It was Wednesday, 28th February, 20001 and most of the participants had never taken part in a protest (tagleetha) before. Yet here they were assembling outside the Turkish Consulate on Albert Rd. in South Melbourne, Australia

The first protesters had begun assembling at 11 am, and they waited for other Assyrians, from near and far to join their ranks, and prepare for the protest to come. They were here to protest the arrest of Father Yusuf Akbulut for affirming the Assyrian-Armenian and Greek Genocide of World War I.

A steady stream of Assyrians slowly assembled in the park opposite the Turkish Consulate, as the clock slowly approached 12pm. Meanwhile, the organisers were busy handing out placards and informing them of the protest’s guidelines.

Federal Australian police then arrived to oversee the event, and they talked to the organisers informing them of requests they had. “This is a democratic country, and you are all free, to peacefully protest outside the consulate”, a Federal police officer said calmly. Upon receiving word of the protest the Federal police had informed organisers that the Federal government, located in Canberra, was now fully aware of this protest as it had been formally registered and noted by them.

At 12pm the signal to start the protest was given as the organisers led the crowd across the road and in front of the Turkish Consulate. Then far in the distance Assyrian youth, who had “skipped” school on the day, could be seen approaching the Consulate. Numbering approximately 15, they crossed the road holding a long banner that was held in front by around 5 Assyrian youth. The homemade banner printed in bold letters, stated,” TURKEY – FREE ASSYRIAN PRIEST”.

Draped in Assyrian T-shirts, Assyrian caps, and holding homemade Assyrian flags in the air, they approached and raised the morale of the initial protesters as they moved in and positioned themselves in front of the Consulate.

Having been informed of only a group of 30 to 40 protesters, the police quickly called in further State police for additional support. The total crowd of 80 strong protesters then began the peaceful protest.

The Consulate having received word of the protest adopted their standard operating procedures and closed down the Consulate for the day, sending all workers home.

One of the protest’s organisers, xx, then picked up a megaphone and began a prepared oratory that informed the assembled protesters and gave pause to nearby Australian onlookers.

“We are here to protest, not against the Turkish people, but against the Turkish government and its policy of persecuting all those that are deemed to be different.” Whilst he talked many passing by were given a pamphlet detailing the plight of Father Yusuf Akbulut. The oratory was then interrupted by slogans as the emotion charged crowd yelled their demands to the Consulate. “Turkey - Free Father Yusuf!” and “Turkey - Recognise the Assyrian Genocide!”, were the favourites on the day.

The protester's energy was self-evident as an emotion-charged atmosphere was projected by many of the Assyrian youth in attendance. When asked about his homemade flag, one of the protesters Sargon Warda made the following comment, “I phoned a flag maker the other night, and asked him to make me an Assyrian flag. He said he only had the Syrian flag on his database. I told him that wasn't good enough, and hung up. So I decided to make my own.”

Many youth showed remarkable initiative and using markers, which they had brought, from home, they turned the prepared signs around and marked them with words such as, “Honk for support”. Being a busy intersection many passing motorists provided the crowd with the requested audible support. Having blocked the Turkish Embassy's entrances the youth peacefully allowed all people leaving the car park to leave provided they honked their horn for support, and took a copy of a pamphlet detailing the Father Yusuf case. Pulling out some tape Assyrian youth then decided to leave their mark on the Consulate by sticking pamphlets all over the Consulate's walls, as bemused police officers looked on.

“This is a peaceful, non-violent protest”, was the word the organisers repeated to the waiting crowd. As an under-cover policeman approached the organisers, and introduced himself. He thanked the organisers for controlling and guiding the peaceful protest, and requested further information regarding the Father Yusuf case. Printed news articles from www.assyrian-genocide.org were then handed to him, as he showed a genuine interest in the case and requested further information.

Mr. Berro then continued, “Assyrians have been persecuted for simply being Assyrian, speaking a distinct language and being culturally and linguistically different.” The crowd listened on as xx requested that a Consular official approach the organisers and receive an official protest letter from Melbourne’s Assyrian community. The Turkish Consular officials were nowhere to be seen, even after repeated attempts to have them greet the organisers. The protest organisers then approached the police officers guarding the entrance and gave them the community's protest letter, who promised to hand it to the Turkish Consulate.

After two and a half hours of protesting, one of the protest’s key organisers, Mr. xx, then shouted the following words into the megaphone, explaining to all on-lookers the reason why the Assyrian community of Melbourne, had finally awoken and expressed themselves in such an audible manner. “Our protest, here today, is to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Our protest, here today, is to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Our protest, here today, is to defend those who cannot defend themselves.”

With these words the Assyrian protesters applauded Mr. Berro, who then thanked them for their attendance and dedication to this human rights cause. Then as quickly as they had come they departed, packing up their banners and folding their Assyrian flags, they left the Turkish Consulate and returned to their homes.

David Chibo
Australia
 
 

GOOD MORNING BET-NAHRAIN

?:  An article by Romeo Hakkari, head of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, is published praising "Immortal Barzani, Assyrian people's constant supporter."

22:  On the invitation of the Chaldo-Assyrian Association in Paris, an Assyrian-Chaldean delegation will travel to France.

27:  Jalal Talabani receives a delegation of the Assyrian Democratic Movement.  He strongly condemned the assassination of Franso Hariri.

The head of Turkomaneli Party receives an Assyrian National Party delegation.

(ZNDA:  Baghdad)  Last week, His Holiness Mar Raphael Bidawid, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, condemned the recent bombings over Iraq on February 16 and 22.  Two people died and 20 were injured.   "There are no words left to condemn this use of force against the weak," he said.  "In the Second World War, the Allies accused the Nazis of using the law of force," he said. "However, what are the United States and Great Britain doing now against the Iraqi people? They talk about principles of humanity and human rights, but, where do they apply them? They must realize that we, Iraqis, also have the right to life and dignity. The Vatican, Italy, France and Russia have criticized the use of force; and we, the Baghdad Church, condemn these aggressive actions."

The bombing of Iraq does not help the Mideast peace process, Mar Bidawid said to the Vatican News Agency reporter.  "The reaction against the Americans and English is now affecting the whole Arab world," he said. "All the Arabs are becoming fedayeen [guerrillas], prepared to exercise violence against the United States and Great Britain, in their own territories...The time has arrived to begin a dialogue that is sincere in order to reach a solution. Blood and violence call for more blood and more violence. Our people, more and more crushed, are increasingly against Americans and Englishmen. The more they are mistreated, the more President Saddam Hussein is exalted."  He concluded his remarks by stating:  "Think of the common good that peace could bring to all, to us and to you yourselves.  If there is no return to dialogue, the ghost of war is not improbable, and the risk is run of a new chaos."

In the meantime, the Chaldean Church in Iraq continues to work so that John Paul II can make a pilgrimage to Iraq.  The news was confirmed by Auxiliary Bishop Emmanuel Karim Delly, according to the Italian newspaper Avvenire.   Bishop Delly assists Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid.

The Pope hoped to go on pilgrimage to Ur in southern Iraq on the eve of the Jubilee Year. However, Saddam Hussein notified the Vatican that his country could not guarantee the Pontiff's security, given the constant U.S.-British military flights controlling the no-fly zone, where Abraham's homeland is located.  Bishop Delly said, "When the Pontiff's wish can be realized, it will be a great occasion for us all, and the Pope will be well received by all the Iraqi people. We have done everything possible, both here and in the Vatican."

Courtesy of Zenit News Agency; March 2

(ZNDA:  Vatican)  Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced Saturday that Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states, had arrived in Iran the same day to meet with the country's highest authorities and with the Catholic community to look into the possibility of a papal trip to Iran.  The visit is in response to "an invitation from governmental authorities and the local bishops' conference," Navarro-Valls said. While in Iran, Archbishop Tauran will give a conference at the Iranian Diplomatic Institute.

The archbishop also will meet numerous Christian communities residing in Iran. Today, Archbishop Tauran offered Mass in St. Joan of Arc (Jean d'Arc) Church in Tehran.

Two years ago, John Paul II received Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate Muslim cleric, in the Vatican. The meeting was part of a first series of state visits of an Iranian leader to Western Europe since the 1979 Islamic revolution.  President Khatami was accompanied by an Assyrian as his official Italian-Farsi translator.

In statements published by Associated Press, Navarro-Valls explained that Archbishop Tauran's visit is also to explore the possibility of a papal visit to the country. This nation of 65 million people has only about 120,000 Christians, including 12,000 Catholics.

The following is the text of the report by Iranian News Agency IRNA, translated from Farsi:

(ZNDA:  Esfehan)  6 March:   Visiting Vatican Foreign Minister Jean Louis Tauran arrived in this central Iranian city Tuesday [6 March] for a short visit.

Upon arrival, he was greeted by several provincial top officials as well as Armenian bishops.

He will tour monuments in Esfahan, especially Vank Church, and meet Armenians residing in Esfahan. He will [leave] Esfahan Tuesday night.

Iran is more than 99 per cent Muslim, with Shi'ism the state's official religion. Iran has up to a quarter of a million Christians, but relatively few Catholics, most of whom are of Armenian origin. The majority of Christians are Chaldean, Assyrian or Protestant.

Tauran arrived in Tehran early Sunday for a four-day visit, the first by a top-ranking Catholic Church diplomat since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the papal nunciature said.

On Monday, he met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and urged Christian Iranians to stay on the national scene in Iran as well as maintain dialogue with the country's ruling Shi'i Muslim elite in the interest of their continuing peaceful coexistence with their Muslim fellow countrymen.

Tauran noted an improvement in relations between Iran and the Vatican in recent years that culminated in Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1999 while on a visit to Rome.

NEWS DIGEST

Courtesy of the The San Diego Union-Tribune; March 1

(ZNDA:  El Cajon)  Architect Michael Sitto sees El Cajon's new banquet hall as a proud tribute to the area's large Chaldean-American community.

Touches of Mediterranean architecture and Chaldean culture are everywhere in the Crystal Ballroom, from the columns gracing the entryway to the eight-point stars embedded in the ceiling glasswork.

While giving a tour of the 8,000-square-foot facility, Sitto pointed out the curved doorways at the entrance.

"These are a tradition of our culture in the Middle East," he said.

The former bank building on North Magnolia Avenue was purchased by the Chaldean American Association in 1999. The group spent about $1.9 million to renovate and furnish the banquet hall, which officially opens to the public March 15.

Sitto said some members of the association were concerned about buying a building just a few blocks from El Cajon's troubled downtown. But he thinks that by having a lot of people in the area, there will be increased safety.

El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis is glad the association was willing to open the ballroom near the city's downtown.

"They took a chance in investing their money in regards to developing a premier social hall," Lewis said. "It shows their faith in downtown that they're willing to put their money into what they believe in."

The ballroom, with a capacity of more than 500 people, is available for rent to the public. It features two stages, two bars and two elevated platforms where video photographers can record an event unobtrusively.

The association, which has about 450 members, had been meeting in a large hall behind an auto-parts store.

Those quarters, which have been sold, were far less elegant than the Crystal Ballroom, where the dance floor is marble and 300,000 pieces of glass make up the ceiling patterns around each chandelier.

Rooms on the second floor of the new hall will hold about 200 people, so that association members can get together on nights that the ballroom is being rented. A restaurant on the first floor will serve Middle Eastern food.

Courtesy of ArabicNews; March 1

(ZNDA: Cairo)  This week the Red Sea's 13th Century Anba Antonius Church in Egypt will be inaugurated after three years of repair work.  Egypt's Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, has delegated Gaballah Ali Gaballab, Secretary General of the Supreme Antiquities Council, to unveil the resurrected paintings on the wall of the church.

The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Minister of the Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid, the Red Sea Governor, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Deniel Kurtzer; Abbot Anba Boutros; and Willard Pearson, Director of the U.S. Gaballah.   The repair work on the wall-paintings were undertaken by an Italian group under the supervision of the Council and the US Research Center in Cairo. The paintings are the work of Coptic artists between the early and late 13th Century. Thick layers of dust had accumulated over the ages, almost totally obliterating the original colors of the wall paintings as a result of using the church as a refuge for Copts fleeing persecution.

The following individuals were elected last week as the new officers of the Assyrian Academic Society:

President:                              Robert Mulhim
Vice President:                       Firas Jatou
Secretary:                             Tanya Zaya
Treasurer:                             Maureen Antar

Standing Committee Chairs:

Ways and Means:                  Yokhana Alkass
Public Programs:                    John Michael
Membership:                         Nadia E. Joseph
Publications:                          Robert DeKelaita

JAAS Editorial Board

Editor:                                  Nadia E. Joseph
English Language Editor:        Edwin Gania
Assyrian Language Editors:     Zaia Kanon and Oraham Yalda Oraham
Technical Editor:                   Raman Michael
Assyrian Lang. Tech Editor:   Namrood Shiba
Arabic Language Editor:         Saad Saadi

JAAS Advisory Committee

                                            Robert Dekelaita
                                            Abdul-Massih Saadi

“I am very happy to be able to contact you, and moreover of being able to inform the readers of the Zinda of the crisis and the socio-economic conditions that brutally dominate this poor country.

The Georgians are not alone as there are also Assyrians suffering in these same conditions.  But we forget perhaps that such a change, incarnated in the history of the people, and for the good of all and all in the future, is brought about by the powerful and the rich sovereigns upon the poor and overwhelmed classes.

In Georgia it is the domination of one political oppressors, depriving the miserables. The rights of the man often come in all shapes. This fact naturally becomes greater for the ethnic minorities, the people of little or no concern.  It is now for six years that with difficulty, but pleasure our people have been served in this community.  They are living witnesses of the many economic, social, religious events that occur every day.

I mean to say that the so-called "countries of the first world", continually send the humanitarian aids like medicine and the provisions to Georgia.  But the lack of an educated group- morality, religion, and political power- is currently dominant in this country.  It does not leave a breath for the poor who is often abandoned.  Unfortunately there is also trafficking of these humanitarian aides for one's profit as they are sold with the highest prices in the black market, controlled by the Mafia.   The weak people do not have simple kind of living, food, a warm bed, a warm house, a school, a secure job.  They lack everything.  They die due to the lack of the basic material of one simplest life.  They die because of hunger (as we are only standing at door of the 21st Century), because of the cold, the basic stuff like influenza, pulmonary bronchitis, and skin infections. These ailments can easily be cured in the more advanced countries.

But in Georgia humans are not of importance, no different than it was in the previous communist dictatorial regime.  In fact in those times people were used for the needs of the super Soviet power. And today they continue to be taken advantage of for the good of the rich, the powerful, the  Mafia, and the corrupted ones.

I denounce this suffering, in defense of the poor and the overwhelmed ones.  I denounce the luxuries, as it destroys the values of the mankind.  I denounce the political power that lead the people. I denounce the indifference by the worthy men of freedom, of confession. I denounce the lack of the solidarity with the poor ones, of the friends of the Gentlemen.

Perhaps beloved friends, someone may think and say:  "Benny is a clergyman and he must not involve himself in politics?"  I answer that my mission in life is that I am and I must be consumed by the proclamation of the reign of the just, the merciful ones, for justice and the dominion of the One to reign over darkness. Therefore, they are afraid of my mission and my creed and I will sacrifice my life for the defense of the poor ones and the defense of their rights, and I will not calm myself until my life is extinguished.  I say this because I believe in this. This is not an honor for me, but a duty.  Everyone of us can guarantee the peace and the justice for the future of our people and all the people. May God bless us!”

"Benny"
Georgia

Father Benny Bethyadgar is a Chaldean Catholic priest serving the Assyrian communities in Georgia.
To learn more about Father Benny and his mission click here.

SURFERS CORNER

Session I:    June 19 - July 6

Introduction to Syriac Grammar
M T W H F, 9:00-11:10  (3 credits)
Instructor:  Joseph Amar

This is an entry level course that presumes no knowledge of Syriac. Daily lessons are based on Robinson's Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar supplemented by a specially prepared course packet.

Intermediate Syriac Reading
M T W H F, 12:20-2:30 (3 credits)
Instructor:  Joseph Amar

This is a new offering designed as a "refresher course." Emphasis will be on reading a variety of prose and poetic texts drawn mainly from the writings of St. Ephrem as the basis for review of grammar and basic structures.

Session II:    July 9 - July 27

Introduction to Syriac Reading
M T W H F, 9:00 - 11:10 (3 credits)
Instructor:  Joseph Amar

This course applies the basic principles of grammar and syntax to actual Syriac texts.

                                                                For additional course information:
                                                                e-mail: Joseph.P.Amar.1@nd.edu
                                                                       phone: (219) 631-6276

                                                             For information on fees, registration, etc.:
                                                                    Director of Summer Session
                                                                     University of Notre Dame
                                                                       Notre Dame, IN 46556
                                                                       www.nd.edu/~sumsess
                                                                       phone: (219) 631-7282

ASSYRIAN SURFING POSTS

I always intended to become an engineer but a few years before the end of college, I thought a lot about the job my father did, he is a physician (gynecologist), too.

I thought, let's try this first. Maybe it's more interesting than engineering.

So, when I finished high school and college in 1992, I first started studying at the Medical School of the university of Dusseldorf which is located 30 miles from Bottrop.

But, Medical School itself didn't quite satisfy me as it was too much learning by heart and too little using your brain. I needed something where I could be more creative and where I had to use my brain a little more than in medicine which actually was nothing more than stupid learning by heart.

As my first wish was to become an engineer, I decided to quit Medical School and start my career in end of 1993 at the School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at the university of Dortmund which also is located about 30 miles from Bottrop.

When the time for signing up started at Dortmund (September 1993), I couldn't stop Medical School as I did quite fine there and I also had passed some of my exams. Even the guys who really wanted to become a physician didn't pass the exams that I had passed so far.

And so I said, ok, let's try both Medical School and Electronics Engineering and let's see how far I can push this.

If I should fail or if should no longer be able to keep up with both, I will quit my Medical School at Dusseldorf.

Well, the end of the story is that I was 27 years old, when I finished Medical School in May 2000 and the School of Engineering in June 2000. I needed one more year than the average time that is needed to finish Medical School (usually 6 and a half years, I needed 7 and a half). Now I'm a physician and an engineer for electronics and computer science as well. Right now, I am working as a medical engineer for Nokia Mobile Phones in Germany.

Here, we are developing tools to assist people with e.g. heart diseases or diabetes that make possible a monitoring of certain blood or heart values and sending them via a cellular phone to a hospital or their physicians.

But this actually is only a job for an engineer and I miss the hospital quite a lot.

So, I decided to return back to university. In May 2001, I will start a new challenging job at the medical center of the university of Essen. I will start at the department for radiology as both physician and engineer. From 7 am till 3 pm I will work as a doctor there and do my job as a radiologist. From 3 pm till 6 (7, 8 ?) pm, they want me to work as engineer in the research and development branch of the department of radiology. The main item is about image enhancements of MRTs (Magnetic Resonance Tomographs) and CTs (common Computer Tomographs using x-rays). This job is a hand-in-hand cooperation with Siemens Medical Systems and General Electric.

They are giving us the projects and problems to solve. I think that this is rather the perfect symbiosis of my two studies than only working as an engineer. A lot of people forecasted my early failure. They said, I would never make it to finish both schools. If I had listened to them, I probably would never have finished both.

The thing is to listen to yourself and (I know this is very often said and is sort of a worn out empty phrase but...) believe in yourself and you will make it. Discipline is very important, too, as you have to sit and learn quite a lot.

But nevertheless, I never neglected my friends and family because of my courses of studies. I always knew when to stop learning and when to have fun and enjoy life.

Dr. Yousef Nazaradeh is the father of Fridun and Denis Nazaradeh and is a gynecologist in Germany. Even though he lived in Germany for many years and married Hulya in Germany, he was always a proud Assyrian, and always helped many Assyrians in many ways that they needed.  Dr. Yousef Nazaradeh taught his sons to be proud Assyrians. Well done Hulya and Dr. Nazaradeh to raise such fine sons. I am so proud to be your friend.

Marie St. Vincent
Germany

BRAVO

The following is a press release from the office of Mr. George Pataki, Governor of the State of New York who has chosen Ms. Thea Halo's mother, Sano Halo, as one of the recipients of this year's Award of Excellence in honor of Women's History Month, "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision."  Thea Halo is the author of "Not Even My Name", the story of her mother's survival of the 1915 Genocide committed by the Turkish government against the Assyrians, Armenians, and the Greeks in Turkey.
 

STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
GEORGE E. PATAKI, GOVERNOR

Press Office
518-474-8418
212-681-4640
http://www.state.ny.us

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

Governor's Award of Excellence To Be Given
During Women's History Month Celebration

Governor George E. Pataki announced today that one of the six recipients of his 2001 Women's History Month "Award of Excellence" is a 90-year-old woman who is the subject of a memoir detailing the tragedy of the Pontian Genocide. The awards are scheduled to be given during an upcoming Women's History Month Celebration at which 100 distinguished women will be present.

Sano "Themia" Halo, whose life was documented by her daughter Thea Halo in the book "Not Even My Name," will be present to receive the award. At the age of 10, Mrs. Halo and 700,000 Pontic Greeks, who lived in communities along northern Turkey near the Black Sea for three millennia, endured immeasurable cruelty during a Turkish Government-sanctioned campaign to displace them. An estimated 300,000 Pontic Greeks died while being forcibly marched without provisions across the Anatolian plains to the Syrian border. The estimated 400,000 who survived were exiled from Turkey and today they and their descendants live throughout the Greek diaspora. For example, as many as 40,000 Pontic Greeks live among the many more Greeks in Astoria, Queens County.

Most people of good will are familiar with the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by forces of the Turkish Government. The details of Mrs. Halo's life in her daughter's book, however, add to our growing knowledge of the Pontian Genocide, which occurred concurrently. "Not Even My Name" is one of the few English-language accounts of the Pontian Genocide and it is among the most thorough. Thus, Mrs. Halo's story of survival and resettlement in New York City adds greatly to our understanding of the Pontian Genocide and its effects on immigration.

"The Turkish perpetrators of genocide in Asia Minor were notably brutal when executing their campaign to displace Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians from their ancestral lands. Sano's touching story of perseverance, triumph and healing serves as an inspiration for all who face adversity, and makes an important contribution to the treasury of works that clarify our understanding of this dark chapter in history," said Governor Pataki.

The month of March is traditionally observed as Women's History Month throughout the Nation. This year's theme, "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision," underscores the wealth of character and strength found among American women of all occupations and at all levels of society. Under Governor Pataki's leadership, part of the State of New York's own celebration of Women's History Month includes the holding of an annual ceremony at which the achievements of women like Mrs. Halo are recognized.

Over 100 award recipients, former award recipients and their guests are expected. This year's ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 8th at 2:30 p.m. in the Governor's New York City Office, located at 633 Third Avenue, 38th Floor.

The Governor's ceremony is by-invitation-only. All media must R.S.V.P. with Anthoula Katsimatides at (212) 681-4569 or James V. Barcia at (212) 681-4573.
 

PUMP UP THE VOLUME

BC (732)

A rebellion breaks out in Babylon when King Nabonassar dies.  King Tiglath-Pileser attempts to quiet the people, but fails.  He assembles an army and marches south and enters Babylon in triumph.  He declares himself King of Babylon.

Mongolian army attacks and captures the Assyrian city of Arbil, killing many and taking the survivors as slaves.
 

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

March 5, 1817:  First Assyrian School for Girls is founded in Urmie with four registered students.
 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

Sat, Mar 17	CHICAGO DINNER & DANCE PARTY The Assyrian Academic Society invites you to attend a dinner and dance party in honor of the newly elected Executive Officers. Bring your family and friends and dance the night away! Entertainment by Ogin 7:00 PM Ticket Price: $30.00 Edens Banquet Hall 6313 N. Pulaski Rd. Limited seating- call now to reserve your tickets: (773) 461-6633 AAS Email: staff@aas.net
Sat, Mar 24	SAN JOSE / SANTA CLARA KHA B'NEESAN PARTY Assyrian American Association of San Jose presents Kha b'Neesan Dinner Dance Party with Walter Aziz David's Banquet 5151 Stars and Stripes Drive Santa Clara $45 member  $50 non-member Tickets sold every Tuesday and Thursday From 8-10 p.m. at AAA of San Jose For information please call:  (408)927-8100 or (408)927-9100
Sun, Mar 25	CHICAGO ASSYRIAN ACADEMIC SOCIETY LECTURE The Assyrian Academic Society in conjunction with the Syriac Cultural Center proudly host a lecture entitled: "History of the Syriac Church and its People" Lecturer:   Father Yousif Abdhulmasih Pastor of St. Mary Virgin Immaculate Syriac Catholic Mission 5:00 PM Assyrian National Council 2450 W. Peterson For more information, call AAS at: (773) 461-6633 or E-mail: staff@aas.net
Sun, Mar 25	SYDNEY GILGAMESH CULTURAL CENTRE LECTURE NIGHT "The Aramaic Language, its origin and history" Miss Ruth Lewin, Univesity of Sydney "Father Abraham, Isaac and Ismail" *Rabbi Woolstone 6:00 PM Nineveh Club Smithfield Rd For more info contact Alfred Mansour at (00612) 9832-9888 or Mobile 0410461755.
Sat, Mar 31	TORONTO AMERICAN ORIENTAL SOCIETY PANEL DISCUSSION "Writing Syriac:  From Stone to Bytes" Chair:  Prof. Amir Harrak, University of Toronto  1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.  1.  Marica Cassis, University of Toronto  The bema in the West and East Syriac Churches  2. Amir Harrak, University of Toronto  Patriarchal Tombstones at the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd: Types and Origins 3. Wolfhart Heinrichs, Harvard University  Turkish Karshuni  (Break)  4. George Kiraz, Syriac Computing Institute  From Parchment to Open Type: The Development of Syriac Digital Types  5. Wassilios Klein, Bonn University  Writing Syriac and Speaking Turkic in Light of Central Asian Tombstone Inscriptions  6. Eden Naby, Harvard University  The Cultural Context for Writing Syriac During the 19th and 20th Centuries Panel to be held at the 211th Meeting of the American Oriental Society Toronto Colony Hotel 89 Chestnut Street
Thurs, Mar 29	TORONTO CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES LECTURE "Syriac Heritage at the Northern Silk Road: The Archaological & Epigraphic Evidence of Christianity in Kirghizia" by Dr. Vassilios Klein, Bonn University 8:00 PM Auditorium, Earth Sciences Centre, Room 1050 5 Bancroft Avenue University of Toronto, St. George Campus Since the 1890s Kirghizia has attracted the attention of scholars in the field of Syriac epigraphy, when Daniel Chwolson published about 600 Syriac funerary inscriptions found there.  The discovery of these inscriptions came as a surprise since there was little literary evidence that Christianity had played any important role in the lands located to the north of the Tianshan Mountains.  In recent years archaeological excavations in the Middle Age capital revealed a church with three naves and the grave of a holy man.  Taking into consideration these excavations, the other religions coexisting with Christianity in Central Asia, and the political history of that region at that time, we shall describe the role played by East Syriac (so called Nestorian) Christianity  and the Syriac language in the daily life of the Sogdian and Turkish people.
Sun, Apr 1	FAIRFIELD, AUSTRALIA AKITU ASSYRIAN FESTIVAL Organized by a network of Assyrian youth, the Assyrian community and the wider Australian multi-cultural community AKITU ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR 6751 Fairfield Showground  Smithfield Road 9:00 AM  Parade 12:00 PM  Games, rides, shows, drama, & Fireworks Information and international food booths Assyrian and English musical bands and DJ music. For more info:  Nina @ 0416041432 or toomani@cba.com.au                        Maji @ 0404124930
Until May 6	DETROIT TREASURES FROM THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR Objects from one of the most important archaeological finds The Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Avenue Adults $8, Children $5:  includes audio tour and museum admission
May 24	KALU SULAQA :  Bride of the Ascension Festival This year marks the 600th anniversary of the remembrance of the men and women who died in 1401 A.D. when Timurlane attacked the Assyrian villages near Nineveh.  Each year children dress-up as brides and grooms and go to homes in the neighborhood to collect sweets. Nakosha "Assyrian Holidays" Calendar
M-F, Jul 2-6	FINLAND XLVIIe RENCONTRE ASSYRIOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE International Congress of Assyriology and Near Eastern Archaeology  "Sex and Gender in the Ancient Near East" University of Helsinki Registration Form:  clickhere
Jul 22	NOOSARDEL A festival celebrating the descent of the god Tammuz to the Underworld and the end of spring in Bet-Nahrain.  It is customary to sprinkle water on friends and family members, wishing for Tammuz' safe return to his beloved Ishtar.
Aug 7	MARTYRS DAY A day to commemorate the Assyrian martyrs throughout history.

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