February 11, 2002

The Lighthouse

GEORGE BIT-ATANOUS
The Man Behind the Assyrian Flag

Born in 1919 in Rostov, Ukraine (USSR), George Bit-Atanous's father was Havel Atanous of Yangiga, Urmi and his mother was Maria Keller, a Volga German from Ukraine. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 had consolidated its gains by the 1920s, foreign nationals were given the choice of either adopting Soviet citizenship or leaving the country. George's parents chose the latter option. In 1927 the family arrived at Bandar Anzali (Bandar Pahlavi during the Pahlavi monarchy), the main Iranian port on the Caspian Sea. There, the eight-year-old Zhora (Russian nickname for George) attended the Russian school established by Russian authorities, for the Russian technical advisors' families. Most of these worked for "Shelat," a joint-venture company formed between Iran and the Soviet Union to exploit the Caspian fish and caviar industry.

In 1936 the family moved to Iran's capital, Tehran where Zhora spent the rest of his life. He attended a government secondary school, and after graduation, continued his advanced studies, via correspondence with the University of Calcutta (India), in the field of topography and geodesy. In the meantime, he began, from scratch, to learn both the Assyrian and Persian languages. He studied with Rabi Shmuel Touma, a graduate of the American Boys' School in Urmi Qala, who survived the Genocide and was quite well versed in both Assyrian and Persian. Soon Zhora learned to read and write these languages. Together with his experienced craftsman father, they established the Geodesical and Surveying Bureau of George Bit-Atanous. As business grew, so did his interest in Assyriology. He imported an Assyrian typewriter from Germany, and started decoding and learning the cuneiform writing system. Soon he had a growing personal library in Russian, French, and English on Assyriology as well as important works such as bilingual dictionaries including that of Mar Touma Audo.

Next, after careful study of the Assyrian emblem from archeological publications, he meticulously designed the present flag with geometric dimensions, colors, and the symbols for which they stand. Following this achievement, he set about arranging to have minted some one hundred silver medals and twelve gold ones to be presented to anyone who performed a valuable service for the Assyrian cause. Via the good friendship of an Iranian friend at the government mint, he succeeded in having these medals (with ancient Assyrian motifs) all minted with precision. The first of the gold ones was presented to the late Malik Yacoub d'Malik Ismael when he visited Iran. Besides these medals, he designed scores of gold and enamel lapel pins, and cuff links, all with Assyrian logos, and had them made. He presented these to persons attending Assyrian conferences and seminars in Europe or the United States, or to those, prior to emigrating from Iran, who would stop by to bid him goodbye.

As a tribute to the late General Agha Petros, he flew to Florence, Italy to consult with an artisan who he commissioned to design a bas-relief image of the General's bust on special metal, which he then had mounted on an octagonal mahogany frame. He invited the Italian artisan to come to Tehran, spend a week, and bring ten of these items. Learning that there were two Assyrians holding political office in the United States, Zhora presented Illinois State Senator John Nimrod and US Congressman Adam Benjamin (Indiana) each with a plaque of the Agha Petros bust along with a special medal. He also sent the same to the surviving son of Agha Petros, David, who along with his family, continue to reside in Chateau Novital, France, the place donated by the French government as an Assyrian refugee site after the Genocide.

As a symbol of his esteem for the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, he ordered two tailor-made suits with the winged bull design sown on their breast pockets. He presented one to this writer, which he gladly dons on special occasions.

Whenever an Assyrian Universal Alliance representative would arrive in Tehran, there was Zhora to greet him, accommodate him in a fine hotel, and pay all expenses for the duration of his stay in Iran. There is no end to the unique human qualities and admirable character traits of the late George Bet Atanous. He was exceptionally generous, kind, compassionate and helpful to those in need or distress or who suffered an illness. He trained and helped scores of young Assyrians and helped them to find work.

Since early youth, Zhora was an outstanding sportsman. He was, among other things, a tap dancer, a skier (both water and snow), a horseman, a champion bowler as well as a boxer. Emanuel Aghassi (Tennis Player Andre Aghasi's father) was his regular visitor and friend. In recognition of his selfless dedication and contribution to the preservation of the arts, culture and history of the Assyrian heritage, in 1979 George Bit-Atanous was named "the Assyrian Man of the Year" by the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

Aside from the business which he ran, George was also employed by the government due to his unique specialization in the geodesical field. He served for some thirteen years as an industrial engineer in the Department of Labor. After years of importing and working with diverse geodesical instruments, mainly theodolites from various countries, he concluded that those made by a Hungarian firm were superior to others. However, after much examination, he noticed a minute technical problem with some instruments and reported this to the Hungarian government firm that manufactured them. At first, they were skeptical but finally invited him to Budapest for a week of meetings and discussions. The Hungarian scientists and industrialists realized he was right. In recognition of his contributions to the improvement of their instruments, George Bit Atanous was awarded official "diplomas", one from the Hungarian Ministry of Science and Industry and the other from the Ministry of Education.

In spite of his general good health and strong physique, genetically inherited diabetes began to take its toll. Even after intensive care and treatment, first his left leg had to be amputated, followed by a steady weakening of the other. His general health started to deteriorate and he was confined to a wheelchair: but he continued to work part-time. Two years ago, an Assyrian resident of Turlock, on his way to Tehran and Urmi, stopped at his office and requested George to autograph an Assyrian flag. Since his physical condition would not allow him to meet his visitor's request on the spot, he found out his hotel address, prepared the requested item and went to the hotel. The visitor could not believe his eyes when he saw Zhora, in a wheel chair, come to the hotel to deliver in person, the requested flag. Later on, the visitor learned that Zhora had even paid his hotel expenses! Such a person was this unique human being.

Besides all the foregoing selfless dedication to the Assyrian cause for over five decades, George's legacy includes a beautifully designed color book, in Persian, comprising of many pictures of ancient kinds, emblems, cuneiform writing and so forth, called A Research into the History and Legends of Ancient Ashur.

On Tuesday, 10 October 2000 at 11:30 am George closed his eyes for the last time, surrounded by his wife Ludmilla (Lucia Ossipoff) and their three children, Thomas, Maria, and Sergy (Serozha). Zhora is also survived by his sister Lila Mirzayoff. He is missed by Tehran's community which held a special memorial service by which to remember him.

The Assyrian flag designed by George Bit-Atanous in 1967, on the basis of geometric dimensions, colors and symbols from archaeological discoveries. 'ia&i~t~t (Ata D'Atur = Flag of Assyria). The symbolism of the colors is as follows: Blue for Prosperity, White for Peace, and Red for Honor.

Dr. Wilhelm Alexander Mirzayoff
California

[Dr. Mirzayoff's article was first printed under "George Bit-Atanouis: Biographical Obituary of a Ukrainian Born Assyrian Patriot" in the Fall 2001 issue of the Assyrian Star magazine. Dr. Mirzayoff is a retired Veterinarian and a choral vocalist, and lives in Modesto, California. Assyrian Star is the official publication of the Assyrian American National Federation and is currently published by the Beth Nahrin Assyrian Organization of Worcester, Massachusetts. To subscribe email TheAssyrianStar@aol.com. Photo courtesy of Vasili Shumonov, Ashurbanipal Library - Chicago.]

Further Reading:

The Origins and Description of the Assyrian Flag by Homer Ashurian: http://www.atour.com/education/20000602b.html

The Meaning of the Assyrian Flag by Pauline Jasim:
http://www.aina.org/aol/flag.htm

GOOD MORNING BET-NAHRAIN

IRAQ FORCING KIRKUK ASSYRIANS OUT, SAYS ZOWAA

Courtesy of Dow Jones International News (Feb 11)

(ZNDA: Amman) Iraq's government is cleansing the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk of all but Arab residents, Damascus-based Iraqi , the Assyrian Democratic Movement and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said in a statement today. Kirkuk is an oil-rich province 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Baghdad, just outside the autonomous region of northern Iraq.

Emanuel Khoshaba, an official with the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), said "10 Assyrian families have been forced to move to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, since the beginning of the year."

Their deportation is the result of an Arabization campaign led by the ruling Iraqi Baath party, Khoshaba said. About 30,000 Assyrians were believed to have lived in Kirkuk before the 1991 Gulf war. Their numbers there today aren't known. According to reliable sources to Zinda Magazine many oil company workers in Kirkuk have been dismissed since the beginning of this year for adopting an Assyrian, Kurdish, or Turkoman name for their newly-born.

News Digest

ASSYRIAN MAN HOLDS UP CALIFORNIA APARTMENT FOR FIVE HOURS

Courtesy of the Orange County Register

(ZNDA: Los Angeles) The 20-year-old Roland Amrikhas Jr., threatening to commit suicide, barricaded himself in a Fountain Valley, California apartment for five hours last Friday, forcing police to evacuate more than 200 apartments and lock down four schools.

Roland Amrikhas Jr. fired more than a dozen gunshots inside his home at Sycamore Valley Apartments. He was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and threatening public officers and taken to Orange County Jail, police Sgt. Kevin Thomas said.

Amrikhas' neighbors milled around in the streets while SWAT team members and crisis negotiators swarmed the complex. Parents who got word of the standoff rushed to nearby schools to pick up their children early. Police Capt. Paul Sorrell said Amrikhas has a history of psychological problems and had called 911 at 10:46 Friday morning threatening to kill himself. He surrendered about 3:30 p.m.

ST. PETER PARISH IN NEW YORK PURCHASES NEW BUILDING

(ZNDA: New York) According to the Syrian Orthodox Church’s Archdiocese of Eastern U.S., the Parish of St. Peter in Long Island has acquired a church building in Hicksville, New York. The church building was bought from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Four Hundred Thousand dollars. The Parish of St. Peter is under the care of Rev. Fr. Gabriel Adde. There are as many as 20,000 Assyrians living in Belgium.

In other place, last November a magnificent 19th century church in the heart of the city of Brussels serving the Assyrian community was sold to the Society of Saint Pius X, a Roman Catholic group. The church with an area of some 25,000 square feet, was for a long time Belgium’s national shrine dedicate to Saint Joseph. The Assyrian congregation had worshipped at this church for over fifteen years.

According to the Syriac Universal Alliance, the church building in Brussels was privately owned by the late Mr.. Jean Glor who had allowed the Assyrian group in to use it freely. SUA indicates that just before his death, Mr.. Glor sold the church building for fifty million Belgian Franks or roughly 1.2 million Euros.

The Assyrian community of Brussels hired two lawyers to investigate and prevent the sale of their church. Some demonstrators were jailed for blocking the entrance to the church and later released.

The information received by Zinda Magazine indicates that the members of this congregation were not previously informed about the sale of the church in Brussels. Mr.. Glor’s son also denies any knowledge of this sale.

CRAIG REALTY GROUP PLANNING TO REMODEL AND EXPAND CITADEL

Courtesy of Los Angeles Times; article by Bob Howard

(ZNDA: Los Angeles) Craig Realty Group, a Newport Beach, California developer plans to remodel and expand the Citadel Outlets shopping center, a former tire factory along the Santa Ana Freeway in Southern California that looks like an Assyrian temple. CRG has six months to negotiate a deal to buy the center from the city for about $50 million.

The 147,000-square-foot outlet center, about nine miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, includes 42 stores on a site originally built as a Samson Tire & Rubber Co. plant, later operated by Uniroyal, and converted to an outlet mall 10 years ago.

Craig's plan would expand the center by 100,000 square feet, adding 18 to 23 new stores by summer 2003 and creating a new look for the interior along with a new entrance and parking layout.

The remodeling would preserve the Citadel's 22-foot-high wall, which the city designated a cultural landmark in the early 1980s, said Raymond Ramirez, assistant director of community development for Commerce. The wall, which runs a third of a mile along the freeway, features bas-relief griffins, winged genies and warriors in chariots in a design inspired by ancient Assyria.

OBITUARY: LEONTINE BET-MORADA
Jan. 2, 1904 -- Feb. 2, 2002

(ZNDA: Turlock) Leontine Bet-Morada, 98, of Turlock died Saturday at Emanuel Medical Center. Mrs. Bet-Morada was a native of Salamas, Iran. She lived in Turlock for 10 years. She was a member of St. Thomas Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church.

She is survived by her children, George Bet-Morada of Iran, Victoria Nazerbekian of Los Angeles, Marguerite Jouma of Turlock and Eugenie Karama of Paris; and 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A Mass was held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church. Burial was followed at Turlock Memorial Park. Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

OBITUARY: DR. MOOSHY SERGIS
May 8, 1911 -- Feb. 2, 2002

(ZNDDA: Turlock) Dr. Mooshy Sergis, 90, of Turlock died Saturday at Brandel Manor Convalescent Hospital. Dr. Sergis was a native of Urmia, Iran. He moved to San Francisco as a child, then moved to Keyes; he also lived in Stockton before moving to Turlock in 1992. He attended Turlock High School, Modesto Junior College, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at San Francisco, where he obtained his doctorate in medicine. He was a self-employed ophthalmologist; a member of the American Medical Association, California Medical Association and American Association of Ophthalmology. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a physician in Egypt.

A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday at DeYoung Memorial Chapel in Stockton. Burial took place at Turlock Memorial Park. Allen Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

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GEORGE BIT-ATANOUS
The Man Behind the Assyrian Flag

INTERNATIONAL ASSYRIAN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW
May 10 - 11, 2002

(885 B.C.)

GEORGE BIT-ATANOUS The Man Behind the Assyrian Flag

INTERNATIONAL ASSYRIAN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW May 10 - 11, 2002

(885 B.C.)

GEORGE BIT-ATANOUS
The Man Behind the Assyrian Flag

INTERNATIONAL ASSYRIAN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW
May 10 - 11, 2002