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| 1996, Volume 2, No2(6) page47 |
Part III. Current Events
Mission of Goodwill and Faith
Back in November 1995 the Bishop of the Assyrian Catholic Church (USA)
Mar Abraham authorized the priest Benyamin Bet J adgar to come to Tbilisi on a
special mission. Over a short time the young priest did a good deal of work with
local youth for he prepared a choir of his eight students who really mastered
both the Assyrian language and the Gospel alike. As a matter of fact, the priest
organized to run classes of the oral and writing skills of the Assyrian language
for different ages, with hundred students in Tbilisi, over 50 in Dzveli Kanda
and 30 in Gardabani. Besides, he prepared 2 young teachers for young beginners,
namely Elena Adamova and Inna Muradova.
It is noteworthy that Assyrians of Georgia really appreciate the activity
of. Kasha Benyamin, no matter what confessions- they belong to. It can be
explained by the fact that Kasha Benyamin just made a correct evaluation of the
current economic situation in the country. As it is generally a slump economy
now, SO the priest came up with some ideas how to aid and Support all Assyrians
of Georgia especially invalids and retired people who have been just starving on
many occasions.
Some elementary foods and medical drugs were purchased by Kasha Benyamin
with the money he had raised in the United States after his passionate address
to the Assyrian Americans in support of Georgian Assyrians on TV channel 23,
Modesto, California. It is strange that at the same time Assyrians of
Georgia managed to raise as much as hundred thousand dollars to build a church
in Moscow without giving a cent to the needs of their starving compatriots.
Benyamin Bet Jadgar was born in Urmia (Iran), and then he was educated in
Rome for 11 straight years. He received a doctor degree in philosophy and
theology alike. In Georgia Kasha Benyamin runs a service in the Catholic church
of Apostles Peter and Paul for Assyrians in Tbilisi and Gardabani every week.
Both Orthodox and Catholic Assyrians along with Christians of the East come
together to pray in their common native language.
Troubles and misfortunes always bring people together. And we just
believe this feeling of unity will be with us forever.