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'''Bartella''' ([[Syriac language|Syriac]]:<big><big>ܒܪܛܠܐ</big></big>, [[Arabic]],'''برطلّة''') is an [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] town located in northern [[Iraq]] which is less than 13 miles east of [[Mosul]]. The name ''Bartella'' is of [[Syriac language|Syriac origin]], but its meaning is not fully agreed on by the historians. While Joseph Ghanima and al-Jawaliqy believe its from ''Bart Tilla'' meaning ''Daughter of Dew'', the priest Putros Saba al-Bartelly believes it comes from ''Beth Rattly'' meaning ''House of Weights''.

Between the 7th and 12th centuries, the name ''Bartella'' is lost in the shadows of history. However, according to Potrus Qasha, in 1153, Ignatius Elia'azar (1143–1164), the [[maphrian]] of Ashur, made Bartella his home and [[Episcopal see|see]], and the town became the center of Christianity in Athur[[Mesopotamia]]. In Assyria Chaldean (northern Iraq), the [[maphrian]] was the head of church, and reported to the [[List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch|Patriarch in Antioch]]. In 1859 (or 1860), the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] under [[Ignatius Jacob II|Patriarch Yacoub II]] officially abolished the position of maphrian ([[Ignatius Ya`qub III|Patriarch Yacoub III]] reinstated the position of maphrian in India in 1964). When Ignatius Elia'azar made Bartella his home and see, dissatisfaction erupted in the community since [[Mar Mattai Monastery]] has been the traditional see of the Orthodox maphrian. A compromise was finally reached and he returned to Mar Mattai. However, it was agreed that he would make it a tradition to visit Bartella to emphasize its importance. Other maphrians who made their see in Bartella were Dionysius Saliba II (1222–1231), Gregorius Barsuma (1288–1308), Gregorius Mattai I (1317–1345), Gregorius bar Qeenaya (d. 1361), Athanasius Abraham II (1365–1379), and Cyril Joseph III (1458–1470).

As was the case with other [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] villages, Bartella was of the [[Assyrian Chaldean Church of the East|Church of the East faith]]. However, in 610, the people of Bartella accepted [[monophysitism]] according to Bishop Marotha of Tikrit, who, in 639, was ordained Maphrian of the East. In 1153, Maphrian Ignatius La'azer, Maphrian of Assur, chose Bartilla as his see. Bartilla was also chosen as the see for Maphrian Dionysius Saliba II in 1223; in 1231 this Maphrian was killed in a battle in the area of [[Tur Abdin]].

Bartella, like other [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] towns and villages throughout Assyria Mesopotamia (today North of Iraq), faced attacks, plunder, and massacres throughout its long history. It was destroyed at least three times by Kurds and Persians.

In 1738, the Persian king sent his army under Nargis Khan to Assyria Mesopotamia where he destroyed many villages in Nineveh plain.

Bartella's population is around 30,000, with the majority being AssyriansChaldeans, one-third of which is [[Syriac Catholic]] and the rest, [[Syriac Orthodox]]. Bartella was Christianized in the 2nd century. With the emergence of the [[Christological controversies]], the people and their church came under the dominion of the [[Church of the East]] (loosely known as Nestorian); however, it switched to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] (mistakenly and loosely known as Jacobite) around AD 610. On November 23–24, 2013 during the 2-day "Bartella Friends" conference held in [[Erbil]] to discuss the demographic change due to the [[Shabak people|Shabaki]] [[Kurd]]s exodus fleeing [[Mosul]] and the surrounding villages towards Bartella from 2003 on, it was announced that the rate of Christians has dropped dramatically from 99% to 40%.<ref>http://www.dw.de/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B5%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9/a-17261856</ref>

On August 31, 2004, three girls from Bartella were slaughtered while returning home from their work at a hospital in [[Mosul]] where they worked.<ref>http://www.nineveh.com/Christian%20Assyrians%20face%20Oppression%20and%20Murder%20in%20Iraq%20with%20the%20Rise%20of%20Islamists%20and%20Kurdish%20Power.html</ref>

On November 19, 2004, two brothers from Bartella were killed while at work when a [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar shell]] fell on the shop they worked at in Mosul market.<ref>http://www.nineveh.com/Christian%20Assyrians%20face%20Oppression%20and%20Murder%20in%20Iraq%20with%20the%20Rise%20of%20Islamists%20and%20Kurdish%20Power.html</ref>

On December 8, 2004, Dr. Ra'ad Augustine Qoryaqos, one of Bartella's notables and a successful surgeon who worked as a professor at the College of Medicine in [[Al Anbar University|University of Anbar]], was murdered in [[Ramadi]]. A group of three terrorists stormed his clinic while he was checking on his patients, shot and left him bleeding. An operation later failed to save his life. Dr. Qoryaqos left behind his wife and two children.<ref>http://www.nineveh.com/Christian%20Assyrians%20face%20Oppression%20and%20Murder%20in%20Iraq%20with%20the%20Rise%20of%20Islamists%20and%20Kurdish%20Power.html</ref>

{{Portal|AssyriansChaldeans}}

[[Category:Assyrian Chaldean settlements]]