Just like yesterday

The occupation of Urfa (Al Ruha), by the Maphrian  Al-Ibri (13 Century) 

Translated from the Aramaic Language by Archbishop Habib H. Jajou

Introduction 

The Maphrian of the Syriac church in Mesopotamia (Iraq), G regorious Abu Al-Faraj  Al-Malti Gregory ||  bar Hebraeus, was born in Antiochia, south east of Turkey. In 1226 he was fond of learning and exploring in the fields of sciences and literature. Died in Marja, 1286, was buried in the monastery of Mar Matti, near Al Mosul city, in Iraq. Here is the article he wrote in the book named   Al Morouge Al Nuzhia in the Aramaic Literature “ by Bishop Y., O., Manna, Chapter 2, section 26, pages 361-365.

As a geologist, I always remember a statement made by James Hutton, known as uniformitarianism during my years at the university “The present is the key of the past.” Thus, we need to go deep in history, contemplate, consider and understand the events and why did it happen. This will teach us lessons, to have more wisdom and read “signs of times” as the Lord Jesus Christ said. We need to understand the evil motives behind these plans, then plant seeds of the culture of love.

This text, tackles one of the darkest periods  in Christian history, the 12-13th Century. The deterioration of the Abbasid’s empire, the invasion of the Mongols, and the crusades already there. This was the political climate, when the golden Christian Aramaic city Urfa (Al-Ruha), which goes back in history to the first century. It was invaded and crushed brutally and savagely by Zingy the Muslim ruler of Mosul. These events were written, a century later, to expose the brutality and the amount of hatred, towards our Christian people. 

In the year 1144, the ruler of Al Ruha, Jocelyn, went to Antiochus. 

The ruler of Mosul, Zingy, did not miss this opportunity. He collected his army to occupy Al Ruha. 

The seizure of Edessa in Syria by the Byzantine army and the Arabic counterattack from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes – Urfa – Wikipedia

On Tuesday, the 28th of November 1144, Zingy and his troops, surrounded the city. They took their positions near the church of the Confessors and next to the Gate “Bab Al Saat.” They showered the city with hail of ballista fires, that was installed around the city.

People of Al Ruha city, young, old, and priests, were fighting back,to defend their city.Women were helping too, by providing food and handing stones. But Zingy’s army, managed to dig a tunnel, to reach the walls of the city. The Christians also managed to do the same. 

They met Zingy’s solders and killed them. 

Yet, Zingy’s solders managed to dig more tunnels, towards the two towers. He warned the Christians, before the collapse of the two towers, and asked them to surrender, or they will  all, be killed by the sword. 

Bapiose, the substitute leader, refused to surrender. He was relying on Jocelyn, and the support of the king of Jerusalem. Hence, the Turks started to infiltrate through the opening they’ve made in the wall, while the people and their leader, gathered all there  to stop the Turks, from entering the city. The massacre started. 

By now, the solders managed to climb the empty walls of the city. 

No one can imagine the horror and fear of those innocent Christians, when they were killed and slaughtered, on Saturday the 3rd of January, just because of their faith. 

The enemies did not spare anyone, men, women, young, old, children. This city, lost everything. People were running for their lives, rushing towards the top of the mountain, leaving behind their loved ones. 

When the priests and the seniors of the families, saw this, they remembered what the prophet said  “ I sinned, and I deserve the anger of my God “. They did not run away. They remained standing and praying, until they were silenced by the swords. Women collected their children around them, waiting to be killed or taken as slaves. People who managed to reach the fortress were stopped by the Guards. They wanted to see Bapios first. He was delayed by the thousands of people, who were stampeding to survive. Bapios was killed there too. 

When Zingy saw  thousands of corps, piling everywhere, he ordered his men to stop the killing. There he saw Bishop Basilios, naked, bear foot, with a rope around his neck, and dragged in the streets by the Turks. He noticed his noble looks and asked who he was, they told him that he is the Bishop. He ordered them, immediately, to dress the bishop, and bring him to his tent. 

Zingy started to blame him for refusing to surrender, and spare the lives of his people. The Bishop answered: God wanted you to have this great, powerful and victorious name, among the rest of the kings. For us, poor people, to accept our destiny with no complaints. 

Zingy admired these words, and said “you are right. Those who keep their faith, and word of honour, to God and mankind, till the day they die, are the most respectable human being. “

Those at the fortress were saved. The Turks kept killing the Byzantines, wherever they spot them. 

What remained of our people and the Armenians, survived.

We cannot write the horrific details of this massacre. We go back to prophet Jeremiah, “when he called on all the mourners, to write poetic obituaries for this poor nation.” 

Translated to the English Language by Narjis Mirza

London 01/2024