ir uarr ls agai st e ch other , f g t the q e , and joined hands against Christians. It is a Holy War.
us his ris ian communi orm a Th , t Ch t ty f ed
of uro e and Asia. ons u n l E p C eq e t y , they
n massacr es ; their cities were destroyed, cou
8 The Death of a Nation volcano at the least opportunity for its indulgence.
Af r c n uri s of rsecu ion te e t e pe t , however, they were gradually driven farther east into
dia and rsia. To- da ar o Me Pe y they e f und,
o l in is ri r ugh y, the d t ct which lies between
ake Urumia a Van the as n i L , L ke , e ter T gris, and osul ar l un r rsian and ar l M , p t y de Pe p t y is rul So under Turk h e . they have al ways been caught between the upper and the nether
s n ir nu r is n mill to es. The mbe give as one hundred and ninety thousand ; whereas at one time they boasted a population more numer ous than all the other Christian bodies combined .
ir r s n a riarc n amin Mar The p e e t P t h, Be y an w o was ons cra in 1 0 i Shim , h c e ted 9 3 , s the one hundre d and thirty- eighth Catholicos of t n ourteenth of os wh he East, a d the f th e o have resided at Quchanis in the Kurdistan
Mountains. For convenience they may be divided into three or rather four general groups The first group numbering about thirty
Who Are the Nestorians ? 9
o n n i th usa d, are residi g in the v llages and
t of lain r s the ei y the p of U umia, Per ia, and tides of war between the Russians and Turks ebbed backand forth over the plain.
nin ousan r s le in n r ety th d , we e ett d the ce t al
ur is an oun ains urk sinc th e K d t M t , T ey, e
n The third group , umbering some sev enty
ousan in a i e all of the i ris th d , h b t d the v ey T g
n- s r io een or Bohta u eg n, betw Diar bekir and
osul los to ruins of Nin M , c e the eveh.
es i es se hr rou s r are also B d the t ee g p , the e the Syrian Jacobites who claim to have a n w n s s commu ity of t o hundred thousa d oul ,
i ar n n o r and live in D arbekir , M di , a d the
The alluvial plain of Urumia is the most pictur esque and flourishing spot in thewestern
n P and r . 8 Jackso , P ersia ast P esent, p 8 . The D eath of a Nation of Persia; bounded on the east by the salt
a nam nd n s l ke of that e, a o the we t by the undulating and grassy slopes of the snow capped range of Kurdistan or the Zagros down quite to the waters of the lake at the
r mi n n n i ext e ties of the plai , a d e close t like a vast amphitheater and give it a salubrious climate. From the mountains descend three meandering streams which feed a thousand irri a ion i c s and i fertilit to g t d t he , g ve y the nn l or ar s s i umerab e ch d and vineyard , laden the whole plain is half sunk in shrubbery
r nd s or r n n la s, a ycam e t ees pla ted alo g the
Garden of Eden.
a ou o r lain in r sui a l s o b t ve the p , eve y t b e p t , and the Chri stian inhabitants number about
or usand In f ty tho . some cases they occupy a illa e clusi l and in o rs v ge x ve y, the the they live together with the Muhammadans.
1 2 The Death of a Nation
n in 1 8 1 ission was ransf rr a d 7 , the m t e ed to
Bo r the Presbyterian a d .
work long before that time.
r 1 8 2 r About the yea 7 , a Luthe an Mission
hlis a na i was esta hed by t ve. ’ The Archbishop of Canterbury s Personal Mission to the Assyrian Christians was as tablished in 1 886. The unselfish work of
l - crificin m ers of his Mission the se f sa g me b t , who had devoted themselves to educate and u li eo l has un or una l us n p ft the p p e, f t te y j t bee
In 1 n missionari s s l r 894 Germa e ett ed the e,
or o fo n i on f a sh rt period only, r the eva gel zati
THE ASS N R N A PEOPL E YRIA CH ISTIA S As . EXTRACTS FROM A L ETTE R or 1 111; 3 151109 01? GIBRAL TAR wno VISITED THE ASS , Y RIANS m 1907
As As r I l s art to the sy ian people, o t my he to them completely ; and I thinkthere can
Heaz ell and Margoliouth , K14rd: and Christians, ml 195. I 96
Who Are the Nestorians ? 13 he no question that they are a finer race than
or i the Armenian, the Ge g an, and indeed any other of the peoples in that part of th e world . The defects in race s which have long
ur ic been subject to the T k, wh h usually
arable from long- continued oppression ; but the poorest Assyrian of the mountains has
r n i ni coura n p eserved a atural d g ty, ge, a d a
r s r o ils f eshne s which are ve y l vable, wh t he has far more of resourcefulness and saving common sense than most of the people roun a ou . And his it r r d b t t , be emembe ed, subsists in the face of tyranny and hardships
r r o of ir s ric ur s yea . The f eed m the t t e , and
n of oral l n the manli ess their m esso s, will h ardly be conceived by those who have been accustomed to annex to Eastern minds the feelings alone of servit and terror.
“ ’ ’ Mar Shimun s pe0p1e struck me much in their ethnic capacity ; I was not less struck
wi urc a are th them as a Ch h . Th t they still very ignorant and backward goes with 14 The Death of a Nation out saying ; it could hardly be otherwise
a spontaneity about their religion which is v ery attractive . I n many ways they seem to me to illustrate the lif e of Christians of
r arl s o in its s ren n i ve y e y day , b th t gth a d in ts n n n il n weak ess ; a d agai , wh st they hav e ple ty of ethnic superstitions of their own [some derived from Magian sources] there is a remarkable absence of modern corruptions n ir on or of su a i o i the religi , ch m xture f pagan and Christian superstition as is to be
oun f or l a on s r o o f d , examp e , m g t the O th d x ” in some of the Greek islands.
INFL UENCE OF NESTORIAN MI SSIONARIES
IN INDIA
There is a constant tradition of the
ris ani was n r Church , that Ch ti ty i t oduced in o n St o as A os l t I dia by . Th m the p t e, and it con inu for an c n uri s to flourish t ed m y e t e .
Euse ius Hist. Ecc. l b. i. ca . iii. b , , i , p Assemani, iv ., pp 4.25.32- 34.435 f
1 6 The Death of a Nation
Shimun. Roman Catholic (i. e. Portu guese) interference cut them ofi in the fif teenth century from all communication with their
torians in chief, and these Nes consequence became Jacobites in pref erence to becoming o n and su i to R ma , bm tted the Patriarch
n ius of ar in oul Ig at M d . They c d hardly have given a better proof that their separ a tion from the bulk of Christendom was f or national rather than theological reasons. A
o i n f C ur o r p rt o o the h ch , h weve , remained in more or less uneasy subjection to the
o nd s ro- al n P pe, a the e Sy Ch dea s are a later separation from that portion who split off ou 18 0 and n sou h o ab t 5 , the g t, and h
n a is o ro ir ori in n un tai ed, B h p f m the g al a d
o riar os s in f rgotten Pat ch , wh e eat had the
shif s ral i s an was a meantime ted eve t me , d t last at Quch anis. These Nestorians of India for several year s h ad been anxiously asking Mar Shimun for 3 Bishop: as the present Bishop was very old. In 1908 he consecrated the Arch deacon Abimelech (now Mar Timotheus) a Mar Timotheos
Metro olitan of e r h p N storian Ch u c ,
Trichur In i , d a
Cou s of F. N. H an a oh outh rte y eaz ell d Mrs . M rg
Who Ar e the Nestorians ? 1 7
r of his a il as a ro oli an membe f m y, Met p t f or the Syrian Nestorian Church of Trav an
or an o hin in n c e d C c , South I dia. One of the settlements of the Nestorian col oui s was at Mal n e abar ear Madras . Here the
in us a now a oin orshi H d h ve j tw p , par tly Hindu
( 1 1 th century) the author of the great pro test against the Vedantic pantheism of San kara a was orn an a i i ch ary , b d educ ted w th n a few miles of Mylapore or Malabar. His doctrines diff ered widely from those of the or of n thodox Hinduism his time, a d where they difiered from it they agreed with Chris that the Supreme Deity was a personal loving
ll - r an r l soul was A Fathe , d that the e eased no r o u t abso bed into G d after death , b t
n ar Him and ca in its na ur lik Him. e , be me t e e
r f From this was de ived the doctrine o Bhakti, or of loving personal devotion to a personal
God who ca incarna to r li , be me te e eve the
or ro s n and who is now in a n w ld f m i , he ve 1 8 The Death of a Nation still a loving and personal Deity watching n a d guarding His followers. I n the Puranas there was the extraordinary fact that the ceremonies celebrating the birth festival of Krishna did not agree with the current l n s of his ir but had n al r so ege d b th, bee te ed as to coincide With the Gospel narratives of the birth of Jesus Christ . The vernacul ar Bhakti literature was full of rem1n1scences of Christianity This dated from the our n and teenth n i s n f tee th fif ce tur e , whe the
oc rin was first r a in Northern n a d t e p e ched I di , and was r i el a o e causin ve y w d y d pt d, g the greatest religious revolution which India h ad seen— a revolution little considered by Euro pean writers becausetheevidence dealing with it was not written m Sanskrit . There were Indian saints of those times who maintained that right initiation meant being born ” ain One luc out his and cas it ag . p ked eye t it had ofiende him from him because d . An other cut ofi his right hand f or the
’ n Ka ir s oc rin of same reaso . b d t e the
a a or or us a n orro S bd , W d, m t h ve bee b wed Who Are the Nestorians ? 1 9
' from the opening verses of St . John s
os l Ka ir s r us to G pe . The b ect ef ed worship any Hindu deity or perform any Hindu ' ri I n sacram n al al of a ir te . the e t me K b s followers food and water were distri
’ buted as Kabir s special gift conferring
rn lif and or ions of is ete al e , p t th food were
r f or sic his i n rese ved the k. T ev de ce showed that the great Indian reformation of the fourteenth and fif teenth centuries was sug gested by ideas borrowed from the Nes torian
Christians of Southern India.
THE FAITH OF THE NE STORIANS 1
The Assyrian or Chaldean Church accepts the first two ( Ecumenical Council s of the
n ur t it was Christia Ch ch , bu cut off from the communion of the Catholic Church in the fif th century after Christ f or rejecting
hir ouncil l at sus in 1 the t d C , he d Ephe 43 ,
which condemned Nestorius and his opinions. Wh en the Church was free of persecutions
x — - Assemani iv . . 1 0 20 and 2 10 22 . Mosheim , , pp 9 3 3 .
- i 1 2 pp . 1 99 2 03 . W gram, p. 3 . 20 The Death of a Nation
for a hil its in ernal lif was is ur e w e , t e d t b d — by a new element the vexed Christological controversy that brought heresies of various
names in its train. The Nestorians and Monophysites at tempted to explain the question in two difier
ent a s ic su erficiall s m to w y , wh h p y ee ed be O osi but ss n iall r sa pp te e e t y we e the me. The former declared the Incarnation to be a mere associa ion of a man i Di ini t w th the v ty , the latter believed the manhood was annih ilated
assu ion. I n i r cas th e lana by mpt e the e , exp tion lies in the belief of the incompatibility of the human and Divine . Each side vigor ously asserted that the other was teaching a doctrine which the other as vigorously denied
ono si s s r that it taught . M phy te t etched the ’ Nestorians tenets to their extreme logical
n l sion and r s n e as co c u , p e e ted th m their doc trines. Nestorians returned the compliment
“ to Monophysites. Each called himself or
" “ ” thodox and the other heterodox . It was
l hicfl of or s and n a batt e c y w d ames. Oi course every human expression fails
22 The Death of a Nation physical discussions and hair- splitting olo but in ars of sain s and the gy, the te t the
loo of ar rs a oul a b d m ty . Th t they sh d h ve withstood all attacks and have kept the faith during the centuries of tyranny and i r rs cu ion is no s all ri u to b tte pe e t , m t b te their Christian character and to an in . spiring fidelity to th eir Divine 1b rd and
Master. The love of Christ must sweep
oll o s inc ions i away the h ow, shall w di t t wh ch ” par t men asunder . The Nestorian Church has always been a C urc in ac not of ci i s and illa s h h , f t , t e v ge , but of oun ains and ca s nd ns of m t , ve , a de earth . These were the sanctuaries in which this unarmed and defenseless church in trenched itself against the oppressors in the midst of never- ceasing war . Out of these sufi erings and conflicting elements was formed a type of character in
ic or i u sinc ri and s a wh h f t t de, e ty , ymp thy
r l n i os arin coura we e b e ded w th the m t d g ge, which made the Christians stand fast in the face of death . Who Are the Nestorians ? 23
i ri i ro i local pecul a t es, f m wh ch the Church
of the West had shaken itself free. The Nestorian Church had been profoundly in
fluenced eo ra ical si ua ion si by the g g ph t t , phy ns i u ion n al e r n cal co t t t , me t t mpe ame t, and the racial characteristics of the Asiatic races
who formed the bulk of the Church. And as the Christians themselves were malcing
ns an efiort s to ol as ir ai co t t h d f t the f th, and at the same time to avoid the incessant
ons r cons rain persecuti , they we e t ed to modify
so of ir ac in s and ada me the te h g , pt them n n selves to theirenviro me ts and requirements. Such efiorts as these took the shape of the
cor ora a o ion of a form of C ris iani p te d pt h t ty, which those in more favorable circumstances
la n l call comp ce t y heresy. It is true there is a real difl erence between the Church of the East and th e Churches of
Antioch and of Rome . The Greek theo
lo o s not sui ll as rn in gy d e t we the E te m d, nor oes i soun ll in riac lan ua d t d we the Sy g ge.
us r ivi arri r of Th , they we e d ded by the b e 24 The Death of a Nation lan ua ic ou it did not s ran g ge, wh h, th gh e t ge t s ara so hem , ep ted them, that the Eastern Church grew up under influences difierent from those which helped to mold the
Graeco- Roman urc . ev erthel Ch h N ess, the
estorian urc had an a os olic or N Ch h p t igin, and was in full communion with all the chief centers of Christianity. Many of their
ni l U versa . Such are the antecedents of these historical
ris ians os r mnan Ch t , wh e e ts the Muh am madans are seeking to destroy root and branch .
A CHURCH MIL ITANT
This Church has been fighting hand to
an for al os i e n cen uri s i h d, m t e ght e t e , w th l f n i s and n r rel al kinds o e em e , eve axed in its la or Wh en l ions of Ar s our b s. the eg ab p ed
i to con u r rl out of Arab a q e the wo d, Persia
low e or cr sc n n al so bowed b f e the e e t , a d Who Are the Nestorians ? 25
s illo s of ion before the succe sive b w devastat , but rode out the storm ; her spiritual power
e vic or ut won did not stoop to th t , b many
f Sc] uk n s l rose and ell, the j dy a ty g ared for
m inc on a while and soon beca e ext t, the M
olian or s vas a e as and g h de de t t d the E t West , and finally the Turks closed the annals of the Eastern Empire ; because their hour had
B t rn c come. u the Easte Chur h , hated and
r u u l to pe sec ted by all , h mb ed the dust , sur
BURNED BUT NOT CONSUMED
It is true that Christianity in the East is
in crucifi on or nd loo n be g ed ce m e, a ki g around
i imm s in o k o w th d ed eye t the dar h rizon, “ she is cr in out alou M y g d , y God, my God, ” why hast Thou forsaken me? But is she
3 Neale Hol Eastern Church r , y , i., Int oduction, p. 5. 2 6 The Death of a Nation going to die ? No ! Crucifix ion does not
n of God ut r r imply the abse ce , b athe the
resurrection. The faith and prayers of these persecuted factors in overcoming the total destruction intended by the cruel persecutors. Who knows but that this gigantic struggle of nations to- day is breaking the dawn of a new day for the world ; and if the blood of ” ar i s of c the m tyrs s the eed the Chur h , the Christians in Persia have truly made their sacrifice there for nearly eighteen hun dred years ; they have surely some right to “ ” o e a ains o to a a s are in h p g t h pe , h ve h
an li in l o - r i ev ge z g the b o d bespatte ed Pers a.
IN PERSIA
influ f The ence o a true Christian spirit , earned by long years of the unselfish service of the devoted American missionaries in Who Are the Nestorians ? 27
rsia has w n s Pe , o the re pect and confidence
n of os i n eve the h t le eleme ts, who have al
u s a arc 1 16 urin T e d y, M h 9, 9 , d g the mas sacr s u e , a M hammadan orator made a speech in a garden in Urumia to a crowd of s ral ousan eo l r ll eve th d p p e, p actica y all Mus lims. He said that Italy and Persia had
oin in alli n i r n A j ed the a ce w th Ge ma y, ustria, and ur n of s r in T key, a d, cour e, we e the way of victory. America had taken no part in
is w u w n l th ar , b t as doi g good all ov er the wor d wi ou r ra r li i f or th t rega d to ce o re g on, caring
si n r the ck and wounded, feedi g the hung y,
missi nari r sai a on n o es he e, he d, h ve d e a d
oin is n r on onor are d g th , a d eve y e should h them and stand up for them. At this there
" That little Mission Arkwhose maker and
i o is n ur of p l t God, driven o the dist bed sea
r u o f P r pe sec tion, was the only h pe o the e — s - osse ark on sian Church the tempe t t d b ,
o lu as th win s r the waves f the de ge, e d we e 28 The Death of a Nation
fighting against it and the peril s were just " r a to o rw lm it and csus sl . e dy ve he , J ept The occu n s r ul ni pa t we e prayerf and pe tent, even the little children seemed to know their i n L ta y. They “ nd sa : r u a ying 0 Lord, have me cy pon us ! ” 0 sus a Je , save s. Evermore the Church is
is in
it . Rouse ra ers the arn s cr d by the p y , e e t y of his s rvan s uk s an e t , he reb ed the wind d
waves before they quite engulfed it .
A PERSECUTED CHURCH
A PERSECUTED CHURCH
E — UNDER TH PARTHIANS (50 225 A.D.)
IMOTHY I the Patriarch of th e Nesto
r wh en of a ins, o wrote at the d the eighth cen ur s a s a a i had in ro uc t y, t te th t the M g t d ed
ris ian r li ion a on ro the Ch t e g m g them, by p claiming the message of the Gospel throughout
s ir a r ir r urn ro the Per ian Emp e , fte the et f m
a ol il ri and a hris iani th t h y p g mage, th t C t ty was estahlished among them about twenty ars r A n on of r At ye af te the sce si our Lo d . ’ a ou A.D issionari s a i b t 80 . the m e ctiv ty among the flourishing Jewish community at Babylon is well known from the Jerusalem
'Em I pirc Peru , 10. 32 The Death of a Nation
u re it is s a Talm d, whe t ted that Khanani of
' Capernaum was sent by his uncle Joshua to Ba lon to counterac ir infl n by t the ue ce . Probably the Chfi u ian movement in these io w s rt rt s reg ns as ta ed by the Pa hian , Medes,
Elami s and ll rs in so m te , the dwe e Me pota ia, who were in Jerusalem on the day of Pen tecost and saw that great miracle mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. It has com monly been held by the Assyrian Christians that St . Peter wr ote his First Epistle from the real and not from the figurativ e Babylon
1 er ( Pet 5,
EDESSA THE STARTING POINT3
It is believed by the Assyrian Christians that Christianity was planted in Edessa in the
first c n ur A ai or a us who e t y, by dd Th dde (
x As iv . f . Gr Hi ir d s emani, ., pp 7, 435 eets, sto e c:
Assemani, iv ., 7. Acts u., 9. 3 — ' Assemani i. . 8 0. Duval Histoire d Edess , , pp 3 7 43 , e. 4 ure A ia D cum ts . 1 f . D C ton, ncient Syr c o en , p octrine i o 10 1 of Adda , p. 5. Compare L ab urt, pp. , 8 . Wigmm.
34 The Death of a Nation
He therefore sent a letter to Jesus by Harman the scribe :
“ Ab ar ka a Amir of coun r to g U m , the t y,
csus oo D li r r who has a ared J , the g d e ve e , ppe in erusal em ac . I a ar of e J , Pe e h ve he d the and of cur s rou an s the e w ght by thy h d , without any medicine or herbs ; for it is re
or a ou a s lin to see p ted th t th m ke t the b d , the
n st l rs cas lame to walk; thou clea se the epe , t est out unclean spirits and demons ; thou healest those wh o are tormented with chronic diseases and raisest the dead . And when I heard these things about
ee s l in in one of two thin s th , I ett ed my m d g ;
i r ou rt God o r e the th a , come d wn f om heaven, or the son of God. I request of thee that
ou oul s rou l s l to co to th w de t t b e thy e f me me, and cure the disease which I have. I have also heard that the Jews murmur against
and wis t do ar B thee, h o thee h m ut I have a ci s all and au i ul ic is nou ty , m be t f , wh h e gh ” f or both of us.
n sus r i r r li Whe Je ece ved the lette , he ep ed A Persecuted Church 35 to Hannan the scribe : Go and say to thy
r s n un o Bl ss art lo d that e t thee t me , e ed
ou a eli s in ou ou h as th , th t b eve t me, th gh th t not seen me ; for it is written of me that they
ill no li in nd which see me w t be eve me, a
ic see not ill li and they wh h me , they w be eve be saved . Now touching what thou hast
to a s oul co un o written me , th t I h d me t thee —it is meet that I shall fulfil that for which
I was s n i r and s all o u un o e t h the , I h g p t my Father that sent me ; and when I shall have
on u un o Him I ill s n one of g e p t , w e d thee my
i l a r dis as ou as disc p es, th t whateve e e th h t he may heal . And all that are with thee he s all rin to lif rnal and o n s al l h b g e ete , thy t w h l s be b e sed . This famous letter of Christ to Abgar seems to have been translated very early in o r and incor ora Eus ius t G eek , p ted by eb into his Ecclesiastical History. It is con tained in so ra n s of Gr a ru s me f gme t eek p py , o n th e B o l ian a in ro w ed by d e , d t g f m the
Euse Eccl s ica bius, esia t l History, i., p . 43 . Assemani,
v . i , p. 8 . 36 The Death of a Nation
fourth or fif th century. In 1901 a lintel was discov ered at Ephesus with the letter of Abgar to Christ and that of Christ to Abgar inscribed on it in the characters al most contemporary with Eusebius himself (fourth century) Providence in the story of Abgar both shows the need and fills the
ir as r usician who r sses des e , like the m te m p e two s on a iano as c oos s and maks key p he h e , e them respond in a chord . After the Ascen sion A ai A os l d us ca to , dd (the p t e Thad e ) me
ssa al Ab ar and c ris iani him Ede , he ed g , h t zed and his people .
us E ssa is r i i n s ar in Th , de the t ad t o al t t g point and the center of the early Christian life and literature . From the end of the secon c n ur ou it was cen r of r d e t y , the te ve y “ ” active missions and a nursing mother to the national Churches of Persia and Armenia. Edessa was the capital of a small kingdom
as of u ra s ri o oen e t the E ph te , the dist ct f Osrh e or Orrh oene ro i , f m wh ch comes the modern na Urh ai or r a for o n ic in me U f the t w , wh h
- Ass emani iv . 1 , , pp. 9 5. A Persecuted Church 37
theZBible is known as Ur of the Chal dees . It had belonged to the Seleucid kings of t as a r ion was ivi Antioch, bu th t eg d ded
en o ans and ar ians betwe the R m the P th ,
r n i r t is or and Edessa lay on the f o t e , i s h t y followed the usual fortunes of a border state. Until the end of the second century of our era
Edessa was within the Par thian suzerainty.
th u us of 1 1 o r was s or In e A g t 6, h weve , it t med and sacked by the Roman general Lucius
uie us and in 2 1 6 or ten ars or Q t ; , ye bef e the
all o r i n onar o ans f f the Pa th a m chy , the R m took possession of Edessa and it became their
MI SSION OF MARI
The ancient traditions of the Assyrian
C ris ians cl r ri dis i l h t de a e that Ma , the c p e of Addai (Thaddeus) was sent by his fellow
Gibbon, i., pp. 207 f . ‘ = A cla S . Mans, eh . viii , cd. Abbeloos. Ass emani, i v ., pp . 1 7 , 1 8 . 38 The Death of a Nation
workers at Edessa to Seleucia as a mission
“ ar wro ack to his lan is y ; he te b them, t d
li soil ull of orns an is ke the f th d th tles, a land of hills and mountains ; its inhabitants are or hl ss a n I am not a l to do an w t e he the , b e y
oo now if ou sa so I s r o g d ; , y y , hall eturn t ” ou or o ls r - s y g e ewhe e. His fellow Christian , being very anxious f or the salvation of Sel
ncia wro to n e , te him thus : Thou art ot
allo to l a field but s al a to wed e ve the , h t h ve
cli os ills and oun ains and ill and mb th e h m t , t sow them that they bring fruit for an ofiering ” un o or So an fiort t the L d . he did, d his e s
were crowned with success. He worked al so
in Adiabene and Ar r the amean p ovince, but chicfl in u is an y Kh z t . The most fertile fields f or the seed of the Kingdom have been those previously the
os arr n of oo or s ra l rui ul m t b e g d , de pe te y f tf of evil . The tenacity with which men cling to error is a pledge of their tenacity to Chris n tia ity when converted . The mor e fanatic non- Christian people become more enthu ’ siastic ris ians Na ural i ossi i Ch t . t mp bilit es
40 The Death of a Nation ou ro n r orc hic dev e tg w , the ve y f e w h loped them provided for their decay . Hence it was that they turned so readily to the new li of ris iani and embrawd it ght Ch t ty , with
THE CHURCH UNDER THE SASSANIAN KINGS (22 5- 651)
I n 225the rule of the Parthians gave way to that of the Sassanians the Arsacid dynasty was r lac ous of assan ose ep ed by the H e S , wh
oun r Ar as ir was l in a lavi f de , d h I ., cal ed P h ,
alkan alka or ahins a in of in s M M Sh h h, K g K g , wh o wrested the scepter from Ardahan. Christianity at this time was widely spread and well organized in Persia ; on that ground the Sassanian rulers h ad to recognize its l al ri to ol ra ro i a the eg ght be t e ted , p v ded th t ' missionaries activities should be confined
o ir o l an a an on t the own pe p e, d th t y c
Wigmm, The Assyrian Church, p. 32 .
1 . Wigmm, p. 37. L abourt, p. 5 A Persecuted Church 41 version from Zoroastrianism t o Christianity
unis a l wi a B t should be p h b e th de th. u as it is not in the nature of Christianity to
ri an li i re al i be rest cted d m ted , he so t coul d win converts from the strongest and the
n n oro s rians wh most promi e t Z a t , o became
u n of os sain l c arac r ch rchme the m t t y h te .
soil of rsia h s The fertile Pe , that ad rai ed
i orous s now r ro us ris ians v g weed , g ew b t Ch t . Even the marred and hostile elements were made tributary to the final triumph of n wors o l i o Christia ity . The t pe p e w th ut s i h him Christ become be t w t . It was about this time that the eloquent Bishop of Beth Zabdai preached so vivid a ser on in l ucia a it al os ro m Se e , th t m t p duced a general persecution. He called on his
ar rs not to n ahins a for in he e e vy the Sh h h ,
a s to co oul urnin in fire the d y me he w d be b g ,
oul i o ous was r but they w d be v ct ri . It ve y s a in to e Kin w en timul t g th m , but the g as g uinely frightened to think the fire he wor shi oul in ll n nsum his ped w d turn to he , a d co e
r f Wig am, p. 43 . 42 The Death of a Natio n
divine person. With great difi cul ty the
THE EPI SCOPATE OF PAPA
n end of ir n ur a I the the th d ce t y , P pa was on ra as Bis o of a i al c sec ted h p the c p t ,
l u He or ani is o a o Se e cia. g zed the ep c p te f the
Eas tern Church . It was here that the t e action came. He attempted to unite all the Christians in Persia under the leadership of ro al ci l ucia in o r or s the y ty, Se e , the w d ,
as Bishop of the capital .
His ro c rais i r o osi ion and p je t ed b tte pp t , the first council in the history of the Church of the East met at Seleucia about 3 15 to high when the council met ; the opponents
dis r s intol accused Papa of graceful mo al ,
r L abourt , p. 20. Wig am, p. 45.
Bat hebre s ron. 0 u , Ch Ecd es., iii., p. 3 . A Persecuted Church 43
t a l arro anc and of li l r s c for e b e g e , tt e e pe t
ccl si or rs for or e e astical de , he had dained two o 3 a r indi bishops t one see . Pap g ew g nant and ref used to submit to the authority of un o i s of ran a the co cil . Bish p M le Teh ,
oroas rian ir who was r si in Z t by b th , p e d g,
s r put the Go pel in the cente , and said : If
ou ill not u man u y w be j dged by , be j dged by
os l of our or ic sa s He a the G pe L d wh h y , th t ’ f on ou let him a s rvan is chie am g y , be e t .
a a was not a l to ans r and sei P p b e we , zed
i r us r s ruc ookwi w th fu io age, he t k the b th his an laimin : n s ak os l h d, exc g The pe , G pe , " s u n t his in us ic peak ! why ar e yo sile t a t j t e . The council was shocked at such sacrilege ;
il s ran n oo os l kiss it M e a d t k the G pe , ed ,
x Assemani Acts M , iles, M. O., p. 72 . he Nee rian h h T to C urch as nine orders of ministry, corresponding to the nine orders of angels in three hier archies each includin three ons 1 r , g subdivisi , thus : ( ) Se a him Patriarchs heru im M ro li Thron p , C b , et po tans, es E isco 2 Dominations Arch ea ons rinci ali p py; ( ) d c , P p oon r h n l n Su o n l r Th s, A c a ge s bdeac ns, A ge s Reade s. e
B th B . Yo ookof e ee, cd hannan, p. 57.
- Marl . . Assemani iv . . 1 , p 7 , , pp 49 5 . Wigmm, p. y . 44 The Death of a Nation and ut it u on his s but the ur of p p eye , f y — aged Papa then ov ercame him he was struck
i ral sis x ic wa w th pa y , wh h s taken as a
o ro his rank‘ n He was dep sed f m , a d his arch ‘ o Shi B deac n, mun ar Sabba i, was consecrated
2m m (339- 379)
Christianity had already ex tended its influence far eastwar d ; in 334 bishops were t Tu nd n settled a s a Mashad , a d Barsabha
i o of r r f became B sh p Me v in Kh u asan, or
interrupted by the terrible persecution of ha ur ic e an in d la t S p , wh h b g 339 an s ed forty
‘ Ad o de 8 . Miles, M. 0. p. 72. Bedian, ii.. p. 266.
‘ 2 Actc de S . Miles, M. p. 7 . Wigram, p. 53 .
Assemani, i., p. 16. Sh apur
From Mark am H ! stor h , y of P ersia
46 The Death of a Nation
business . On this it was easy to raise the “ ” r he is a e y, traitor and wishes to rebel ; a s con rmcm was issu or n e d fi ed , deri g the arrest and death of the clergy and the general s ru n de t ctio of all the Christian churches.
inall ano r rman was i n co an F y the fi g ve , mm d ing that all Christians should be imprisoned and executed . The persecution lasted forty
ars urin hic erio men of all ranks ye , d g w h p d snfiered mar r o a on ofi cers of ty d m, m g them
Kin who had rac ris the g emb ed Ch tianity . The firman contained the following accu sations : The Christians teach men to serve only one God and not to honor the sun or
fire to defile a r ir a lu ions to , w te by the b t , ref rain from marriage and the procreation of
l n and to r us to o t i chi dre , ef e g o war w th the
Kin no s l g. They have crup e about the slau r and a in of ghte e t g the animal s. They bury their dead in the earth ; and attribute ori in of li and ar ness and of the g the ght d k , " sna s and cr in in s to a oo ke eep g th g g d God.
a ur ofiered reedo o for Mar Shi Sh p f m, b th mun and his o if ul pe ple, he wo d consent to A Persecuted Church 47 adore th e sun but once ; on his refusal the
‘ flockof Bar a a i five bis o s and The S bb , h p together to hear his last words and to receive his solemn blessing . May the Cross of our Lord be the protection of the people of Jesus ; the peace of God be with the servants of God and s a lis our ar s in , e t b h y he t the
ai of C s in ri ula ion in in f th hri t , t b t and ease, life and in death, now and for evermore . They sealed their testimony on the mot uing of ri n oo Good F day, 339 AD . The sce e t k
lac ou si r o r usa r p e t de Ka ka f Lapat o S , whe e
r u u i soon the pe sec tion in this case began, b t t spread into most of the Christian centers of
Wigram says : The ascetics were as much
the Zoroastrians regar ded the celibate lif e
i orror N r o onl o er w th h . uns we e c mm y fi ed their lives if they would consent to marry ;
Be an u. 1 i. 61 2 i di , , 54. Assemani, , p. . W gram, p . 48 The Death of a Nation
art a as usual was ofiered r o M h , , f eed m, by
o wh o ri her if sh the M bed t ed , e would con
n r se t to mar y. She explained that she was sorr but a she was rot y, th t bet hed to Jesus,
and n o con usion of the o e j yed the f M bed , wh o asked after the family and village of the
su o ri r om d l pp sed b deg o , an dec ared that he
o rl r would send f r him . Later the fea ess gi l indulg d in ex ecutioner . The martyrs were glad at the
scafiold caus r oin om , be e they we e g g h e.
Yaz dun- oc a no l la care for d ht , b e dy, d one hundred and twenty confessors of Se
l ucia urin ir i rison n and onl e , d g the mp me t, y revealed to them the fact that the day
‘ ' of ir r l as had com final i the e e e e, by the g ft of white raiment that sh e made to each of
e and the ra r a oul in r th m, p ye th t they w d te
cede f or her before the throne . The bodies
ri s nd la was allo to co l f end , a the dy wed mp ete her pious task by the burial of these bodies in r ar the g eat m tyrium. A Persecuted Church 49
Ou one occasion the friends of a martyr
a li to the uar s sa in o rnor pp ed g d , y g, the g ve has ordered us to look after the remains of
a s l s ou s ll it to hri J me , e t y e the C stians, so they took away the body and entombed it
On anot r occa sion he , when the right of
by a mysterious light that hovered above
r s s. was of course so the co p e It , , me kind of garded as a proof that these were holy men that had been done to death ; and the bodies
Up to the very end of his lif e Shapur con tinued to persecute relentlessly ; and it is onl na ural a as rs cu ion o s y t th t, the pe e t g e
i r and res n ul on s oul cr on, a b tte e tf t e h d eep
of snfi r r into the minds the e e s, and should
find e ression in sa in s lik You accurs xp y g e, ed ” “ or will not ors i fire but ou King, , I w h p , y 50 The Death of a Nation will be burning forever in it some day these are to r r ou on be eg etted, th gh e ca nnot wonder that a generation of snfiering should have produced them . A man in a fury is apt to be off his guard.
In or n the f ty years of persecutio , sixteen
os n s n n wh e ame were k ow , and nu r of unr cor snfier rs mbe e ded e , but the severest persecutions were endured with joy. The spirit was always ready but the flesh was weak.
lon - ur s The g lived Shap also died at la t ,
Au us 1 A.D. er i n of n g t 9, 379 , aft a re g seve ty
ears des airin of s ro in hris iani . y , p g de t y g C t ty i n ra l i i The persecut o p ctica ly d ed w th him.
r was as The worst of the sto m p t, and the Church which had endured such a sev ere
r s il recou her n r i s trial could e t a wh e, p e e g e , n and repair her orga izations.
rsecu ion lik war a in or an The pe t , e , f m e, y
r no r an n i r s other disaste , made pe m e t mp e sion at all ; the moment the external pressure
l e . 10 1 1 n. 1 . Tabari, cd. Ne dek , pp 4 , 4 , A Persecuted Church 51
was removed the work was resumed . This su mission to th e deerees of ro i nc b P v de e, even when they are not beneficial h as always n no of ori n al min bee the key te the e t d . Persecutions with explosive violence dro disci les ro ir ori inal o to ve p f m the g h me , the very bounds of the Orient . The Church was shattered that it might be scattered and
ra m n s r oun in A rica Ara ia the f g e t we e f d f , b ,
rsia n a an hina An o rs Pe , I di , d C . d s pe ecu tions became the parent of early Christian missions— strange parentage ! Out of the " eater came forth meat !
mar rs s oo as in ac o a The ty t d f t the f e f de th , and ref used to take their view of life from its immediate circumstances. Anax archus
r in out hil in a n to a c y g w e be g be te de th , Beat on at the case of Anax archus ; no
ro alls on Anax archus ims l was st ke f h e f, undoubtedly a disciple of the wider vision.
es arl as rn ris ians r a in of Th e e y E te Ch t , d e m g hin to r us in na of t gs come, ef ed, the me the soul i in to s i a lif i all i w th them , e t m te e, w th ts
nd a ines s in r of isi l wealth a h pp , te ms the v b e 52 The Death of a Nation
and temporal . They convinced themselves of the good purpose in what appeared sheer cru l and r na l to n ur an e ty , we e e b ed e d e y n r illin t s n amou t of pain. They we e w g o pe d
n or hris and be spe t f C t . They were in the war but carried a ch arm about them . Their comfort was not the
in i l a in flowed ro k d y e ded by p dd g . It f m
a ion of lo i s s iri ual n r the ct the ft e t p t e e gy .
ur l in suc a orl irs is a s cr S e y , h w d, the e et
or no in w th k w g.
RE ORGANIZATION OF PERSIAN CHURCH (379—399)
This long period of persecution had left the Church of Persia in a most shattered and
isor ani con i ion and al os i ou d g zed d t , m t w th t an l r y c e gy . A considerable number of clergy were ordained . Bishop Tamuza urged the young
eo l to rr an r o loss u p p e ma y d ec up the . S ch an experience was repeated in certain parts of Armenia after the massacre of 1 896 ; the
54 The Death of a Nation
t Yaz digird sh owed such honor to Maru h a, that the Magians began to fear the conversion of ir in wh o was no stric oroas rian the K g , t Z t , and devised various ways and means to
r n it to r t in p eve t , and p ove o the K g that the fire was angry at his attitude towards Chris tians. When Yaz digird was at one of the s rvi in l oi w ar e ces a fire temp e, a v ce as he d
ro mi s of urn o t t a f m the d t the fire, T u h t " os a Yaz di ird was airl ri n ap t te . g f y f ghte ed and hurried away from the temple he thought of s ndin Mar th a a a But Marutha e g u w y . assur ed him that it was fraud and advised him to search the ground next time he heard
oi i and su in the v ce, wh ch he did, cceeded finding a man concealed in a place in the
Th lo of h e ss t e physicians in the mass acre, like the man h o h h w cut 03 t e branc on which he was standing , was pain fully felt by the enemies ; as it happened in th e present massacre in Persia. In th eir ignorance and frenz ied blood lust they destroyed those whose life was invaluable for the istence of emselv an th eir communit The influ ex th es d y. enoe of th e Christian physicians in th e East is similar to that of the miracles of old.
Hist Becks vii. i . , , p. 9. W gmm, pp. 88, 89. L a bourt.pp. 89. 90. A Persecuted Church 55
r n un r fire and r in to u r g ou d de the , t y g tte su n ural ssa s an oroas rian per at me ge . M y Z t s re t an w r l we pu to death , d Marutha as g eat y
As mar r o had c as f or hil ty d m e ed a w e, Christians made energetic efiorts to preach the Gospel freely ; and their efiorts were crowned by the lar ge number of converts tionaries of the state and members of the noble families of Persia had embraced Christianity The al armed Magian hier archy soon attempted to check this whole sal a s as ras ic ans e po t y by d t me . The King was really moved by the state of things ; so far he had protected the Chris
ians rom a t s of ir n mi s ut t f the t ack the e e e , b now he had to give way to the demand of
the great corporation of the Magians.
‘ art ri . B Assemani, M yr. O ent , i , p. 234. edjan. iv .,
pp. 253- 262 . 56 The Death of a Nation
n i n to a s s the I addit o the po ta y , firmnes s liar rights provoked the King to go backon his promise of protection. As an illustration
“ — one Narsai ‘ of Raz a i or e ran Beth q y , T h ,
i n of ries all a or his was a fr e d the p t c ed S p . T priest had conv erted a nobleman whose
w er er wa who l a name as Ad p , bui t church f or
or and av him a r ular o i Sap , g e eg deed f g f t
t t his l al r r f or i o be eg p ope ty. The case
u e or in Y z ir was bro ght b f e the K g . a dig d
i Aderboz i a o o perm tted , M bed, t use such means as in his opinion would be effective in gaining back the Zoroastrian nobles that had been converted to Christianity . He
succ in reconv ertin r r eeded g Ade pe wa, and the latter demanded the restoration of the
c urc . a or fied the i of Narsai h h S p by adv ce . The Mobed tookpossession of the building
and turned it into a fire- temple. Shortly
a r Narsai i noran a fte , , g t of wh t had taken
lac n r ur r r p e, e te ed the ch ch , and was su p ised
Hofiman A i e - , am g , p. 36. Bedjan. iv ., pp. 1 70 1 81 . a r L bou t, p. 1 1 5.
The Death of a Nation and continued the horrible persecution with great ferocity and torturous executions. But it showed the true and divinest mettle of the conf essors. ” t . a a di ni S J mes the dismembered , g
ar in rsi ni his hris t y the Pe an court , de ed C
n tianity to please the King . When he we t home his mother and wife refused to recognize him and turned away from him in disgust.
r u is i u a es ali his Th o gh th att t de, J m re zed laxity of conduct painf ully . If my mother an r in is ann r how d my wife t eat me th m e , terrible it must be when I appear before the su r u said and resen p eme J dge, he ; he p ted
ims l a ain or in clarin a h e f g bef e the K g, de g th t his was n n oi n denial ull a d v d , a d that he was
a ris ian. cu ion rs or r Ch t The exe t e , by the de
f nr o r cut off his lim s o the e aged m na ch , b one one nc i dismem by , he e his ep thet the bered . A similar case was that of one Piruz of
a a ic oo lac in m r Beth L p t, wh h t k p e Septe be of the same year.
o L ab urt, p. 1 12. A Persecuted Church 59
’ This persecution of four years duration was as cruel as any that this Church has ever been called upon to face.
COUNCIL (42 1 - 456)
The continuous misfortunes had a baleful
Now that the storm of the persecution h ad l it in ruins it w of r i to eft , as g eat mportance reconstruct out of its debris a Church of an independent and self governing character .
Accor in l council was calle in r d g y, a d, Ma ka a of Ta a i a o n of Ara s bt yy y , t w the b .
t ir m ro li ans n ontifi he et po t . Amo g the p s, s r h rv r s n eve al ad come from Me , He at, I faha , and Oman. The details of the proceedings are too many to be mentioned here ; the council ended with definite proclamation of the
S n i 6 y . Or ent , p. 76. 60 The Death of a Nation
u n of ur of rsia n its a to omy the Ch ch Pe , a d absolute independence of the Western ” a ic r s l to irrecon F thers, wh h p oce s ed cilable schism between the Churches of the
East and West . The decision of this council is fundament ally justified on the following grounds. For
os two un r r now ha alm t h d ed yea s , they d been always under the shadow of persecu
ions an r i ns ha n r t , d the pe secut o d eve been
o is hris i n separate from the feeling R me C t a ,
r or no ris ian in rsia can the ef e , Ch t Pe be i n ll loyal . The Westernizat o always spe ed persecution in the East . A Persian war with Rome and a persecution of the Persian Christians had usually gone hand in hand ; it made little difierence to the persecuted,
ic caus ic . is ru 0 wh h ed wh h It t e , the R mans would put an end to the persecution in rsia orc so i s but is cours Pe by f e , met me , th e always provoked the Persian state to further a s of iol nc . ar of snfi ct v e e We y ering, finally
- 2 syn. Orient , pp. 51 96. An illustration of this may be seen in the fact that
62 The Death of a Nation
the Church. He held a council at Beth in Lapat 484, and issued a conf ession of faith. He forced on the bishops a canon allowing
isco al m rri . And finall Ep p a age , y, the closing of the famous school of Edessa by order of Zeno the Emperor in 489 afiorded Barsoma a splendid opportunity to achieve a most imt work for the Church of
the East. He set up a great school at Nisi bin 3 i w l , wh ch as to supp y the Church with
a ri n i or u i n5 p t archs a d b shops f f ture generat o , and be a channel for the conveyahoe of the
Eastern culture into medieval Europe . As the result of these acts Nestorianism spread over all Persia ; and hereafter the
history of Persia included its history.
Ea r si - six i rics rapidity in the st , whe e xty b shop had already been established ; among them
i n of is ran are ment o ed those Reg tan, Teh ,
s n rv urasan. I faha , Herat , Me , Kh
o er in Such a peaceful peri d , howev , the
r 1 bourt . 1 0. L abou t, p. 35. L a , p 4 8 a ' 1 1 Moore Th Th l ical Sch l at L bourt, p. 4 . , e eo og oo A Persecuted Church 63
activity of the Church did not last . Yazdi
and Arm nians. Ou Au us 2 6 A.D . a e g t 4, 44 , general massacre tookplace ; [ 1] clergy
nd i hn ro li an a ten b shops, and Jo , Met po t
’ f uk r m rt r on o Karka d Beth Sl , we e a y ed a m un u si ci rka a o d o t de the ty of Ka . Loc l the hillock was stained that color by the
’ ar rs l an th r u uil m ty b ood , d e marty i m b t
‘ over the bodies remains to this day.
s n Among the martyr of the followi g day,
u t r n irin n A gust 2s h , we e the woma Sh a d her two sons. As he was conducting the
assacre o m Yaz di ird ouc ir m , T h g , t hed by the courageous attitude at the time of their mar t r m i ri i y do , wh ch he att buted to their fa th in God conf ess ecus ris and was , ed J Ch t “ ” a in his wn loo on m r b ptized o b d , Septe be
2 6 orial c urc a s an s 5, 44 . The mem h h th t t d
r s ill ars na of o m Yaz di ird the e t , be the me T h g
- r Bedjan, pp. 510 53 1 . Wig am: p. 138. L ebourt, p. 1 27. ‘ r 1 rt 12 . Wig am, p. 39 . L abou , p. 7 64 The Death of a Nation
or Tamas ird. A r r i n g fte the pe secut o s, a solemn annual memorial of those who per
ish ed there was decreed . The Christians of that place still gather year by year to co ora th n on 2 mmem te e eve t , the sth day of
September. The details of these persecutions as well
as os a occurre in Ar nia r cor th e th t d me , e ded
Soz omen Th eodoret ocra s and Elis a by , , S te , h ,
in ir ccl sias ical his ori s are of thrillin the e e t t e , g
interest .
PATRIARCH MAR BB A AN'USHIRWAN AND A , OTHER PRO- CHRI STIAN KINGS
Mar A a Gr a was orn in a bh , the e t , b
ri n il man of r n an Zoroast a fam y, a g eat tale t d versatility and a scholar in Greek and Syriac ; ‘ he held the ofiice of the secretary in the province of Beth Aramayi. His conversion to Christianity was due to circumstances entirely unforeseen . On one occasion Mar
n u . . 1 M h Zkha . 1 Bedja , , p 53 . s ikha , p 47.
66 The Death of a Nation
of an r and im ia l ca n a e d ge , med te y be me e g g d in the work of organization and reform
his amus alous of the Mobeds t ed the je y , who caused his arrest and accused him as an
a os a s unis n p t te , who e p hme t was death .
Chosroes I . or Anushirwan r hea d the case,
and called on the Patriarch for his answer. “ “ am ri s i n I a Ch t a , he said . I preach my own ait and an e r o to oin it f h , I w t ve yb dy j ; but of his own r n of com ul f ee will , and ot p
" “ sion. And if ou ul u ar him , y wo d b t he , sir ou oul i e, y w d jo n us and we would wel " co ou me y , cried a voice from the crowd .
’ It was a Christian in the King s service. The infuriated Mobeds demanded the death of man in not is the . The K g, however, w h in to los a oo ser an s n him a a g e g d v t , e t w y on some business of his own. B ut about the Patriarch he was in great difi culty. Anushirwan wished not to condemn him ; both beca use of his respect for his lofty ch ar ac r n c u s i ns r te , a d be a se the Chri t a we e
o r ul n m u in p we f e ough to ake tro ble, the K g
‘ 1 1 Wigram, p. 9 . A Persecuted Church 67
n o n hesitated to ofiend them ; o the ther ha d, he was al so seeking not to ofiend the Mo
r beds and their established hie archy, as the law in this case was on their side. Ou one occasion the King told him frankly
a as a r n a was lia l to ut to th t , e eg de, he b e be p death . But you shall go free if you will s o r c i in con r s a i ose rri t p e e v g ve t , dm t th ma ed
Ma ian law to co union and allo by g mm , w
ur l to t Ma ian crific s yo peop e ea g sa e . The ul not a c r s n Patriarch co d c ept the te m , a d
Kin anno at his a i u or r the g, yed tt t de , de ed him to riso for i en anis him p n a t me, th b hed
1 to Azerbaijan. But he escaped and re turned to his workagain. In the autumn of 551 Anushirwan sent him to the disturbed district of Khuzistan to warn the Christians there not to join the rebellion which his son Nushiz ad had stirred u ain him orn out his oil so p ag st . W by t me li Mar A a ll ill on his r urn to Seleu fe , bh fe , et cia ; the King sent his own physician to tend him u ar s i an i rison n had , b t h d h p d mp me t
i r . 20 . n iii. . 08. W g am, p 3 Assema i, , p 4 68 The Death of a Nation
n or an Mar A do e their w k, d bha the Great
to his r ar n r r 2 2 . passed ew d o Feb ua y 9, 55
Of r i n of Anushirwan an in r s in the e g , te e t g incident is related . His queen was a beautiful Christian lady whom no pers uasion could prevail upon to forsake her faith .
ir- a ar n Nushiz ad was sin r The he pp e t , , a ce e
ris ian a in i i ai rom Ch t , h v g mb bed the f th f
‘ his mother. His love for Christianity and contempt for Magianism provoked his
wh hr him in o ri r father , o t ew t p son. Afte
’ his father s death Nushiz ad escaped and rose in revolt . He was slain in battle ; his last request was that his body should be
n r a i se t to his mothe , th t he m ght have a ” Christian burial .
as ris ian r an n ra Cosm , a Ch t me ch t a d t v
“ l r who ro a ou sa s : Amon e e , w te b t 535, y g
ac rians uns rsians Persarme the B t , H , Pe , nian E m n s, la ites a d in the whole country of
r Wig am, p. 207 .
2 . 1 16 M a 9 . osheim, Hist. T rt.
Eccles. . 8 . L a ar i. 20 n n , pp , 9 y d , , p. 5, ew ed. Assema i, in PP
A Persecuted Church 69
sia ur nd is o s re Per , the ch ches a the b h p a wi ou nu r n i n o ul th t mbe , a d the Christ a p p a
In his c n ur C ris iani had n ro t e t y, h t ty bee p pagated in the East so extensively that the Nestorian patriarchs sent metropolitans as far as na i Chi , which mplies the existence of
is o s ri sts and c urc s and a b h p , p e , h he , th t Christianity had been established in that country for a long time.
THE NE STORIAN TABL ET
The famous Nestorian Tablet 1 a marble
onu n au n i i of hi o m me t , the the t c ty w ch c uld not i ac isco r at ian u be mpe hed, d ve ed S f ,
’ ar i. 2 n . r o i i L ay d, , p. 05, ew ed D He bel t , B b . Orien — tale ii. 2 6 2 v . 2 . Arnol , , pp. 5 , 57 , and i , pp . 538 55 d,
P reachin slam . 2 6 Mosh eim . 2 . Gi on g of I , p 4 . , p 39 bb , eh . lvii. L e e Nestorian Monmnent . 0. A re lica x gg , , p 5 p of th e ent hi as th un monum , w ch w made by e unda ted fi f r f D r e orts o D . Frits Holm o enma k, is for th e present in the Metro olitan Museum of Art in New orkCit p , Y y; he did a gracef ul service that bears a silent testimony to the forgotten works of th e Nestorian miss ionaries in the
Far East . 70 The Death of a Nation
ina in s en n c n ur — con ains Ch , the ev tee th e t y t the oldest Christian inscription yet found in as ern Asia and so far is onl no n E t , the y k w vestige in China itself of a once prosper ous Mission si - s n Nestorian . The xty eve missionaries whose names and labors are recorded on this tablet must have been residents in some portion of China at a much earlier date than that named upon the
a l for f w r r t b et, the eggs o the silk o m we e brought from China to Constantinople in
1 A D N s ori n on a l 55 . . by e t a m ks. The t b et was erected in the second year of Kien chung of the Tang dynasty (78 1 on the s n da of first on in Sun eve th y the m th , be g da in i of N torian a riarc y, the t me the es P t h
Khnanisho. Such is the testimony of this silent witness to the faithful labors of the ‘ Nestorian branch of th e Church in early days.
Nestorians os i in The , says M he m, the fif th century aha after they had obtained
r n r n h loca a fix ed eside ce in Pe sia, a d ad ted
ucia r suc the head of their sect at Sele , we e
- Mosheim, pp. 199 2 03 . Tabari, p. 28.
A Persecuted Church 71 cessinl as they were industrious in dissemi nating their doctrines in the countries lying ” outside the Roman Empire . It appears from
i n l ocu n il is in a unquest o ab e d me ts st l ex t g, th t there were numerous societies in all parts of
rsia n ia Ar nia Ara ia ria and Pe , I d , me , b , Sy ,
r un ri s un r uri c n othe co t e , de the j sdi tio of the
f u patriarch o Sele cia.
Hurmiz d IV . succ ssor of u , the e An shirwan
- (583 was a pro Christian ruler . It is said that the Magi tried to arouse him to
r cu hr is ians on roun a pe se te the C t , the g d th t
r a an r to his ron M they we e d ge th e . y
ron s an s on our not n two th e t d f feet , o , said the King . On Jews and Christians as well as on Zoroastrians and so the matter dropped .
THE EL ECTION OF SABHRISHO (596- 604)
Sabh rish o a na i of iru - A a in , t ve P z b d Beth Garmai and wh o later h ad been Bishop
- i ram . 2 1 . Assemani . 1 . W g , p 4 , iii., pp 44 449 72 The Death of a Nation
L ashom w on A of , as elected Patriarch pril
1 6 a or of Chosroes . or 9, 59 , by the f v II
u u who r rr him to fi Kh sra Parwiz, p efe ed v e other names which were presented to him by
l c oral o . irin or ar accor the e e t b dy Sh M y, d o ans i of Chosroes wh ing to the R m , the w fe , o is celebrated in Persian poetry for her beauty n ari acco lis n s nd was a d v ed mp hme t , a a
ou ris ian had r a es r r nc dev t Ch t , the g e t t eve e e for him. Chosroes himself was accustomed to ask for his prayers ; and the Emperor
him r li i of Maurice once sent a e c, a p ece the
ru oss askin him to sen his co l in t e cr , g d w
u r r m urin his Kh srau eve ed hi because , d g
ains B r ha in a campaign ag t ah am, he d dream seen his horse 3 led forward by an
12 . . . Assemani, iii., p. 4 . Ass emani, iii , p 444 tiful and intelligent beyond all others; and so greatly did the King love Shabdiz that he swore to slay the man who should bring the tidings of his death . So when Shabdiz r r th hor r Bahlabad died, the maste g oom of e se p ayed Ruda i to make it known to the in in a son of which ( g ) K g g, th e ! Shabdiz is dead ! It is the King who sayeth
74 The Death of a Nation
torian Church was well organized . Its patriarch was one of the great dignitaries of a rankin a ar n l n to o St te , g pp e t y ext the M bed
r or r i or u Mobedan, the ef e ve y mp tant . O t
of a n influ n side the circle M gia e ce , in Herat
n r n a li l no o a d Khu asa , wh t tt e we k w f the Church shows Christianity as a growing
orc a l to win ur s and o r on ols. f e , b e T k the M g The risk that a Zoroastrian ran in becoming a Christian had much diminished . King
n ol on of n r Hurmiz d IV. whe t d ce the co ve sion of a a ian no l onl o s r ll M g b e, y b e ved , We , t him o to ll if le g he , he prefers
Yaz di ird III . a lad of u fift g , abo t een years, and a ar n l of a r pp e t y a we k characte , became, in 6 2 las of lin of assani kin s 3 , the t the e S d g , whose empire was shattered by the Ar ab
n asion. Y z i ird wa r r u i v a d g s t eache o sly slain,
assani nas os rul las o r the S d dy ty, wh e e ted ve
oroas rian ai n the Z t f th deposed , a d Islam took its place as the national religion of
rsia in 6 1 Pe , 5
’ Zoroastrian hi h ries . i r 2 g p t W g am, p. 31 . A Persecuted Church 75
OTHER MEANS OF SPREADING CHRISTIANITY
The three important factors in the spread ing of Christianity in these distant lands of
r ca i s co rc and the East we e pt ve , mme e,
i s not inf re monastic sm . Slave were
u n l s i n q e t y Chri t an captives. Whe they were
carri off en masse ro ris ian ir ed f m the Ch t emp e, as sometimes happened under Sassanian
in s ir ccl sias ical l a rs r ak n k g , the e e t e de we e t e
i c i i of w th them . The apt v ty the Jews in
Babylon is an illustration of this. Commerce was then more than even now
n f s the ha dmaid o the Go pel. The clergy would follow the merchants in order to supply
them with the ordinances of the church . And
fi so isco al dio s oul a lis ep p ce es w d be est b hed .
Whence has Al- Asha his Christian ideas
sa n in - l r ys a Arab poet . From w e dea e s of Hira of whom he bought his wine ; they
r 12 Ch om, p. 5. 76 The Death of a Nation
u him bro ght them to . coloniz ing enterprises were made to minister to the cause of missions. The chief aim of the monks was a life of soli u and ran uili as in ra r t de t q ty, f t g, p ye , and s u but asc ics of ot s s r t dy, the et b h exe we e moved with the true missionary spirit and lived in communities. The nuns were very often women self- dedicated to a life of good
s but arin lain arm n and deed , we g p g e ts
working in their own homes. The monks who during the reign of the Arab Caliphs did not enjoy full freedom to or a on Mu a madans did a r a w k m g the h m , g e t work among the pagans in the most unculti y ated regions of the East .
In an ins anc s a riarc s is o s m y t e the p t h , b h p , and priests were dragged out of their cell3
and or ain almos orc . In so d ed, t by f e me cases they gave up their ofi oes and went backinto their cloisters. Isaac of Ninev eh was much against his will consecrated Bishop of that city (660)
allhausen S ccad 200 W , kim Vorarbeiten, p. .
78 The Death of a Nation
ro ins ruc ion of r ius a estorian f m the t t Se g , N
onk n wn t r m , is well k o , as a that pe iod the Nestorian missionaries had an extensive influence in Arabia.
‘ rin of Ne ran call i in r p ce j , ed Sa d, te ested in al of his co- r li ionis s r beh f e g t , had p ocured from the prophet Muhammad himself a
rmcm in hic s ci ri s fi , w h pe al p vilege were
r n to c nd r g a ted the Chur h a the pat iarch . At any rate the Christians were freed from military service ; the clergy were exempted from the payment of tribute ; the taxes im posed on the rich and poor were limited to
w l nd our i c s o on r s c i l t e ve a f p e e f m ey e pe t ve y. The document was preserved till 1 843 when it was lost during the massacre of B edr Khan Bey .
er D d L ehr d mcds Spreng , os L abor: and ie e c: Mokam ,
80 ZD i ix . . pp. 367, 3 . MG., v ii., p. 557 ; , p 799 ; 2 Buchari s eaks of a Christian who sai : pp . 38, 699. p d Muhammad knows nothing than that which I have w t l A ristian Bahira L e d ritten for him . Got hei , Ch gen , 1 p. 90, n. 1 . a ani iv . . . ar i. 20 . Assem , , pp 94, 95 L ay d , , p. 7 L a — 2 2 Barhebraaus iii. . 1 1 1 1 . bourt, pp. 44 , 45. , , pp 5 7 A Persecuted Church 79
n in 6 2 ra s in rsia Whe 4 the A b vaded Pe , established their supremacy over the whole
nd s r u empire , a p ead their faith thro gh
ut i e ur o As a, th y found the Nestorian Ch ch
r r ul in as i n al eady powe f the E t , w th a exten sive influence even in Arabia. A bishopric was s a lis in uf a and s a of e t b hed C , the e t the patriarchate was later transferred from
u - si on to a n w Sele cia Cte ph Baghd d , the e capital of the Caliphs. Almost all of the Christians observed a n u rali a was a or l in e t ty th t f v ab e to the vaders. It is no wonder that the Christians did not assi rsi ns a ains ir o st the Pe a g t the f es. They were hard pressed for centuries by the iol n law of Acha menians l uci s v e t the , Se e d , ar ians assanians and B an in P th , S , the yz t e
ir and ar of ir rs cu ions Emp e , we y the pe e t ,
lco a n of Ara s 1 they we med the dve t the b , hoping to cujoy the privileges of the monastic lif e under their rule.
1 T of M r homas a ga, p. 1 56. Assemani, iii., pp.
- 12 8 12 . Bat he r c r 9 b e us, Ec . Cit on" p. 474. 80 The Death of a Nation
XVIII
SYRIAC L ITERATURE
Syriac literature commences with the most prominent version of the Holy Scrip
“ ” “ ur s calle Pshitta si l or l i t e , d , the mp e p a n
rsion riac ul a ic s s ve , the Sy V g te, wh h eem to have been on the whole the work of the second century .
A s rian s n All the s y Chri tia s, whether belonging to the Jacobites or Roman com
union cons ir to ol Ps tt u or m , p e h d the hi a a th
1 itative and to use it in ir u lic ser ic s. , the p b v e TheZbeginnings of Syriac literature are nu fortunately lost in the earliest ages of our e flouri h rinci all in rio ra. It s ed p p y the pe d between the fourth and tenth century of our era is la in a on r ul a ili of , d p y g w de f b ty writing with a vast amount of intellectual energy . The literary catalogue drawn up by the
1 — 20 20 . Mosheim . 2 1 . Wri ht L ayard, i., pp. 7 9 , p 5 g , S r L i 2 y . t , p. . ‘ non T. i. . 2 1 . Westcott, Ca of N. , , p 9
A Persecuted Church 8 1 l arn Mar Abhdisho E su as far e ed ( bed Je ) ,
12 A.D . con ain n o o back as 98 , t s the ames f n l ss an one un r and fift au ors e th h d ed y th , whose works extend over almost all branches of kno l and in a s cial ann r o r w edge, pe m e ve the department of theology. The catalogue ao quaint s us With at least twenty commentators on ol or ar s of Bi l an the wh e p t the b e, m y
i s con ro rsi sts canonis s ritual st , t ve ali , t , eccle
n ro i ns r siastical a d p fane histor a , mo e than
un o s r l ico ra one h dred p et , seve al ex g phers
n r ri ns icians wri r on a d g amma a , log , te s na
ural iloso a sics o ra t ph phy, met phy , ge g phy, and as rono si s an l arn ssa t my, be de m y e ed e y
l an u su s ists on misce l eo s bject . In c l ra sc ools of ssa isi the e eb ted h Ede , N bin Makh uz a n D r oneh r a , , a d o q , we e t ught
1 ree Ara ic r oric o r ari ic G k , b , het , p et y, thmet ,
eo r usic as rono and icin g met y, m , t my, med e.
Mar rai re rus ro Eph m (Eph m Sy ) , the p
1 of rians was one of phet the Sy , the most voluminous and widely read writers 3 His
1 1 Assemani iv . . . Assemani i 2 , , p 493 , ., p. 5 f . 1 Assemani i 6 1 1. r , ., pp. W ight , p. 33 . 6 82 The Death of a Nation
ea ook l d th t p ace in 373 A.D . His works
a e n nsi l ransla e in o k h ve b e exte ve y t t d t Gree ,
Ar nian o ic Ara ic me , C pt , b , and Ethiopic. Nor did the Assyrians confine the work their own language ; but they carried their investigations into the wider field of Greek ecclesiastical and profane literature . Their plodding diligence has preserved for us in fairly good translations many valuable works of Greek fathars which would otherwise have
n lost bee . s r Nestorians se to Beside the G eek, the em have acquired great eminence in the Persian
T on and Arabic languages. o them bel gs the merit of having passed on the lore of ancient Greece to the Arabs. When the Arabs saw that the learning of the East was chiefly to be found among the
in rus i ro ; Nestorians, they t ted them w th p m inent osi ions as r asur rs sicians p t , t e e , phy ransla for Ara s and scribes. They t ted the b the works of Greek philosophers and physi n m n cians like Aristotle and Gale . Asse a i
84 The Death of a Nation
Mar Abhdish o has left us an Arabic trans ion of Nestorian cr lat the eed , which f or
i or of s l uri of ic ion and l an v g ty e, p ty d t , e eg ce of arrangement deserves to be ranked with
it with his ri ht while e hand, eating g , th deputation which
had accompanied him from Egypt looked ou. As soon as they had come away, the members of the deputation ‘ “ " r t ra was that hi said to Am : Wha , p y, w ch thou didst ? ‘ “ Amr re lie : He certainl knew well enou h h p d y g t at I , E t in the wa that I di co coming from gyp y d, uld have done without tim id which he ofiered me. But he wished to t ry had no acce te it shoul me ; and if I t p d , I d have met with ” “ Yea mine own trouble rom him. , amiliar 1ien in f f f d , hich did ea of m re h whom I trusted, w t y b ad, hat lif ted
me Ps. x l . up his heel against ( i , Apublic robber in Persia broke open by night the treas
ernor of Sistan. He a van ury of the gov d ced, and per h e o scurit an o ect that s arkle ceiv ed, in t b y, bj p d at a
if it ht be a em . He touch i distance, as mig g ed t , then o h li s an iscov ere that i w applied it t is p , d d d t as salt . th re rom h r Immediately he wi d w f t e chambe , without carrying 06 a single article of plunder. On the following h ov ernor inf orme of what was one ub morning, t e g , d d , p r uest hat the inva er of his remises shoul lished a eq , t d p d him entire immunit for come to th e palace, and promised y his eed . acou resented himsel as irecte and on d Y b p f d d, e ul r o en the treasur and being asked how h co d b eak p y, l vin ewels and ever recious thin un then retire, ea g J y p g l u touched answered : I had tasted our sa t , and th s be , y f rien and the laws of rien shi woul not come your d, f d p d " “ permit me to rob you of anything you possessed. As I " v Trum ull the eat the salt of the Palace (Ez ra i ., b , A Persecuted Church 85
the compositions of those Arabic classics to which is given the first place of genius and
us for ir l arnin n sk Th , the e g a d ill, the
ris ians r ol ra ut n n Ch t we e t e ted, b ot i the
s n of r li ious uali e se e g eq ty. The restrictions
imposed were those found in the so- called ordinance or constitution of Omar bin Khat
tab in arl s n c n ur . , the e y eve th e t y This formula is traditionally said t o have been the one adopted by the Christian popu
f i i s wh o su lation o the c t e , bmitted to the rule of Islam.
THE CHRI STIANS UNDER ARAB RUL E— THE CONSTITUTION OF OMAR 1
n e of God r ul the In the am , the Me cif , Compassionate ! This is the writing from the Chri stians of such and such a city to
- Kh a a n ou arc Omar ibn al tt b . Whe y m hed
us as of ou ro c ion for against , we ked y p te t
ur a ili s our ossessions and ourselves, o f m e , p ,
1 - Arnol . 2 . Von remer i. . 102 10 . d, pp 5 , 53 K , , pp 4
v f . Assemani, i ., pp. 57 86 The Death of a Nation our oo- religionists ; and we made this stipu
ion i ou lat w th y , that we will not erect in our ci or su ur s n n w r ty the b b a y e monaste y , c urc c ll or m a n h h, e , her it ge ; that we will ot repair any of such buildings that may fall in o ruins or r n os a ma si u t , e ew th e th t y be t ated in the Muslim quarters of the town ; that we will not refuse the Muslims entry into our churches either by night or by day ; that we will open the gates wide to passengers and travelers ; that we will receive any Mus lim traveler into our houses and give him food and lodging for three nights ; that we will not harbor any spy in our churches or
ous s or conc al an n f us h e , e y e emy o the M lims ; that we will not teach our children the Koran ; that we will not make a show of the Christian religion nor invite anyone to embrace it ; that we will not prevent any of our ins n ro racin sla if k me f m emb g I m , they so desire . That we will honor the Muslims and rise up in our assemblies when they wish to take their seats ; that we will not imitate
in our r ss i r in c ur n them d e , e the the ap, t ba ,
88 The Death of a Nation
not strike any Muslim. All this we promise
o n l of oursel s our to bserve, o beha f ve and you in exchange ; and if we violate any of the
of a n n i conditions this greeme t , the we forfe t your protection and you are at liberty to treat us as enemies and rebels.
The Arabs required the services of the Christians for governmental and literary
ur Chris ians l p poses, and t he d positions of high influence in the court of the Caliphs. These also appear to be somewhat inter ested in Christianity by discovering a simi
oin n one occasion n p ts. O , whe Gewergis
G r and Khnanish o tw ( eo ge) , o bishops and can didat for a riarc al es the p t h seat, were visiting
a i o rnor of B a M hd , the g ve ghdad, they were put to some kind of examination. Mahdi as Gewer is in r s nc of a lar ked g , the p e e e ge ass l as o in emb y, t the k d of tree of which the A Persecuted Church 89 rod of os s was i ic rou M e , w th wh h he w ght
an miracl s and si ns Gewer is sai it m y e g ; g d, is mentioned neither in the Torah nor in the prophets. Mah di turned towards Khuan
“ isho ; the latter said : It was of an almond
r use in cas of Da n n t ee, beca , the e tha a d
A ira rod of Aaron u and i l b m, the b dded y e ded almonds. But what is the proof that the rod of Aaron was the same rod of Moses?
as Mah i. Khnanisho ans r c us ked d we ed, be a e “ ” os s sai to Aaro n a ro M e d , T ke the d. Mah di criticized Gewergis and liked Khuan ish o his ol a e d his di nifi nn r , d g an g ed ma e s. Gewergis was ofiended and henceforth sought
1 to censure Khnanish o. We read later that Khnanisho was thrown down a precipice by
1 his enemies and was crippled for life .
1 Assemani . , iii , p . 1 55. 1 The old custom of hastening the death of very old men b throwin them own r ice , y g d a p ecip , is still being t e o p rted in certain regions of the East . And it was stopped b a lcin - earte son wh u h y d h d , o was to c ed, as he heard his ather whom h carr in on h i f , e was y g is backto h s fate , sob
in . are w n r b g Why you eepi g, fathe ? he said. You know r this is a gene al custom among us. I em not weeping for m sel m son but 101 ou as I em t f y f, y , y , hinking o the ” day when your son will have to do the same thing to you. 90 The Death of a Nation
When the Patriarch fell ill bloodletting was r scri for him A il A as of Tus p e bed ; b bb , wh o was not on oo rms i him sai g d te w th , d he was greatly grieved for him; and sent h13 s r n to l him l of c t e va t b eed , the b ade the lan e
’ being smeared with poison ; the Patriarch s ’ neckwas swollen and he died after three days
lln ss in ar i e , the ye 779.
Ou ano r occasion Ali Bar Isa i i r in the , , V z e a a as a riarc A rah am if it B ghd d, ked the P t h b was true that the Christians partake of the
‘ c ar i n riarc eu h st with a spoo ; the Pat h, em
s c u i n n harra sed by the unexpe ted q est o , a swered ou l ssl You kno ll at , th ght e y, w we th ” Nestorians do not commune with a spoon.
iz i r l r a l isconc r for his The V e fe t g e t y d e ted ,
1 e rea an wine In the Nestorian liturgy, both th b d d are directed to be given to laymen as well as clergy sepa
e con th rea ein ut into the han s of the th dea , e b d b g p d he o oommunieents. But in some cases , owing to t ign n h re is a arture rom the lain ra ce oi the clergy, t e dep f p eciall the women to letter of the ritual ; they allow, esp y , r e n ut it in the mouths of the pa tak only of the bread, a d p r Nestorians and their Rituals communieants. Badge , The ,
r . 2 n. 1 . Assemani ii., pp. Barheb e us, 1ii , p. 39, , ar I 6 11 3 " iii., p t t PP 355.535; 9 .P 3
92 The Death of a Nation
times of the Caliphs (651 — 1 258) they main tained and increased their pr estige in this respect . We are told that the professional income of the court physicians of Har un al - Rashid amounted annually to over thirty
ou n in rs or fifteen usan l rs th sa d d a , tho d dol a . Muhammadans have not much faith in
1 medicine and sanitary science.
1 Moslem lands are wanting in common sanitary knowle e. The French Statistical De artment an ious dg p , x to obtain definite information on certain matters from Turkish rovin n lists of uestions to which the p ces, se t q y
ues e re li va us rovincial Pashas. Ce r req t d p es, to the rio p tain of the questions were addressed to the Pasha of m v r man and his re lies ran as Da ascus, a e y learned , p
Question: What is the death rate per thousand in your city? “ Answer : In Damascus it is the will of Allah that all must die me l un . ; so die o d, some yo g “ Question : What is the annual number of births? ’ Answer : We don t know; God alone can say. and of good quality? Answer : From the remotest period no one has ever died of thirst . Question : General remarks on the hygienic conditions of your city. “ er : n Hi Answ Since Allah se t us Muhammad, s prophet, to ur e h wo r h p g t e rld with fire and swo d, there as been a A Persecuted Church 93
This interesting incident is related by
1 B arhebraeus. A sician call d r ius phy e Se g ,
o o r of Arius one a f ll we , day in the presence of Cali Mutawakkil hil ph , w e discussing the
u s ion of ir fai i a ri c q e t the th w th the P t ar h ,
“ said : We are better Christians by not accepting Christ as the son of God and equal
with him. The Patriarch asked the Arab
oc ors and scri s a r r s n if it d t be th t we e p e e t ,
as not ru a ir oo Koran w t e th t the b k , the , pronounced Chri stians all who believe in the
i in na ur of Chris . sai Our D v e t e t They d,
oo testifies a Chris ians li ris B k , th t t be eve Ch t ” is the son of God ; the Patriarch proceeded :
ma now or t on You y judge , whether no e who does not conf ess Christ as the son of ” is C ris ian all a r a God a h t . They g eed th t
ician er i s rror the phys S g u was in e .
vast improvement . But there st ill remains much to do ;
ev erywhere is Opportunity to help and to reform. And of he est cease our uestionin which now, my lamb t W , y q g
can do no good either to you or to anyone else . Man should not bother himself about matters which concern
L ancet.
1 - 1 202 . Barhebmus, iii., pp. 98 94 The Death of a Nation
Ou ano r occasion Ron in si the , a , a phy cian
s sra l al so si n u o accu ed I e , a phy cia , before M ta wakkil as an idola er and a was r all , t th t he e y not a Christian. The Caliph ordered the was found and brought before the Caliph
Honain sai a is i ol r rre d, Th t the d I efe d " to. Israel asked him if he can spit upon
in n si anc in oin . it . Hona showed o he t y d g so Mutawakkil sent for the Patriarch and asked
“ h s u n riarc sai ha s i j dgme t. The Pat h d, T t i
ot t is fi ur of o r o n an idol, i the g e the m the f " o li r in i nan l our L rd . The Ca ph ve y d g t y ordered the Patriarch to excommunicate
1 Honain.
of ea r 68 On the Christmas day the y 7 ,
Abu aa ar o rnor of a a re J f , the g ve B ghd d p sen e G or his sician i r t d e ge, phy , w th th ee beautiful damsels and three thousand dinars George accepted the money but sen ac r st . A u r s r t b k the e b Jaafa a ked , su
risin l a ou r usal of re irls. p g y, b t the ef the p tty g ” a one i sai sician I h ve w fe, d the phy ,
1 Barhebrz us iii. 1 1 . . , , pp . 98, 99. Ass emani, p 438
' 96 The Death of a Nation
ni r Patriarch de ed the cha ges, the Caliph ordered him to take an oath to confirm his
sta m n a ri r in te e t , the P t a ch objected, as be g w against the saered la , upon which he was imprisoned for three years ; and a decree
r Dor on n h te y of q eh , and ma y other c urches, the bones of Mar Abraham were disinterred and cast into the river Tigris ; religious ser vices were stopped . Christians were not allo ri or r a ar wed to de a horse, wea dyed g
n i o n oso as Ara s did. me t w th pe b m , b They
o ri a sh uld not appear in bazaars on F d y, their children should not be taught in Arab schools Their houses were tax ed for the
enefit of th os u s ic ures of a an b e m q e , and p t S t ,
a of u u th oors m de wood , were p t p above e d of their houses. a mosque was in the habit of asking alms at the patriarchal door. He became very indignant when he was refused on one occa sion. One day when a funeral procession of
Ara s was assin con n a ri n of b p g the ve t , f e d A Persecuted Church 97 the old Ara r a s on at the i r ro b th ew t e b e , f m
Ara s r uri u a covert. The b we e f o s when so on ro a l old ar sai me e, p b b y the begg , d that the stone came from the direction of the
con n . ro a ri r ve t They bbed the p t a chate, and disin rr the o of Mar Anus te ed b dy h , cut u ofi his head, p t it on a pole and canied it
1 about the city of Baghdad .
or l f r is a al s r Sh t y a te th , f e eport came from
o rnor of D u a Chris i n the g ve aq q th t , t a s have " n 1 thrown the head of a pig i to the mosque. This fanned up the embers of the persecution n hris ians a u all i to a blaze . The C t g ve p h0pe ’ of deliverance ; for the elect s sake God shortened those days. But they did not cease. These incidents are typical of what is not inf requent to- day.
n 101 issu a cr t a Caliph Qadir, i 5, ed de ee h t all Christians should be forced to accept Islam or else they should be expelled from
an ir ro ert a ro ria . the country, d the p p y pp p ted The order was carried out to its full ex tent ;
rri or so many emigrated to Roman te t y, me
1 1 Barhebrz iii . 2 1 1 . Barhebre us ui. . 2 . us, ., p , , p 59 I 98 The Death of a Nation a c ut a r nu r n c epted Islam , b la ge mbe e dured persecution ; these were compelled to wear lar n cro s hin our o n s 1 ge woode sse , weig g f p u d ,
roun t n c s ins of ir ol d a d heir e k , tead the g d an
il r on s R sis anc w ca i al s ve e . e t e as met by p t
unis n os no or ac in p hme t . The m t tew thy f t
is was i unlik his r th case , that Qad r, e p ede
sso nd r o n o i r r ce rs a fo an unkn w m t ve, eg etted
cr these merciless acts and recalled the de ee, allowed the converted Christians to apos
at o ll to r urn nd ruin t iz e , th se expe ed et , a ed
urc s r uil ch he to be eb t. The lust of persecution was not satiated as an Ar a a r of an ali yet ; b , membe the H b te s c si n to usur a i c of lan ic e t , de g ed p p e e d wh h belonged to the Jacobite church in Baghdad which was attached to the building ; when his plan was frustrated he became very indig nan and caus th e a o of an Ara t, ed de d b dy b to be carried about the streets of the city,
“ crying out : The Christians have killed ” his man w s nou for u risin t . It a e gh the p g of the whole town against the poor Christian
1 r r 1 0 2 Bat hebre us, cd . Victo Joseph , Pa is, 89 , p. 04.
100 The Death of a Nation
hris ians in o os soun ai r the C t , t wh e d f th the e
n or i n l n s of su i on e tered some f e g e eme t perst ti . B ut still the Nestorians were successful in preaching the Gospel in the farthest parts of Tartary and the regions whose peoples were
o n n un l i A on entirely ign ra t a d cu t vated . m g
ri of ur no n them was a t be T ks k w as Kariat . They accepted Christianity in the early eleventh century ; when Mar Abhdisho was
ro oli an of M rv in K urasan met p t e h , he wrote
to a riarc ro a l Yohannan the p t h , p b b y II thus
in of the e0 1 r The k g p p e called Ka iat,
in a i in the nort as r ion of ur is an h b t g he t eg T k t , lost his way while hunting on the high moun
ains of his coun r in a sno s or n t t y, w t m ; whe he
eca s on n and s air of his b me de p de t, de p ed
li e a sain a ear t him in si n f , t pp ed o a vi o , who
sai t ou li s in Chris I s all ui d, If h be eve t t h g de thee and thou shalt not perish The king promised that he would be a lamb in the
ol of C ris and h was ir c out t f d h t , e d e ted o the
open . He called some Christian merchants into his camp and learned of them about the A Persecuted Church
n ai ol him a Christia f th . They t d th t he
u He o ain os el m st be baptized. bt ed a G p of them which he worships every day. And
now n or a ri s to o and r , he wa ts me, p e t , g pe
or ri of a is . Also oul li f m the te b pt m , he w d ke to know how to observe the fast as their
food consists only of meat and milk. He also says the number of those who believe
with him amounts to two hundred thousand . The patriarch wrote back to the metro politan ordering him to send a priest and a deacon with church vessels to baptize all wh o believed and teach them the tenets of Chris tianit and to let use ilk urin y, them m d g the
sai no or inar as ro fas t, ii, as they d , d y f t p
visions were found in their country. At his
a is in ore the na of o n b pt m, the k g b me J h , and in token of his modesty assumed the
i l of r s t r his first nam in Unk t t e p e by e , e be g
Khan. His successors are supposed to have retained this title down to the fourteenth
c n ur and ac one was usuall call e t y, e h y ed
s r o . John Presbyter, or Pre te J hn The Kariat tribe is mentioned in the travels 1 02 The Death of a Nation
w in of Marco Polo, ho visited them the thir teenth cen ur . Al - iruni a Musli wri r t y B , m te wh li eh in 1000 in his Histor o ved at Khiv , y
ul of the o ula ion of ria ra and the b k p p t Sy , I q ,
Kh urasan. The two Chri stian cemeteries at Pitshpek in Russian Turkistan bear silent witness to the extensive mission workachieved by the
Nestorian i i nari s on ur is m ss o e , am g the T k h and on ol ri s of t os r ions es ciall M g t be h e eg , pe y a on th e i ur ri s 1 to os hris m g U gh t be , wh e C tianity the literature of the Mongol period has frequent references . The tombstones
re c r i ri inscri ions a ove ed w th Sy ac pt . The ol s of is de t them dated 858 , and marked the grave of Mengku- Tenesh the believer but most of them belong to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The Mongols had a modified in of riac al a hic is k d Sy ph bet , w h ill u f ir ri ’ st in se by certain o the t bes.
Arnol . 2 M heim . 2 an u. d, p 47. os , p 3 4. Assem i, , p. 2 57 .
104 The Death of a Nation the activities and influence of Nestorian
in ar s of n ral many p t Ce t Asia, even among
rinc s and u ns of ar ar who con the p e q ee T t y,
to .the patriarch in Chaldea.
In 1 1 1 1 lias II . B ar E , Moqli, crated Patriarch by eight bishops; among
w Abhdisho Bis o them as , h p of Urumia. At
i on B l the same t me, e a adai was also conse
1 crated Bishop for Urumia.
UNDER THE MONGOL KHANS
Early in the thirteenth century the Mongol
or s un r l a rs i of n iz an h de de the e de h p Je g Kh , of orl ir the terror the w d, began the west
“ ward march . It was the old war of Iran " and Turan. It is doubtful if a more blood
1 8 Assemani, pp. 44 , 449 . A Persecuted Church 1 05
thirsty person was ever born of a woman. As he swept on from the banks of the Oxus to As ra a r o n of an i or anc te b d , eve y t w y mp t e was reduced to ruins and its inhabitants
1 slau r i n i r a e nor sex ghte ed, w th e the g spared to amuse his monsters. In one week
r assacr o r on illi alone at Me v, he m ed ve e m on human beings. In Nishapur all were decapi n i tated . It has bee sa d that he was t e sponsible f or the death of at least twenty millions of people. He found the Mongolians nifi nt but l m weak and insig ca , eft the the
hin rsia and C n ral Asia masters of C a, Pe , e t .
He a n Euro r l for his rufi an m de eve pe t emb e, warriors spread terror as f ar as Bulgaria.
2 8 Khula u K an ran In the year 1 5 , q h , the g d
f n iz K an E ror of ina son o Je g h , the mpe Ch ,
or s ca ur ci o led forth his h de , pt ed the ty f
‘ a ut Musta sim las A asi Baghd d , p , the t bb d t i o ali a Caliph, to dea h, w th wh m the C ph te also ended . Khulaqu was tolerant to the
Du uz ha un w Christians. His wife, q K t , as
1 ols . . 2 Howorth, History of the Mong , i , p 9 . 106 The Death of a Nation
1 a Christian lady. Ou his return from the
con u s of a a a Mara a q e t B ghd d , he m de gh the capital of his dominion. Here the famous
astronomer Nasir- ad- Din constructed the astronomical tables known as the Tables
” 1 of l ani ic s ill r ain. In 1 2 I kh , wh h t em 65
the Christians inhabited twenty- fiv e Asiatic
ro inc s and o r se n io s s B ar p v e ve ve ty d ce e .
h ebraeus sa s in one ins n n y , ta ce whe the Christians of Arbil wished to celebrate Palm
un a li in a the Ara s r re S d y, be ev g th t b we e p
ar to a is ur anc s s n for p ed m ke d t b e , they e t Tartar Christians that were in that neighbor hood to come over and help them . The
ar n crosses sus n ro Tart horseme , pe ded f m
in s of ir s ars led roc ssion the po t the pe , the p e while the Nestorian patriarch and the people
But s ill Ar a s o followed them. t the b m bbed 1 and dispersed them. Abaqa Khan ( 1265 the son of
- 1 n v . . 108 10 . 1 88, 92 . Assema i, i , pp 9 1 ' rsia - 2 . Mark Malcolm s Sketches of P e , pp. 273 74
His o ersia . 1 68 . ham, tory f P , p 1 ra us hron. S n . f . Barheb , C y , pp 575
108 The Death of a Nation and is suspected of having been himself a
ris i . us or hi in Ch t an J t bef e s death 1282 , orders that all the great men who were present should go to the palace of the Cat to solicit his consent : for accord f h ing to the custom o the Turkomans, at t e time of the ’ courtship th e bridegroom s people go to the father of the li in future bride, and in a supp cat g manner request him to give his consent to the match . r h rea h In like manne t e g t men, t en ass embled frommost
li they began to march , the Ca ph , who had notice of th eir
' Commander of the Faithf ul had ordered Nisam al- M141k r al to come on ho seback. So I one mounted, and all th e great men of th e world accompanied me on foot . Ou our t th l was intro u into a most ma arrival a e pa ace, I d ced g e n ent lace all the nifice nt hall , and seat d o an emin p , and rest on my right and left . Then robes of honor were wrought the following words : For the wise and just Viz ier
Am n the noma s of Central Asia the marria e cere og d , g h mai en attired mony is of a romantic character ; t e young d ,
h - r r r takin on in bridal costume, mounts a hig b ed oou se , g
tin 05 at ull allo . The ri e her lap a lamb, and set g f g p b d h r ollo her at ull groom with his party, also on o seback, f ws f his ri e other speed. If he overtakes her, she becomes b d , wise the match is broken. But she always tries to be
1 1 0 The Death of a Nation
He regarded himself as appointed to exter
‘ ina ians in rsua e at m te the Christ , be g pe d d th this was the duty of every true diseiple of
1 Muhammad .
refuge in the almost inaccessible fastnes ses of
ur i an Moun ains 1 ic urin the the K d st t , wh h d g ma r of B n B in 1 8 re ssac e edr Kh a ey 43 , we
1 stained with the blood of their children . From this time on there were no churches
oun in ran x i n ur i r ni f d T so a a, T k stan, Hy ca a,
and Kh urasan.
The small number of the Nestorians who had survived were active enough to send
i on ri in o orl . In 1 0 a ri m ssi a es t the w d 49 , P t
i n n in in arch S mo se t a metropolitan to Ch a,
nd a ri li in 1 02 s n our is o s a P t arch E as , 5 , e t f b h p ,
Thomas Yabh l h Denkha and a s in o , a a a, , J me t
n ia an hin r d at is I d d C a, as they we e unite th
time in one metropolitan see.
1 Mosheim . 8 . r i. , p 4 5 L aya d, , p. 257. 1 This was ro a l h i i o th emi ratio , p b b y, t e beg nn ng f e g n of the Nestorians to Central urdistan. Ba er i. 2 . K dg , , 57
a ar i. . 2 1 ne . L y d, , p 5, w cd 1 Grant Mountain N ri ns , esto a , p. 363 . Timurlang (Tamerlane )
F om a MS . in th e Possess o of Kar Hiersemann L z r i n l , eip ig
1 12 The Death of a Nation
telligence that the same fate awaits him.
l t ousan r m nd Near y en th d we e assacred , a as large a number of women and children
i of n were taken capt ve, most whom were se t
r to l ~ to ] ez i eh be so d as s1aves, or to be be stowed as presents upon influential Muham~
1 madans.
It is the insignificant number that has sur
s res ic is now in viv ed all the e massac , wh h be g exterminated by the Turks and Kurds.
1 er i 2 0 . Grant . Badg , ., p. 7 , p 349. 1 er i. . 2 1 . ar i. . 1 Badg , , p 7 L ay d, , p 53 .
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS
HE civilized world has been horrified by the monstrous crimes and most pathetic tragedy in history ancient or modem to which the Assyrians and Armenians have been once more subjected.
We are witnessing to- day the greatest and
os ru r i i in o r his or the m t thless at oc t es m de n t y. The entire Christian nations of the Armenians and Assyrians are undergoing the process of
r i n r l s of u ion exte minat o , by c ue method exec t which surpass anything that ever preceded
w r a roci i a are in them any he e . The t t es th t be g committed now against these harmless and
of a long standing character. Sometimes
s or it s ur onl to s art the t m has abated f y, y t u a n nd p gain with increased e ergy, a the 1 1 5 1 1 6 The Death of a Nation present relentless persecutions and brutal massacres are but the culmination of the generations of terror. The following statements are based upon
ario s rus or sourc s s nsul v u t tw thy e , uch as co ar
i n ss s and official ocu n s hi w t e e , d me t , w ch have been corroborated by the narratives of the missionaries of the neutral countries who have just arrived from the scene of these
orrors and a n rou all h h ve bee th gh them , and are unquestionably confirmed by men of
o o l o ion men for h n rab e p sit , whom it woul d be impossible to misrepresent the facts in the ca who coul r o se , and d have no othe m tive
an s nse of ustice and u ani A th the e j h m ty. large amount of the material has been secured from the Bulletins of the American Committee
r Ar ni n nd ri li fo me a a Sy an Re ef. ’ It is one s duty always to avoid ex aggera
ion in is cas o r r t ; th e, h weve , the e is no room
f r a r ion How n n left o ex gge at . ca o e ex ag gerate where the powers of language hardly suffi ce to describe even the facts !
1 1 8 The Death of a Nation districts and the inhabitants were put to
The month before the declaration of war s ur r between Ru sia and T key , in Octobe ,
1 1 dis ric of Urumia was in ade 9 4, the t t v d by the reinf orced Turkish troops and Kurdish
s stin un - a f us ns re i g the co ter ttack o the R sia , and in plundering and destroying the vil la s un il arri al o u ian in ge , t the v f the R ss re
forcements. By the help of these and some native Christians who were armed by the
ussians the n was c c e . Th e R , e emy he k d slightest defense on the part of the Nestorian Christians against a raid has always been trumped up as a sufi cient pretext for their
death- warrant and an absolutely unlimited
Opportunity for plunder and massacre . Such were the preliminary acts of the terrible catastrophe that tookplace shortly
Matters apparently quieted down for a s un il war e n ussi few day , t the betw e R a
and Turkey had actually begun. Then the
1 20 The Death of a Nation night the terrible ex odus began ; a concourse of n - hy e t ousan men om n and twe ty h d , w e , h n N storians and Arm ni s in c ildre , e e an , leav g
n s a l s all o ol the cattle i the t b e , their h useh d
l o o r goods and all the supp y f food f r winte ,
nic- s ric n on a lon n in hurried, pa t ke , g a d pa the intense privations of a foot journey in the sno mu i ou an kin of r ara w and d, w th t y d p ep
i n orri l ils of r ul t o . The h b e deta that d eadf
r l ol flight can neve be adequate y t d. The English missionary who left Urumia with the fugitives describes the flight in
‘ these words : As far as eye coul d reach in both directions there was a constant stream
u i es so i s so ns of f g tiv , met me de e that the
r u road was blocked. It was a d eadf l sight,
n n r an e a ain n of a d one I eve w t to se g , ma y the old people and children died on the way. If anyone possessed a horse or a donkey
r of ur n was for or any othe beast b de , he
n if a n to a r a tunate, a d he h ppe ed h ve e dy
o was n or so. B ut cash in his h me, he eve m e
m ma be c s is no al a s well to do as a an y , a h t w y
1 22 The Death of a Nation
r ni s s we e the ght , pa sed by those who coul d hnd no shelter and lay out all night in th e wet.
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE
All who could flee towards the Russian
or r did so ou wi ou rovision s ill b de , th gh th t p ; t n ousan s re ain n ma y th d m ed behi d, simply
coul not fl because they d ee, their villages being so situated that flight was impossible. These panic stricken people made a rush into the mission house in the city ; a large number of o r had e n in rc on them, h weve , b e te epted the way and murdered ; others who had nar
owl sca arri col un r n r y e ped ved d, h g y, a d
i ro n ex hausted , w th f ze and bleeding feet. They were robbed and stripped on th e roads of everything they had. Not far from twenty thousand souls took refuge in the mission compounds ; some three thousand of these concealed themselves in the quarters of the
n n As in s o on i r c missio . th g m ved w th 'F e h
1 24 The Death of a Nation
of starvation. They were fortunate enough
n fo dis to be able to borrow mo ey r bread,
ri u in o r our ons of rea a da or t b t g ve f t b d y, fifteen thousand loaves of about ten and a hal un loa c rs n in on f o ces a f, ea h pe o gett g e
oa a nd a onl dr rea bu l f a d y, a th t y y b d ; t “ ” m n o n an ca n t live by bread alo e, week after week. As the refugees were huddled together in
a os unsani ar con i ion un r ra e m t t y d t , h g y, gg d, n t o i i of oi a d fil hy, a seri us ep dem c typh d,
us and s n r rok out a on typh , dy e te y b e m g
carr in 011 ro ten to nt - h y e them, y g f m twe y
r da r a assin ro o i s eve y y, the b e th p g f m b d e
i h n or n soull ss w s wh ch ad lo g bef e bee e . It a
The terrible disease of dysentery was due
lar l to ackof ro r oo n ge y the l p pe f d . Whe the
si l l d ofiensiv i w s ck became he p ess an e, t a almost impossible to get anybody to care
for them. From the fear of the enemy outside the
ission r i s e cou n t b m p em se , the d ad ld o e
a n out to urial roun t r t ke the b g d, hey we e
1 26 The Death of a Nation
STATEMENT OF GERMAN MISSIONARIES
The following heartrending accounts are taken from the letters of the German mis sionaries in Persia ; the letters were published in Der christliche Orient and r u lis on , ep b hed
c r 1 8 1 1 in Du c n s O tobe , 9 5 the t h ew paper N De ieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, the leading journal of Holland . The latest news is that four thousand Syrians and one hundred Armenians have i of is as lon at missions i in d ed d e e a e, the , w th
the last fiv e months. All villages in the surrounding district with two or three ex cep tions have been plundered and burnt ; twenty thousand Christians have been slaughtered ” in Armenia and its environs.
“ ” ro ri no r rm n On the ad , w tes a the Ge a “ missionar in A r ai an 1 oun our y ze b j , I f d f l o r sat on the little chi dren. The m the
roun her ack r s in a ainst a all. g d , b e t g g w
ollo - hil r n ran u to The h w eyed c d e p me,
1 c - . 1 1 . f . Der hrirtliehe Orient, Sept . 0ct , 9 5, p 74
12 8 The Death of a Nation
A large number of captured girls were taken into various cities and sold as slaves to Turks for a nominal price. In the streets of Beirut they were ofiered for twenty piasters (eighty cents) A man bought one f or that
ric but was soon s a and ir p e , he t bbed , the g l
a n ro him cause it was isco r d t ke f m , be d ve e that he was a Christian.
A HEROIC MI SSIONARY
Geo ta a n of lar s vil a g p , o e the ge t l ges of the
lain of Urumia was si ur s p , be eged by the K d . Many of the inhabitants of other villages had reached that place on their way to the ci and s o r i illa in ty, the e, t gethe w th the v ge a i an s k u a fi ht for a s to n h b t t , ept p g d y defe d ili nd their fam es a themselves. They were finally driven to their last stand in the two chur ches situated on a high hill formed of
of oroas rian fires ashes Z t . The women and children were crowded like sheep in the churches. It was at this time that Dr.
130 The Death of a Nation
ran out of urnin and ims l b d, the b g, he h e f had no hurt .
A GI RL HEROINE
that of a girl of seventeen. When her family left Salmas for Russia she stayed
it ur s n r w h her old father. The K d e te ed the to h r o village and came e h use. She, with a bo ou i en r old fl to y ab t e ghte yea s , ed the roof from which she shot the Kurd who killed her father and then fled from roof to roof till she reached the edge of the village and took the road to Diliman: She shot fiv e ' ho ursu her in illa n Kurds w p ed the v ge, a d
o a ors m n s o hi r being f llowed by h e a , h t s ho se so that he desisted from the pursuit. She tookrefuge with a Karguz ar and the Muslims
her to co u a a an ro wished be me M h mm d , p m
us n to c sh ising her a rich h ba d, whi h e replied she would first kill whoever attempted to make her change her faith and then kill AChapter of Horrors 1 3 1 herself. The Turkish commander sent f or h er and ookher un a a sa n she wa t g w y, yi g s braver than any of his soldiers. She went
’ ackto Kar uz ar s ou n ur b the g h se , a d the T ks s n or to a h r kill b r u e t w d h ve e ed , ut the Ka g z ar hid her so sh s r , e wa saved by the eturn
tude to fight with a Kurd who is a walking
nal uns arse , armed to the teeth with g ,
While the people had partly fled to Russia n ri s and partly taken refuge with the missio a e , the blood- mad Turks and Kurds had sur
ins r u s were death aga t the ef gee . They ar 011 o r Am rican fla w ded , h weve by the e g, the mission was a heaven in the midst of a hell . 1 32 The Death of a Nation
Citizens of the United States unf urled the flag high in the air from their mission gates ; neither Turknor Kurd would dare to break
ih .
During eighty long years the American mission has ministered to the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of that community
oun in lain of Urumia its n i orin f d the p , e ghb g
is rict s in Kur is n Moun ains bu d t , and the d ta t ; t at no time has it performed a more praise worthy and nobler service than during these
massacres. It is a meritorious record that can very seldom be equalled in the annals
of missionary work . If it were not for the assistance rendered by the little band of these devoted American issionari s in rumi non of C ris m e U a, e the h
ians ro a l coul a sca s or t , p b b y, d h ve e ped the w d
of those most inveterate foes of Christianity . The protection of those Christians who sur viv ed death and destruction was accom plished only by their constant vigilance during the six months of that fiendish
134 The Death of a Nation
Urum oun ia. The dead and w ded were left piled up. Among the murdered were Mar
iak estorian is o D ha, a N b h p , and an aged
Catholic priest. Every possible means was tri ollif ofi rs u ed to m y the oe , b t they were o urate an i l n bd d mplacab e, and inte t to carry
THE HEARTL ESS ASSASSINS
Dr m of i ur . Shi un S p ghan, Urumia, was captured by the Turks while hiding in the
Ganbil Daghi near the lake of Urumia. They saturated his clothes with oil and set him on
ofi his ht e, shot him while fleeing, and cut head.
rri l On March 24th , a still more ho b e deed
at ul h n os ros was committed G pas a , the m t p
r sol i rs taken out into the cemete y, the d e
o n on roun and made them all sit d w the g d , then shot at them. They then looked them A Chapter of H orrors 1 35
r n an on who was oun to b ove , a d y e f d e breathing was shot the second time. acts were performed in other places.
A COWARDL Y SL AUGHTER
A dastardly massacre took place
- after that . S ev enty fiv e Christians had been employed by the Turks to bring tele
ra ir ro Ga ar urk a is rict g ph w e f m w , T ey, d t a ou si mil s is an across or r. b t xty e d t t , the b de were kept here in confinement with very little food . On the way back they were taken into a mountain valley fif teen or
wen il s ro ci of Urumia and t ty m e f m the ty , massacred in cold blood . Three of them
sca e af r r n in to nd e p d , te p ete d g be dead , a r eturned wounded and bloody . In the ad oinin r ions of ur cor in to j g eg T key , ac d g reports confirmed by many persons from r and ac a re u s ro the e, by the f t th t the f gee f m
r n Gawa are almost all women a d children, 136 The Death of a Nation
STATEMENT OF A MI SSIONAR IN URUMIA Y , PERSIA
Yesterday I went to the Kalle of Ismael
ro r h nd so o rs Agha and f m the e , Kas a a me the went with me up the road to the place where
m n r ur r ur s the Gawar e we e m de ed by the T k . It was a gruesome sight ! Perhaps the worst
I have seen at all . There were seventy- one or two bodies ; we could not tell exactly because of the conditions. It is about six months since the mur der . Some were in airl oo con i ion ri lik a u f y g d d t , d ed e m mmy,
their faces pinched into horrible death masks. Others were torn to pieces by the wild ani
als o had n a r in s al m . S me bee d gge ed ever i n ro in places, as ev de t f m the cuts the skin.
s f had n o r un Mo t o them bee sh t . The g o d r i was about was litte ed w th empty shells. It lon wa ofi from th e n a g y Kalla, a d a half
’ hour s walk from the main road into the most rugged gorge I have seen for some time. I suppose the Turks thought no word could
138 The Death of a Nation
n r ns an us s. nia s, Nesto ia , d M lim In March , when all the males abov e the age of twelve
in vill of ft w were killed the age Ha e an, many of them were hacked tO pieoes. This was don or er of evdet as a son of e by d J P h , the
in that region. He is a man who has studied
r n sc ool in r r in the F e ch h Bei ut, Sy ia. It was he who ordered and planned the massacre here I will not multiply the monotonous
to show the cold - blooded deliberateness and savage barbarity that ex ceed anything we have ever heard of even in that part of the
The object of all these massaeres was to strike a blow that would never need repetition. Inciting such barbarous troops by the cry of
J ihad ol war a ains the non- com a an s , h y , g t b t t and unarmed people is absolutely unjustified. The provision of the sacred law of Islam " forbids the Christians to possess arms. There is no case in history of human de
ravi c r ainl not sinc the i of p ty, e t y e t me
140 The Death of a Nation the male population of a village were done
n of away with, ma y the
fate. The women who were unable to flee or did not succeed in hiding themselves were
flowered. We weep for them because they ’ were not killed by the butcher s knife.
According to the missionary reports
many of the good- looking girls and women
r akn ca i urks Kur s and we e t e pt ve by the T , d , rsian u n to n n t Pe M hammada s, be co sig ed o
ar s a lif a h em , e th t is worse than dea
“ The report goes on : Lucy came in yesterday with her baby from the village to
ic she had hed livin in wh h , g terror of Kurds
who surroun villa da and ded the ge, by y by
night. There was no avenue of escape. Th e Kurds came to the roofs and commanded the A Chapter of H orrors 1 41
eo le to o own. uc it one ur p p g d L y, w h K d
lo her on la r and two a o her be w the dde b ve , h r a h r ot n e b by on e back, g down. I the
ar she saw her oun r sis r r y d y ge te , She in, a
rl f fif teen in pretty gi o about , be g dragged
r w im lorin away by a Ku d. She as p g Lucy
her but uc was el l to save , L y h p ess. When she was telling me this with tears and sobs ‘ r ni tr s she said : Eve y ght , when I y to leep
“ ’ ar her n r a i s uc I ll our I he e t e t e , Oh, L y , be y sacrifi a e uc ! call her ce. S v me , L y I ed to :
Pull your head - kerchief over your face ; ’ don t look into their faces She tried to conc al her ac n au it i mud e f e, a d d bed w th , but she has such beautiful dark eyes and rosy c ks ! ur s ra h er and eerin hee The K d g bbed , p g in o her ac ra her a a . ! if t f e , they d gged w y Oh they had only killed my sister we could say : “ ” is a lik man o ers. But a She de d, e y th th t sh oul in an s of r e sh d be the h d a Ku d, we cannot bear it . “ On un a anuar 2 th a rou S d y , J y s , Jew b ght us word from Ushnukthat Sherin is there in the house of a Kurd and that every efiort 142 The Death of a Nation
i s r sion n is being made by g f t , pe sua , a d threats to mak her rofees sla but a alwa e p I m, th t she ys
n r m t a swe s : You ay kill me, bu I will never
scathed b a Kurdish woman. rul cl , y T y a mira e. Another sad msc was that of the mother
f ir of w l who was in o a g l t e ve, be g taken away
f r o to a lif e o slave y . The m ther protested
to h c il who ru and tried save er h d, was th
lessly torn from her. As the daughter was being dragged away the mother made so u for h r o r n much tro ble e pp essors, a d clung
to m so naciousl a s a the te y, th t they t bbed her twelve times before she fell helpless to
h l irl ro h r fat his wo save er litt e g f m e e. T man
recovered from her wounds. Some people
r s o as ran and c il ren a we e h t they , h d th t they were carrying were killed or wounded with
them . In some cases men were lined up so that several could be shot with one bullet in ” order not to waste ammunition on them . An Assyrian priest was escaping on horse back with his daughter ; he was killed and the
ir ofi to urdis an g l carried K t , where she was
A Chapter of H orrors 1 43
married by force to a Kurd . Four months later came the sad news that she had died. During her illness she had as companion anot r rian irl also a ca i . his he Sy g , pt ve T other girl relates that the Muslim women
’ came and turned the sickwoman s face to wards Mecca. The invalid begged her com
anio to h t p n turn er face to he east , that she might die a Christian.
Ano r a i s n n the p thet c ca e, a woma , fleei g with her two children— her husband was
— abroad met a Muslim mullah in her flight.
He oo i ri ir t kthe ch ldren, st pped them of the clo in an r m in o th g, d th ew the both t a stream , which was on the point of freez ing. He then ofiered to marry the woman. On her refusal he left the woman on the road to her fate.
r kin h She eturned to the stream, and, ta g er
in ar n ar b r she lawd t m v ey d e y, whe e p he in a hollow place with some straw over them to try and warm them ; both children died in the morning. Later the sorrowing woman found her way to Urumia. Five months 144 The Death of a Nation
' were fmcibly taken into harems. Many
if ul i Islam, they wo d merely pronounce t s formula and abjure Christ . But instead of
oin so i i ns t e d g , w th a few ex cept o , hey gav their souls to God and their bodies to th e
or n ors in ll ir oun t me t , defy g he itself by the b d l ss rus in o n s ri e t t G d a d Jcsu Ch st . Such mart yrdom deserves to be appre ciated for the light it throws on the disposi tion of these people which h as characteriz ed
oor o l cut 03 ro all ros ect The p pe p e, f m p p of ris ian aid and ri n s Ch t , dep ved, by the few e s of t ir n r nd f of he umbe s a the want o arms,
146 The Death of a Nation
” n h men massacre ls bur ed, t e d , the gir taken
men v en c il n ou ra e captive, the wo , e h dre , t g d ,
rri n s is so ho ble that o e recoil , it makes th e
flesh creep.
NES‘I’ORIANS IN THE KURDISTAN l l OUN'I‘AINS
extreme eastern part of Turkey and in th e
s rn ar of rsia ad oinin ur we te p t Pe , j g T key ,
h of old estori c t e remnants the N an Chur h , num erin a ou nin t ousan and did b g b t ety h d, not escape the massacre and pillage snfiered
the o ers. are a s ur o l who by th They t dy pe p e , lik r s ou m m n e the Ku d ab t the , have aintai ed a state of semi- independenoe and have been more or less able to defend themselves against
ck as su ir urn atta s. L t mmer the t came and, as ollo in s or in ica s w re the f w g t y d te , they e
148 The Death of a Nation
w r ri en ut . A ir o e e d v o bout th ty th usand,
r a difi cult a ir r with g e t y, m de the escape, pa t
f eir roa in l s o th d be g he d by the Kurd . They ca do n sou war to Tal all fol me w th d the V ey, r s n lowed by the Ku d , a d attempted to turn
l to out w of up the ab get by ay Julamerk. They found the Kurds in force at the Julama k n r or w bridge, a d we e f ced to turn do nstream. At the border of Tiary they crossed the Zab and n u in o ills i we t p t the h , wh ch they found d r wh esert ed by the Ku ds, o had gone to w n w ar. They the made their ay around ac of l m k n os r b k Ju a er , meeting o h tile fo ce until they reached the ridge between Qu
f f r in f r a oroe o Ku ds wait g o them. They had quite a sharp fight with them and the
no or rou l r h had m e t b e, eac ing Bashkala in
and a r m o n saf ety, l te co ing d w to Salmu ,
san Am n i him d. o g them s Mar S un, the
c il r n m . h d e , the en being massacred Highway th rough which th e Patriarch L e d th e Ref ugees h Kindness of Mr . Paul S im un
' 150 The Death of a Nation
mentioned ministers. Many of the women of Mansuriah threw themselves into the river to avoid falling into the hands of the
Kurds. The massacre was repeated ; after the first slau r r ur h to sa ghte , there we e K ds w o tried ve so o me f the Christians alive, but th e govern
n oul not it cre was me t w d allow . The de e to complete the work or be punished . Oi cours so us but to e me m t have escaped , as
h ir h s n o n t e w ereabout o ne k ows. The prospect of the forlorn remnant who have escaped the massacre is piteous in the
r fif n m n o n ext eme. Some ty thousa d e , w me ,
na un n . ked, h gry, a d homeless
uc in ou lin is the s or of a has S h, t e, t y wh t happened to the Nestorian community which was dwelling in Persia and in the Kurdistan
Mountains. I have not told the whole story— the whole , story is too gruesome and horrible— but have
A Chapter of H orrors 151 confined myself in these statements to the usual course of the crime. I have not
n r anc of n mentio ed the ex t avag e wicked ess,
r f or ur s f the barba ity o t t e , and the details o the outrages against the women, that would make a shameful and terrible page of modern
r May God fo give the Turks and Kurds,
for they know not what they do. May
persecuting. They are what centuries have
ril ink r made them. Ve y they th they a e i o doing God service. L ke Saul f Tarsus ,
Damascus !
INDEX
f Khan, 106; marriage o , 107 ; celebrated Easter
at Ramadan,
Abgar . 6. 37 , 6 A erbom, a mobed, 5 . Ad a Zoroastnan
Adia district ,
ha (landlord) , 13 fif 7 Al' B h“Slim mm im ’ , 1“ l B r A i ar Isa, Viz ie , 90 ’ - un h Al Ma m , Calip , 83 ‘ Amr ibn el As, 83 n.
Anm rchus,
Anushirwan L ) , 64; tolerant to Mar Abha, 66 ,
eo le 1 2 1 ethnic ca acit p p , , 3; p y 1 f 4 ; pemecutxons o , 1 1 5 163 164 Index
“ ’ ’ ms 52m m fiifm
68
1 5; capital of Caliphs, 105
poet oi Khum u Parwiz , 72 n .
1 Central Asia, Christians 0f , 04 1 z Chaldeans, , , Chaldxistamz n. ' U Charbash, vfllage m rumia, 37
61
1 council of of the am ,
Resh Ainma writer, z
Diliman.city. 127. 13°
1 66 Index
- M W d Tmldsh fm .138
Khan) , t o:
of , 100
m6
of his birth likened to that ot j ecm.1 8
L ashom, city, 72
of Baghdad, 88
of , 8 1
, Ardashir l ., 4o
8 1 ; his
Sabinas, 33 Index 167
Markabta, town, 59
Martha, a mm, 48 B h i h Maratha, ishop and p ysic an, 53 ; onoted by Yaz digind, s gt of x 1 ure of Mag' , ; , 94 Q ' g isfimSt hosroeB gi e. 72 . 73 mad D sh of , i ,
- f Mengku Ten tom stone o , 102 Merv cit Bisho of 62 Metro olitan of 100 , y, p , 59, ; p . ; 0 destructnon of , 1 5 Merv cit 0! hurasan , y K , 44 Miandoab city, 1 2 7 B fi Miles, is 43
Missions in rumia, American, 1 1 ; Roman Catholic. 12 ; E L utheran, 1 2 ; nglish , 12 ; Gennan, 12 Mo e Zoroastrian riwt 8 6 b d, p , 4 , 5 , 57 n ln Mobed Mobeda , Zoroastrian gh priest , 74 ’ - Monophysite s doctrine, 20 2 1
- B h Mshikha Zkha, is op. ‘ ‘ ° Musta sim last A asi ah h 10 e t , bb d p , 5; d a h of , 105 Mutawakldl.Caliph .93.
T l cal ab a oi, 106 an n Nej ran, Christi pri ce rian hurch 1 oun t on f — 2 Nesto C , 3 ; f i o , 3 1 3 ; ministry of . am h of 6 1 - 6 le - 43 tri , 3 ; tab t of , 69 70 - 0 i Nestorian Tab et , 69 7 ; replica o , 69 n. es r various a ellations of 1— m N to ians, pp , 4 ; ho e of , 5; their influence in In ia 1 - 1 aith of 1 —0 tu d , 5 9 ; f , 9 4 ; li rgy of , 90 n. ’ ' stonans doctnne 20—2 1 g , fimeveh G 1 , 3 .9» 7 49
Nishapur, aty dwtroyed 1 1 Nisibin, 6 1 ; 80100 of , 62, 65
- Niz am al Mulk, 1 08 n. Nushi ad rince 6 as a Christian 6 z .p , 7 ; , 8 ; death oi, 68
59
uestion treated in a coun i r q c hp , 43 ; efin ation ot, 44, 168 Index
h 37, 79 ; end d t eir mle.4o
of , 68
cuneta ieaof.100 Vuk han 101 ( K ) , 93 the h a of the pam mha s 1 p m q , 6;
twin capital.5.79. 107
- 45 49 ; death Of » 5°
6
- Tables of Ilkhani, m Nasir ad Din, 106
Tel , district, 148 ; valley of , 148