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| 1998, Volume 4, No2(9), pages 3-5 |
There
is some proof that the historical path of one single nation can at a certain
stage be associated with the lifetime of one single person when his work for
nation will help it set a future. Such examples were numerous. Among them were
Alexander the Macedonian, Jeanne d' Arc, Ghandi and many others.
The First World War was one of the most tragic stages in the history of
the Assyrian people. It is when they were largely victimized and dispersed after
they had lost all their national hearths in the lands they had owned for many
centuries. Patriarch Mar Shimmun became one of the prominent leaders of the
nation in one of its crucial historical moments. Of the 23 patriarchs from the
Shimmun dynasty there was only one Mar Shimmun who was recognized by the whole
nation. Mar Shimmun Benjamin in the eyes of Russian Assyrians is the embodiment
of the whole Assyrian Church and Nation in the times of troubles and national
annihilation.
In 1903, after the death of Patriarch Mar Rouvel Shimmun 20th his throne
was passed over to his nephew Mar Benjamin Shimmun 21st, The young Patriarch,
nearly 17, succeeded to tackle all national issues all along. Now it is very
hard to believe how one man was able to lead the people and keep them safe
despite all confessional, political, tribal and territorial conflicts. The
Russian Consul R.I. Termen who met the young Patriarch in 1906 describes him as
"a very sympathetic man. Through years of a monastic life he has become a
humble and God loving mat1. It comes out
in everything. Knowing the poverty and every day plunders and oppression
of his .beloved people he suffers much as he is unable to help them. This
feeling .has made him look sada.1w~ys. Just look into his eyes. But anyway his
steady work for the Assyrian people's cause and devoted love have kept him up
giving him a lot of energy and a clear practical mind."
In his full awareness of responsibility Mar Shimmun understood well
before the war that Assyrians would be endangered by the nationalism of
"Young Turks" in Ottoman empire and turned to Christian countries for
help, primarily, Great Britain and Russia which obviously had their own
interests in the region.
The
national liberation movement of the Assyrian people then was shaped under the
influence of some intellectual group, which sprang up in the educational centers
of foreign missions, above all in American Presbyterian, Russian Orthodox and
French Catholic missions. As Youel A. Baaba pointed out in "Nineveh"
magazine (No. 20/4, 1997), "As a result of these advances, the dormant
Assyrian spirit flourished dynamically. As more Assyrians received higher
education and traveled to America and Europe, they became increasingly
discontented with the status quo. The patriotic feelings that had been dormant
for centuries began to stir in their hearts. Educated Assyrians began to think
in terms of the Assyrian nation, freedom and autonomy. Assyrian patriotism was
born in Unnia". Under these circumstances, Mar Shimmun as the spiritual and
national leader of the Assyrian people took a risk when he was trying to find
some steady balance between feudal leaders (maliks) and growing intellectual
nationalistic forces. Mar Shimmun proved to be a courageous, steadfast and
strong national leader .He won love and great respect with his people not only
due to his high position but mainly due to his stamina. There is much evidence
to that. Russian general staff colonel Kakurin who was in the Caucasus then
reported, "Standing in front of the Assyrian squad Mar Shimmun encouraged
soldiers to fight and take Oramar, Nerve and Chal where he was seen in the first
ranks. At Chala he threw soldiers into the fight and followed them into the hell
of it". For capturing Oramar and his heroic deeds Mar Shimmun was decorated
with St. Ann order of third degree with swords, and for capturing Chal also with
St. Ann order of first degree with sword.
Besides his willpower and patriotism the great patriarch exhibited such
his grandeur as self- sacrifice for the sake of his beloved nation. Many,
including Jakub Bar Malik Ismail, described his brother’s death. In 1915 the
Turkish powers tried to threaten Mar Shimmun by his brother's murder who was a
student in Constantinople and who was then interned into Mosul. The local
governor Heidar-bei warned Mar Shimmun against Assyrian uprising, and if it
should happen, his brother would inevitably be’ murdered. Mar Shimmun replied
that Assyrians would never put down their arms as they saw many evils from
Turks. He concluded with words, “better lose one brother than the entire
nation". As soon as Assyrians rose to fight, Hormusd Shimmun was hanged in
Mosul.
The revolution in Russia and the British colonial policy (actually they
wanted to control very rich oil deposits in Mosul) confirmed by Sykes-Picot
memorandum left Assyrians and Armenians without protection from the powerful
Turkish military machine, which was working on destruction of all Christians. As
early as in 1918 the Russian army completed in a hasty way its withdrawal from
Iran. Patriarch understood that it was necessary to seek some support of the
forces, which were not in open opposition to Assyrians, namely Persians and
Kurds. Ismail-agha Avdui known as Simko was one of the most powelful leaders of
Kurdish tribes. In the beginning the Russian Commandment tried to win him over
in order to use him in the conflict with Turkey. Simko was supplied with arms
and money from Russia. In 1915 he was arrested as betrayer of Russian interests,
but a year later he went out. During withdrawal of Russian troops Simko' s
squads chased them and attacked Armenians and Assyrians. This way Simko tried to
rehabilitate himself in esteem of Iranian and Turkish powers for one-time
cooperation with Russia.
Late in 1918 Simko proposed patriarch Mar Shimmun to sign a peace treaty
.The meeting was arranged in Simko's station in Koni-Shakhr. Patriarch was
persuaded to go by the British emissary, captain Gracy. On 3rd of March Mar
Shimmun took some guard and set out to see Simko. He was received with great
honors, but after futile negotiations Assyrians were trapped and treacherously
shot down by gunmen on the rooftops. Only a small group of Assyrians was able to
fight back and get away to fetch some help. Soon help arrived and Assyrians gave
it back to Kurds with vengeance. They found patriarch Mar Shimmun dead. Simko
managed to escape, but later he was treacherously murdered by Persians.
All Assyrians took the death of Mar Shimmun very hard wherever they were.
It was the heaviest toll for the nation indeed. It was clear that the loss of
the spiritual and political leader would push the nation on the brink of
annihilation. But in the name of Great Patriarch Assyrians encouraged themselves
and courageously went on to fight their enemies. Fierce fighting continued in
March throughout July 1918. Assyrians revealed very high resistance and
steadfastness. In one battle alone around the river Baranduz when Turkish army
tried to break through to the Caucasus and take Baku, courageous squads of
general Agha Poutrus took as many as 1,800 Turkish soldiers and officers.
Decades have passed, and now that 80 years have gone since the day of Mar
Shimmun' s death, the greatest Assyrian son and martyr as well, we all bend our
heads before this glorious man who became canonized by the Holy Synod of the
Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East. Now his name carries the light of
Jesus Christ Our Savior.
Professor
S. G. Osipov