Chaldean martyrs

Chaldean martyrs since the first century AD

MAR SHAMOUN BARSABAE - 258-341

Born in the town of Shush, West of Iran, year (258), and branded "Son of Dver's" after his father's career of dyeing the costumes for the high ranking officials in the Persian Empire. In 317, he was made the Archpriest and the personal Auxiliary to Patriarch Mar Papa, and then he succeeded him on the Patriarchal See, in 329.

In the spring of 341, the Persian Emperor Shabor I had asked the Patriarch to collect exuberated taxes from his Christian subjects to subsidize his war with the Romans. The Patriarch declined to comply with this order. Later, he was arrested together with several bishops, priests and many others totaling 103 people. The Patriarch and his companions were asked to sacrifice and worship their bogus idol to avoid beheading. They all refused and affirmed their faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. Thereafter, Shabor ordered the execution of them all by severing their heads; Mar Shimoon was beheaded last, on Good Friday, April 14, in the year of Christ 341.

MAR TOMA AUDO - 1855-1918

He is the son of Rev. Hormizd son of Markho, the brother of Patriarch Mar Joseph VI, Audo. He was born in Alqosh on October 11, 1855. He travelled to Rome with his great uncle the Patriarch, who enrolled him at the Propaganda Fide College. He continued his studies until the year 1880 and returned to Iraq after his priestly ordination. He became the personal secretary to Patriarch Mar Elia Abbo Al-Younan, and then in 1882 he was assigned for four years to serve the Chaldeans in Aleppo - Syria. Recalled to Mosul, he lectured at the Patriarchal seminary up till his election in 1892 as a bishop for Urmia - Iran.

The Russian army occupied Urmia and Salamas in 1914, and when the province fell in the hands of the Turkish troops, he sought asylum at the Apostolic Nunciature. On August 18, 1918, a robber attacked the residence demanding some money, and when Mar Toma confronted him, he pulled the trigger and knocked him to the ground. Mar Toma was pronounced dead despite the attempts of the paramedics to save his life which he lost fighting the cruelty and discrimination against his people.

BISHOP MAR YAKOUB AURAHAM MANNI - 1848-1915

Philipos was born in Telkaif on January 3, 1848. At an early age he attended the church dailv services until he heard the call to the monastic life. He joined the Chaldean Order in November, 1866, at the Rabban Hormizd Monastery.

On September 27, 1868, he professed his final vows. A year later, he was assigned to Mosul to catechize the youngsters, and at the meantime he undertook his theological training at the Patriarchal Seminary of St. Peter's.

Upon his ordination to the priesthood in October, 1872, he returned to serve at the Monastery of Our Lady Guardian of the Fields. At the request of Mar Elia Mallos, Rev. Yakoub Auraham was consecrated a bishop on July 25, 1875 by the Patriarch Mar Joseph VI, Audo, and was sent to India. He was recalled by Rome in spring 1878, and he went to the monaster. Four vears later, he was entrusted to care for the Jazira Diocese where he carried his role with great zeal, prudence and charity. During World War One, he was detained together with other members of his clergy, few days later they were massacred all, and his body was hauled with ropes to the Tigris river and dumped there in late August, 1915.

ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR - 278-303

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St. George was born in Palestine, city of Al-Ladd, close of the third century, from a Christian parents and faithful family. In his early youth, his parents died and he chose a soldier's life, and soon obtained the favor of the Emperor Diocletian at the time, which advanced him to the grade of being personal guard to the emperor himself. When however, the emperor began to persecute the Christians in 302, George rebuked him at once sternly and openly for his cruelty, and threw up his decree.

He was in a consequence subjected to a lengthened series of torments, and finally beheaded on April 23, 303.

The devotion to St. George is one of the most ancient and widely spread in the Church. In the East his name is invoked in the most ancient liturgies; while in the west several countries have chosen him as their patron.

FR. RAGHEED AZIZ GANNI - 1972-2007

His parents were originally from Karemlesh, but he was born in Mosul in January 20, 1972. There, he completed elementary and high school too.

He graduated from the Mosul University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. When feeling the call of God for more dedicated life, he found great support in his Bishop (the late) Mar George Garmo, who sent him to Rome to study for the Priesthood. In 1995 he commenced his theological studies at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, and obtained a bachelor's degree in theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in Baghdad on October 13, 2001, and returned to Rome to further his studies. He acquired Masters Degree in Ecumenism before rejoining his diocese. He was appointed in Mosul where he conducted his ministry. On June 1, 2007, following the celebration of the Holy mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit, on his way to his residence at the Chancery, accompanied by three sub-deacons, he was gunned down with his companions by a group of Islamic Extremists, and were all martyred. The next day, his body was laid to rest at Mar Addai Church in Karemlesh

BISHOP POLOS FARAJ RAHOU - 1942-2008

Born in Mosul in 1942, and after completing his elementary schooling, he entered the St. Peter Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary in 1954. The seminary was moved to Baghdad, where he was ordained a priest on January 10,

1965. He was assigned to the parish of Mar Eshaya in Mosul. In the fall of

1973 he went to Rome and obtained a Master's degree in Moral Theology. He returned to his diocese and served at its different parishes, finally at St.

Paul's until his election a bishop for Mosul in February 16, 2001. He served his diocese with great zeal initiating several projects to care for orphans, the handicapped and the needy.

On the late afternoon of Friday, February 29, 2008, he was attacked suddenly by a group of assassins, who kidnapped him after slaying his personal driver and two companions. He was never found alive afterwards. On March 13, 2008 his bod was found abandoned in a ditch on the outskirt of Mosul. He was martyred for the sake of his strong faith in the Lord and for his defense of the human values. Following his will, his body was laid to rest at St. Paul's Church where he ministered.

SISTER CECILIA MOSHI HANNA - 1931-2002

Born in Bebozi, province of Amadiya in Northern Iraq, in 1931, she joined the Congregation of the Sacred Heart founded in Aradin in 1943, by Rev.

Ablahad Rayis.

She professed her vows in 1948, and when the Congregation became Patriarchal, she renewed her Perpetual Vows in the presence of Patriarch Raphail I Bidawid, on August 15, 2000.

She was elected Mother Superior of the Order for two terms: from

(1974-1978), then from (1986-1990), in addition to holding several other positions and roles in the Congregation. She was known for her wonderful Christian virtues and high human standards. She moved to live at "Charity Convent" in Baghdad, and it was there that she was murdered by three Muslim males who attacked her at her residence on August 15, 2002, and slaughtered her mercilessly. Her body was transported to Mosul and laid to rest at the St. George Monastery's cemetery.

FR. HANNA YACOUB SCHER - 1947-1986

Born to a Christian devout family in Shaqlawa, in 1947, where he completed his elementary schooling. In September 1958, he joined St. John Seminary, under the supervision of the Dominican Fathers in Mosul. He was ordained a priest at the Miskenta Cathedral on May 31, 1970 and took his first assignment in his home town. He carried his ministry with great diligence according to Christ's teachings. He was a true defender of the weak, the vulnerable, and of the poor. He strongly confronted the harassments of the local Kurds who were making unwelcomed advances towards his female parishioners.

In the evening of the Good Friday, March 28, 1986, and following the celebration of the Passions of the Lord, while on his way home for a little rest, he was shot dead by a Kurdish man who had been trailing a parishioner and met total resistance from Fr. Hanna. The assailant knocked him dead in the middle of the road and fled. The next day, his body was laid to rest at the same church that he served with total dedication.

FR. HANNA YACOUB KASHA - 1919-1969

Fr. Hanna was born in Mosul in 1919, and was raised by a good religious family. Upon completion of his elementary schooling, he entered St. John Seminary in Mosul, and became a priest on May 15, 1943. After his ordination at the Miskenta Cathedral he was assigned to ministry in villages and towns of Zakho and Duhok Diocese.

On September 16, 1969, while he was visiting some families in Sorya, north of Iraq and during the war between the Kurds and the central government, the town was visited by a unit of the Iraqi armed forces.

The villagers had welcomed the troops and offered them modest hospitality.

Upon departure, few miles away from the town, a ground mine was detonated under a military vehicle, and the officer in charge returned with his troops to Sorya, rounded up the villagers along with Fr. Hanna into a barn, accusing them of planting the device. Fr. Hanna pleaded in vain for his people's innocence, but sadly, he was shot dead first, and so were all the others, 97 young and elderly, brutally killed too. His body was later on moved to Zakho and was laid to rest there.

BISHOP MAR ADDAI SCHER - 1867-1915

The son of Revered Yakoub Scher. Addai was born in the town of Shaqlawa, Northern Iraq, on March 3, 1867, and at baptism was given the name of Slewa (The Cross). In 1880 he entered the seminary of St. John in Mosul, under the supervision of the Dominican Fathers, and was ordained a priest on August 15, 1892. He was elected a bishop for the Diocese of Si'irt - Turkey, and was consecrated by the late Patriarch Mar Emmanuel Il Toma, at the Miskenta Cathedral, in Mosul. During the World War One, which erupted in 1914, he stood by his flock, sharing in their pain and suffering. He was then placed under house arrest, and in his search for a safer sanctuary for his people he was arrested on June 17, 1915, and shot dead. He was martyred while defending his people as a good shepherd.