Historic Apostolic Visit to Bartleh, Nineveh Plains, in May 2022 - One year on. Sharing this on the 9th anniversary of H.H. enthronement.

??????? ???????? ???? ??? ????????? ????? ????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? . ?????? ?????? ??????? -

- ??? - ????? ??

The First Anniversary of the First Apostolic Visit of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church to Bartleh in the St. Matthew the Hermit Parish in Northern Iraq in May 2022 and the follow-on visit of September 2022.?Published on the 9th anniversary of the enthronement of H.H. on the Holy See of Antioch.

Today, 29th May 2023, on the 9th anniversary of the enthronement of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church on the Holy See of Antioch. ?Seeking H.H. Apostolic Blessings always. ?I am sharing this reflection that I wrote whilst following with awe the wonderful visit to Bartleh by H.H. in May 2022, and the follow-on visit in September 2022, guided throughout by my Father, Fr. Boutros Touma Issa This visit and the immense activities within is only one simple example of the hard and continuous work of H.H. May God the Almighty strengthen H.H.

I started writing this reflection in May 2022, as I was extremely pleased, overwhelmed and very appreciative of the events, especially as I was watching the events unfolding together with my Dad, Fr. Boutros Touma Issa , ????. ????? ?? ??? ????? who was guiding me through the streets, and alleys of Bartleh and the surrounding areas, recalling events, and days of schooling, and learning there.

This is my reflection and as I originate from Mesopotamia, I felt it important to record my feelings on such historic Apostolic visits of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, to the land between the two rivers (i.e., Mesopotamia), the land of my ancestors. Mesopotamia is currently divided into several countries, one of these countries is Iraq, where the Plains of Nineveh are in the northern part of Iraq.?An individual taking a glance at the history of Mesopotamia, and specifically the northern part of Iraq, can immediately notice that several invasions and several powers were fighting to take control of the fertile land throughout history.?The latest was in 2014.

For me, June 2014 was my first World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee meeting following the WCC 10th Assembly that was held in Busan, South Korea, which marked the first Central Committee meeting that I attend and participate in as a representative of my Syriac Orthodox Church at this international Christian body. There and then, I was attending one of the meetings when the news came through that Mosul, the second city in Iraq, where Christians established their communities, churches, and monasteries, since the beginning of Christianity, has been taken by ISIS. Then, and there, the Central Committee and following several discussions were able to issue a statement in support of the people of Mosul. This was the least that could have been done, but this statement drew the attention of sister churches around the world to the situation in the Plains of Nineveh.

In June 2014, and only one month following his enthronement, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, was shocked to learn of the uprooting of the people of Mosul, this was, and in early August 2014 followed by another shock, that is the uprooting of the people of the villages of the plains of Nineveh.?Thus, H.H. mobilized the church’s resources to help and settle those uprooted with the help of international agencies and paid more than one visit to the refugee camps in Ankawa, Kurdistan Region, where he witnessed the displaced families living in tents and caravans in Ankawa – Kurdistan Region encouraging them and ensuring that help can reach them.?It is worthwhile to note here that these same people were uprooted from their villages during other invasions, such as the Mongol invasion of 1258.

It was late August 2014, when we as a family, were faced with a direct sad consequence of this invasion and uprooting of our people, whereas my 87-year old Aunt, who could not bear the idea of being forced to leave her home (for the first time leaving her home in the beloved village Bartleh), seeking shelter in other areas, which led to her passing from this earthly life.? May God repose her soul.

Several of the uprooted families have now settled in Australia, USA, Canada, and some of the European Countries through the help of the UNHCR and other agencies.

For the rest, and as ISIS retreated and it became somehow safe to return to their homes, and churches, some families were allowed to go back home in late 2016 and started to rebuild and recover from the devastation that was left behind.?Destructed and burnt churches, destroyed homes and infrastructure with the clergy leading the revival.

As the saying goes, a picture worth thousand words, thus, these pictures would show some of the sites during, and immediately after the ISIS invasion and the same sites during H.H. 2022 visits.?

As I was watching with my Dad, Fr. Boutros Touma Issa those events unfolding in Northern Iraq, a contrast between 2014 visits and these May and September 2022 visits played in my mind, especially when H.H. and upon arrival in Northern Iraq, in May 2022, first visited the St. Matthew the Hermit Monastery of the 4th Century, and the plains of Nineveh villages such as Bartleh (the village where my ancestors come from, where my Dad was born and raised), which is considered a historic village where Christians flourished since the 1st century.?Then H.H. visited the villages of Ba’sheeqa, Bahzani, Merke, Maghara, holding a Divine Liturgy in each of these villages, and opening several of the institutions including kindergartens, church halls, and other projects.?The faithful welcomed H.H. with flowers, chants, olive branches, with women using their head covers to create a spread on the floor for H.H. to step on thus be blessed when retrieving that head cover, and H.H. would not step a foot on an uncovered floor.?

The first village H.H. visited was Bartleh on 6th May 2022, the village where my father (V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa) was born and raised.

H.H. assisted by Archbishops, priests, deacons, and the choir celebrated the Divine Liturgy, at St. Shmouni church where my father was baptised and was bestowed the rank of Qoroyo (Reader) in the Syriac Orthodox Church at the hands of the Thrice Blessed Aphrem I (1957+).?This divine liturgy took place with the presence of thousands of faithful, who were cheering, and singing hymns welcoming H.H.?

This event was recorded on HH facebook page, from which I quote: On May 6, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at Mort Shmouni Church in Bartleh. In his sermon, His Holiness spoke about his great joy to visit Mort Shmouni Church in the historical town of Bartleh, in the land of the forefathers, and celebrate the Holy Qurobo in this ancient church that witnesses to the glory of the Syriac people in that region throughout the ages. He remembered the harsh conditions that the town underwent a few years ago and the suffering that its people endured; but they remained steadfast in faith and in their love for the church, their homeland and country.

They were able thus to pass these difficulties. He added that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of our joy and peace; it is the hope that does not fail. It is the hope with which the Christian faithful is armed to face all the persecutions and tribulations that come across our path and life. His Holiness thanked the clergy for their love and work in the historical Archdiocese of Mor Matta Monastery. His Holiness also remembered the great personalities that were from Bartleh, counting the Patriarchs, Bishops, poets, and authors who enriched the Syriac heritage with their writings and were pioneers of promoting the Syriac culture.

HH urged the faithful to live in harmony with other components of the Iraqi society, encouraging them to stay in their forefathers’ land, though the church would continue to follow her children around the world, but the future of the Syriac Orthodox would be in their homeland, the land between the two rivers (i.e. Mesopotamia).

This is a remarkable turn of events, whereas in 2014 H.H. visited the same people in the caravans and tents in Kurdistan region, and in 2022 H.H. visits those same families at their own villages working hard to re-build what was destructed and exerting every effort to re-engage the youth after the interruptions they faced with their uprooting. ?Instead of talking to the young children in their makeshift places of play, he was able to listen to the chants by the children as HH inaugurated the kindergarten in Bartleh:?

Indeed, this is the village where the children of those who passed away following the uprooting (e.g., my Aunt who passed away in August 2014 following her uprooting from Bartleh), her children, and grandchildren were receiving H.H. at their village.?

H.H. also had the chance to visit the old caves where the monks were living in the 4th Century and prayed there.?

H.H. also had the chance to pray on the Mountain of St. Daniel where the ruins of the monastery continue to be evident.

H.H. also had the chance for a very short trip to Mosul where H.H. witnessed the destruction of churches urging everyone to work hard to rebuild.

Further, and in September 2022, H.H. visited the Northern Iraq area, and commenced the visit with the visit to St. Matthew Monastery of the 4th Century.?Held the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery’s church, and this time, H.H. and the accompanying delegation visited Bartleh.?There, they attended the Culture and traditional food festival.?This festival commenced with the church choir performing several Syriac hymns and popular songs in the Syriac Dialect of Bartleh, which reflected the attachment of the people to their homeland. ?The festival also included an exhibition of traditional food from Bartleh and the Nineveh area (Mesopotamia).

Of course the visit in September 2022 was to celebrate the St. Matthew Feast.

HH also visited the caves around the area in the mountain of St. Matthew.

Well, what took place in 2014, would need to be considered as Genocide against my people.?This came as we marked the centenary of the 1915 Genocide SAYFO, what a coincidence.

We can only conclude with prayers and thanks to the Almighty for the great generosity in assisting these faithful of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch to resettle, and despite the immense suffering, and the ongoing challenges, in their homeland, the land of their ancestors, safe-keeping our Syriac Language, that sacred and beautiful language, praying for the long life of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, to continue to run the affairs of my people in the homeland and the lands of migration. God hears our prayers.

Thank you for going through this article... it meant a lot to me to watch all these great events and the great efforts exerted by H.H. and the people of Bartleh and Northern Iraq to make these great visits successful. Thank God for the blessings.

Dr Theodora Issa, Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate representative in the Central Committee, (served between 2013-2022, and re-elected in September 2022). Also, continues to be a member of the Permanent Committee of Collaboration and Consensus, until the first meeting of the Central Committee.

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/MorIgnatiusAphremII/

https://www.facebook.com/syrianbartellachurch/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/theodora-issa-67351037_sunday-08may2022-syriacorthodoxchurchofantioch-activity-6929230988896075776-BTLg?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/theodora-issa-67351037_on-may-6-2022-his-holiness-patriarch-mor-activity-6928609899551625216-BqiX?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

A brief Arabic Translation of the above article was published on https://www.facebook.com/groups/215511341964282/ done with the help of my Father, Fr. Boutros Touma Issa may God bless.