Volume V, Issue 3
Adaar  8, 6748                                                           March 8, 1999

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T H I S   W E E K  I N   Z E N D A

The Lighthouse Assyrians of Sweden
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain Khatami to Visit Pope John Paul II
News Digest A Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan is Laid to Rest
Cattle Save Roman Sculpture
Surfs Up "The ignorance of the Assyrians ... is reprehensible."
Surfers Corner Naoum Faik Fund Established at Columbia
Step into Ancient Babylon
Message in the Bottle Sargon Guiliana
King Sargon of New Orleans
Assyrian Surfing Posts The Virtual Assyria:  Swedish Royal Academy of Music
Narsai's Assyrian Lentil Soup
MSNBC:  Iraq's Ancient Babylon Bites the Dust
Pump up the Volume Lion & Tiger
Back to the Future The Bi-Polar World of 2nd Cent B.C. & McLean's Dictionary
Literatus The Forty Martyrs
This Week in History William Sarmas
Bravo The Thin Red Line Receives 7 Nominations
Calendar of Events Ashur Sargis' Second Concert in Germany
Waterfront VovAlep's 1999 Assyrian Calendar
Khudra March 1999

All blue links throughout this issue are hyperlinks to other sections on this page or featured websites.

THE LIGHTHOUSE

ASSYRIANS OF SWEDEN

The migration of Christians from the Middle East to the Western world has been going on for about a century. At the turn of the century groups of East Assyrians migrated to the United States, as well as some groups of Syrian Orthodox Christians, albeit far fewer in number. During the 1950s West Germany started to import a massive influx of manpower from Turkey.  In addition to ethnic Turks, these groups of immigrants also included a number of Kurds and Christians.

The first Assyrians to arrive in Sweden were part of a group of ca. 200 Christians from Lebanon who were allowed into the country as the result of a request from the World Council of Churches and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The group was gradually spread out over about fifty places in Sweden. However, Södertälje (20 miles south of Stockholm) soon became a kind of centre for the Assyrian immigrants. Between 1972 and 1976 four more groups of refugees from Lebanon were admitted. A certain number of family reunions were also permitted during this period. In 1970 the first Syrian Orthodox congregation was formed in Södertälje.

Between 1974 and 1978 the migration of Christians from Turkey increased enormously. One reason for this was the conflict in Cyprus which raised the level of tension between Muslims and Christians in Turkey. The increased immigration into Sweden was also due to the fact that West Germany had stopped immigration from the Middle East and Turkey and had also sent guest workers back to their homelands. Many Assyrian then chose to apply to come to Sweden from Germany. In 1978 it was estimated that there were ca. 7,000 Assyrians living in Sweden. During the 1980s and early 1990s immigration was dominated by Assyrians from Syria and Lebanon. In the Swedish Immigration Board's statistics these Christian immigrants who mainly come from Lebanon are classed as stateless citizens. During the years 1989 to 1990 this group numbered nearly 5,000 people. In 1997 it was estimated that there are ca. 50,000 Assyrians living in Sweden. This number includes both first generation and second generation immigrants but is very difficult to determine exactly.  Population figures produced by Statistics, Sweden (SCB) are primarily based on nationality and are not easily applicable to Assyrians. In SCB's statistics the Assyrian immigrants are an unidentifiable part of the total group of immigrants from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.

Organisations

The Assyrian group in Sweden is represented by two national federations: The Assyrian National Federation which was formed in 1977, and the Syrian National Federation which was formed in 1978. Both national federations have local organisations throughout Sweden. In 1996 ca. 8,300 Assyrians were affiliated with the Assyrian National Federation and ca. 12,000 Syrians were affiliated with the Syrian National Federation. Both federations issue monthly magazines; the Assyrian National Federation's Hujådå has a circulation of 2,000 copies, while Bahro Suryoyo, which is issued by the Syrian National Federation, has a circulation of 1,300 copies.

The Immigrant Department at the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts news and cultural features in Turoyo in the programme Qolo.

Dan Lundberg
with the research project Music Media Multiculture
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Stockholm, Sweden

See this week's Assyrian Surfing Posts for more information.

GOOD MORNING BET-NAHRAIN

KHATAMI TO VISIT POPE JOHN PAUL II

(ZNRU: Tehran)  President Mohammad Khatami opens a new era in the history of post-revolutionary Iran this week when he travels to Rome, the Vatican and Paris on the first visit to Europe by a head of state from the Islamic Republic.  Khatami, fresh from a run of domestic political victories, will seek to cement budding commercial and political ties to Italy and the European Union beyond.   Khatami is a moderate Shi'ite Moslem cleric and student of western philosophy.  On Tuesday he will be meeting with Pope John Paul before traveling to Paris on March 11.  Last year Khatami called for a "Dialogue of
Civilizations" with Iran's traditional antagonists in the West.  Iranian newspapers have hailed the trip as a turning point in relations with the West.

Khatami and his reformist allies got a big boost last week when European oil giants ENI and Elf Aquitaine signed a $1 billion deal to develop Iran's offshore Doroud oil field. The deal flies in the face of U.S. sanctions which target firms that invest more than $20 million in Iran's oil or gas sectors.

President Khatami's meeting with Pope John Paul II will be the first step toward a dialogue between Christianity and Islam and will lead to further dialogues with other nations, religions and civilizations.

NEWS DIGEST

MOR GREGORIUS GHEEVARGHESE LAID TO ETERNAL REST

(ZNSO: India)   The metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Kottayam and the President of the Synod of the Malankara Church, His Grace Mor Gregorius Gheevarghese, entered into eternal rest on Feb 22, 1999 at 8:20 pm. The mortal remains of Mor Gregorius were brought to the Perumpilly St. George Simhasana Church and entombed in the sanctuary of the church at 5:30 pm on February 23rd. Ordained bishop on February 24, 1974, by late Patriarch Mor Ignatius Ya`qub III, Mor Gregorious was the metropolitan of the Cochin diocese with additional responsibility for the Kottayam diocese. In 1982, he became the metropolitan of the Kottayam diocese. Following the passing away of late Catholicose Mor Baselius Paulose II, Mor Gregorius assumed the leadership of the church and presided over the synod of the Malankara church. Since the passing away of Mor Gregorius, Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Thomas has been nominated to preside over the Synod in Malankara and Mor Timotheus Thomas has assumed the spiritual care of the archdioceses of Kottayam and Quilon, Niranam and Thumpamon.

For full story click here.  Courtesy of SOCNews.


CATTLE SAVE SCULPTURE

A barn full of cows and their dung cushioned the collapse of a Roman temple at Dharih, Jordan, around the eighth century A.D. Thanks to the cows--whose crushed skeletons were found beneath the blocks --sculptures of Medusa heads and vine leaves, and busts of Hermes, Pan, and the Dioscouroi, were relatively intact when recovered by François Villeneuve of Paris' École Normale Supérieure and Zeidun al-Muheisen of Yarmuk University in Jordan.

Excavation of the temple has raised questions about early Christian attitudes toward pagan images. Villeneuve and al-Muheisen initially presumed that iconoclastic fervor after A.D. 750 would have doomed any figural sculpture on the temple.  Although the deities display Greco-Roman attributes, their frontal pose and large oval eyes are stylistically Nabatean, recalling oriental gods. It is uncertain whether these pagan deities, which still decorated the temple in the sixth century A.D. after its conversion into a church, had lost all significance for early Christian worshipers. How the church was used is also unclear. An undecorated cultic platform inside the temple contrasts with its ornate facade, which may suggest more orthodox ritual practice inside the sanctuary and more ecumenical worship outside. Excavation will continue through 2004.

Spencer P.M. Harrington
The Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology Magazine:  Vol 52, # 2

SURF'S UP!

"ChicagoWatch- On February 7, 1999, polling forms on the presidential elections in Syria were distributed in the Assyrian churches of the Chicago area and its surrounding suburbs.  This led to tense situations that eventually erupted into confrontations, particularly in the church of Mar Sargis in Chicago, between the pollsters and individuals loyal to the Assyrian cause.  Physical altercations ensued.  The authorities had to be called in to alleviate the situation.  Several police cars and undercover automobiles arrived at the scene and escorted the perpetrators away from the area.

The first thought to enter one's mind is:  "Why is a referendum for a dictatorial regime in the Middle East, being conducted in an Assyrian church in the United States?"  The Church has always maintained neutrality with regard to political issues; so why start now?  Furthermore, why choose a country whose history towards the Assyrians has been brutal and callous to say the least.

It was only two years ago (1996) that the Syrian government implemented a program to oust the Assyrians from their villages by drying up the Khabur river.  And one year later (1997), innocent Assyrians, who were trying to solve the forced water shortage problem, were captured and jailed without due process.

It is puzzling that the church, who is aware of the crimes (past and present), committed against its people would open its doors to Syrian agents sent to seek supporters of President Assad -- the very person whose government programs have made life miserable for Assyrians in villages along the depleted river Khabur.

The gall of the Syrian government, to approach people it has persecuted for support, is inexcusable, but the ignorance of the Assyrians that allow these agents to come within our community is reprehensible.

Given this serious incident, our esteemed organizations have not fulfilled their responsibilities to the community.  Not one had even issued a simple statement regarding this matter and they are supposed to be our political conduits."

M. Zia
Chicago Eyewatch

SURFERS CORNER

NAOUM FAIK ASSYRIAN FUND ESTABLISHED AT COLUMBIA

The Assyrian community of the New York/New Jersey areas is honouring the memory of Naoum Faik, one of the great Assyrian thinkers of the 19th and 20th century, by establishing a book fund at Columbia University dedicated to the expansion of the University’s holdings as related to the history and culture of the Assyrians during the Christian period. The funds for the endowment will begin with an initial amount of $5,000 in 1999 donated by Mr. Afram Koumi.  The Assyrian community at large is asked to contribute towards the fund which Mr. Koumi has committed himself to its completion at $25,000 within a three to five year period.  While the fund is being endowed, the community will make efforts to direct to the University archival, manuscript and printed materials as they become available from Assyrian sources.  A Naoum Faik bookplate is to be placed in each acquisition, as appropriate.  The University may begin to use the income generated by the fund whenever such funds are available. Assyrians in Canada who wish to contribute to this fund are asked to contact Firas Jatou at 416-747-9107 for further details.

Nineveh Newspaper
Volume I, Issue 4
January 1999

To subscribe to Nineveh Newspaper click here.


STEP INTO ANCIENT BABYLON

AncientSites is a unique online community that connects you with more than 60,000 people from around the world who share your passion for ancient history.  You'll find spirited discussions on a wide variety of topics related to the ancient cities, as well as historical quizzes, tours, and games.

Take Your Place in History- Click Here:  BABYLON

Cybersites.Com
212-924-2220

MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE

Sargon Guiliana calls this picture "Me, Homy & Ashur out on the town!"   Sargon (the one on the left) is a student at University of Illinois at Chicago and can be distracted at sguliana@eecs.uic.edu.  Interested to see more pictures?  Click Here.



Did anyone catch the Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street last month?  If so, then you probably threw a few of your tossing beads and other trinkets at King Sargon of Babylon which debuted at this year's parade.  We got the videos to prove it:

The Knights of Babylon Video:  Click Here
Lion of Babylon Video:  Click Here




ASSYRIAN SURFING POSTS
Links to Other Assyrian Websites

The Virtual Assyria:  A Research Project at the Royal Swedish
Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden



Narsai David's Assyrian Lentil Soup


MSNBC Article:  Iraq’s Ancient Babylon Bites the Dust

PUMP UP THE VOLUME

ENGLISH
MODERN ASSYRIAN
GENDER
EXAMPLE
 Lion
Arya 
Masculine
 White Lion:  Arya khwara
 Tiger
 Bebra
 Masculine
 Ferocious Tiger:  Bebra Paarootda

BACK TO THE FUTURE

BC (141)

The Parthian King Mithridates I of Persia captures Babylonia and ejects the Greeks from Bet-Nahrain and pushed them back to northern Syria.  By the first century A.D. the Parthians and the Romans were preparing themselves for control of the Middle East.  With the creation of the new political structure in the Middle East the Arabs were able to penetrate farther into the northern provinces of the Syrian plains.

Persia II, Lukonin



AD (1895)

Arthur J. McLean publishes his Dictionary of the Dialects of Vernacular Syriac, 14 years after he first arrives in Urmia, as a representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Assyrian Mission Press.  Over a hundred years after its first publication McLean's Dictionary remains an important source for scholars of the Eastern Syriac language.

LITERATUS

THE FORTY MARTYRS

There was a king near Mardin, the legend says, who was wary of the growing power of Christianity which was gaining converts among his subjects and undermining his authority. In order to set an example, he captured forty Christians and had them thrown into a cold mountain lake.  Then he gave instructions to his soldiers that they should be allowed out only if they renounce their faith. Only one did; in his place, a soldier who was moved by the faith of the other thirty nine, jumped in and died with them.

The Church of the Forty Martyrs in Mardin is still in use, though with a diminishing number of Syriac Christians. Due to the political turmoil in that area, the Syriac Christians are being forced to migrate.

As narrated by Christopher Wenner
Video:  Forgotten Christians

Courtesy of Syrian Orthodox Resources.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

March 15, 1910 :  born, William Sarmas (brother of Peera Sarmas).  He was educated in the Missionary School in the city of Tabriz, Iran.  He completed his studies in Chemistry in France and was employed in Iran until his return to France in 1963 where he passed away.  He is the author of several Assyrian plays, a complete Persian-Assyrian dictionary (see last week's issue), poetry books, and lexicons of Assyrian words (i.e. names of  animals, plants) and a medical dictionary.

BRAVO

THE THIN RED LINE NOMINATED FOR SEVEN OSCARS

In the February 1 issue of our magazine we revealed the identity of Terrence Malick, the Assyrian-American director of last year's hit, The Thin Red Line.   Last month, The Thin Red Line was nominated to receive seven Academy Awards at this years 71st Annual Oscar ceremony on March 21.  Nominations are for the best:

Congratulations Terry Malick!   Mr. Malick is the son of Emil Malick of Chicago and the grandson of , Nanajan and Avimelk who emigrated from Urmia in the 1930's.

On the first day of the Assyrian year 6749 what better a present than witnessing such an honor bestowed upon the son of an immigrant Assyrian-American family.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Feb 6 - May 5
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
TREASURES FROM THE ROYAL TOMBS AT UR

A presentation of 140 artifacts excavated in the 1920's by Sir Leonard Woolley at the 5000-year-old Sumerian site.

Frank H. McClung Museum

Mar 20
GUTTERSLOH, GERMANY
ASHUR BET SARGIS SECOND CONCERT

Ashur Bet Sargis in Güttersloh
Flora West felica GmbH
Reethus-Saal
Mittelbegge 11
(nähe Plizeistation)
33378 Rheda-Wiedenbr
6 PM

Tickets:
Adults: 20 DM,  Children 12 & younger: 10 DM

For more Information please contact: 
Adrin Takhsh  030-322 55 32 or 0179-29 111 93
Edvin Takhsh: 06722-910 390 or 0171-70 89 426
Alfred Babakhni: 06124-4301

The proceeds from this event will benefit the Assyrian Children in northern Iraq, and Dohuk's Nsibin School, in particular.
------------------------------------------------------------- 
Der Assyrische Hilfsverein e.V. ladet Sie zu einer Feier mit dem berühmten
Assyrischen Sänger; Ashur Bet Sargis in Gütersloh ein:
am: 20. März 1999 um 18:00
Adresse:Flora West felica GmbH
        Reethus-Saal
        Mittelbegge 11
        (nähe Plizeistation)
        33378 Rheda-Wiedenbr
Eintritt:
Erwachsene:  20, -DM
Kinder ab 12: 10, -DM

Der Erlös dieser Feier wird zu günsten unserer Assyrischen Kinder benütz;
ganz speziffisch, wird der Erlös der Nssibin Schule in Dohuck-Nord Irak zu
Helfen kommen

Mar 13
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
NINEVEH CHOIR IN CONCERT

Conducted by Maestro Nabu Issabey
An Assyrian American Association of San Jose Event
Also: an honorary award presentation to a renowned Assyrian singer
Santa Clara Convention Center Theater
5001 Great America Parkway
8:00 PM (SHARP)
Tickets:   $ 20.00 To purchase your tickets call:
Nancy Isaac:       408-229-2100          Josephine Malhem:  408-323-1816
John Khangaldy:  408-978-8743          Ramina Ziyeh:        408-448-6225
No Tickets will be sold at the door.

Jan 28,
2000
ROME, ITALY
MEMORIAL OF ST. EPHREM

Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Assyrian Rite (Chaldean and Malabarese)
Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere 

WATERFRONT
New Releases of Books, CD's, & Magazines

PRODUCT/ARTIST
DESCRIPTION
CONTACT INFORMATION
4th Assyrian Vov Alep Soorgada
6749-1999 Calendar
Ready for shipping

includes a catalog of the Assyrian artifacts, wearable, jewelry and more.

Adar 6749 (3/99) thru Eshwatt 6749 (2/00)
$15.00 each
Free shipping 
Quantity discounts available
To Order:
Phone:    1-800-989-ALEP
Fax:         909-982-7217
Mail :      P.O.BOX 878 Claremont CA 91711
E-Mail:  vovalep@gte.net
Visit Us on the internet:

www.vovalep.com


MEETINGS & CLASSES

EVENT
DAY
TIME
ADDRESS
DESCRIPTION
 Internet Class for Assyrians
 Mondays
7-8 PM
Quick Internet of Modesto
1031 McHenry Ave. Suit # 18 
Modesto, California
Conducted in Assyrian 
Provided by Nineveh Online
Call (209) 578-5511 
Click Here
Aanya Meetings
Mondays
7:30-9 PM
Assyrian American Assoc of San Jose
20000 Almaden Road 
San Jose, California
Young Adult Assyrians in the SF Bay Area are invited to join 
Call 408-927-9100
www.aanya.com
Computer Skills Class
Saturdays
10 AM-1 PM
Victoria, Australia
235/237 Sussex St. 
Nth Coburg
The basics of computer use from fiirst time users to more advanced 
Contact 9344 4791 for detail

KHUDRA
Cycles & Observances of the Middle Eastern Christian & Assyrian Liturgical Calendars

MARCH
FEASTS & MEMORIALS 
ASSYRIAN & M.E. CHURCHES
 7
 4th Sunday of the Great Fast
Sunday of the Canaanite Woman
Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
ACE
 MSO
9
Forty Martyrs
 
10
 Feast of the Holy Cross;  Feast of King Abgar
 MSO
14
5th Sunday of the Great Fast 
Sunday of the Hunch-back Woman
ACE
MSO
19
 Memory of Mor Osthatheose Sleebo 
Feast of the Cross
 MSO
COP
21
6th Sunday of the Great Fast
Sunday of the Healing of the Blind Man
ACE
MSO
22
Memory of H.E. Mor Yulius Gheevarghese
 MSO
25
Annunciation of the Virgin Mary
Suboro, Annunciation to the Mother of God
 SOC
MSO
26
The Fortieth Friday 
 MSO
27
The Raising of La'zar (Lazarus)
 MSO
28
Feast of Hosannas
Oosh'ane (Palm Sunday)
ACE, SOC, MSO
29
Naheere (Lights)- Based on the Parable of 10 Vigins
 MSO
30
 Commemoration of the Virgin St. Mary
 COP

AAC = Ancient Assyrian Church of the East
ACE = Assyrian Church of the East
CCC = Chaldean Catholic Church
COP = Coptic Church
MCC= Maronite Catholic Church
MSO = Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church
SCC = Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch
SKC = Syrian Knanaya Church
SOC = Syrian Orthodox Church

WELCOME TO ZENDA

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
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PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
 
 
Toronto, Canada 

SALUTE!
This Week's Contributors:
in alphabetical order

Hanna Hajjar Chicago Pump Up the Volume
Firas Jatou Canada Surfers Corner

Thank You For Referring A Friend to ZENDA:

Alexander Yousif
-


ZENDA Magazine is published every Monday. Views expressed in ZENDA do not necessarily represent those of the ZENDA editors, or any of our associated staff.  This publication reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to publish comments or articles previously printed in or submitted to other journals. ZENDA   reserves the right to publish and republish your submission in any form or medium. All letters and messages  require the name(s) of sender and/or author. All messages published in the SURFS UP! section must be in 500 words or less and bear the name of the author(s). Distribution of material featured in ZENDA is not restricted, but permission from ZENDA is required.  This service is meant for the exchange of information, analyses and news. To subscribe, send e-mail to: zenda@ix.netcom.com.

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The Directory of ZENDA News Sources
ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago)
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAF (Agence France-Presse)
ZNAH (Al-Ahram Newspaper, London)
ZNAL (Al-Hayat, London)
ZNAI  (Assyrian International News Agency)
ZNAK (American Kurdish
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNCN (ClariNews)
ZNIF (Iraq Foundation)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNIN (Iraqi National Congress)
ZNLT (Los Angeles Times)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNMS (Mar Shimun Magazine-Canada)
ZNMW (Mideast Newswire)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNNY:  New York Times
ZNPR:  Palestinian Review
ZNQA (Qala Atouraya- Moscow)
ZNRF (Radio Free Iraq)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSH (Shotapouta Newsletter)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNSM (Shufimafi Lebanese News)
ZNSO (Syrian Orthodox News "SOCNews")
ZNTD (Turkish Daily News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
ZNCW:  Catholic World News