The Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE) welcomed a brand new patriarch in Erbil on Sept. 13. Mar Awa Royel is the primary American-born bishop of the traditional church and solely the ninth new patriarch since 1780. In his new position, Royel should now information the church via each political and non secular challenges and encourage a group that’s going through mounting strain to depart Iraq, the place the Assyrian inhabitants has dwindled from 1.5 million in 2003 to under 200,000 in the present day.
The patriarchal seat of the church left the Middle East in 1933 for Chicago, largely as a result of Simele Bloodbath of Assyrians in 1933. By 2006, development of a brand new patriarchate started in Erbil. The patriarch formally returned to town in 2015. Regardless of issues that the seat would as soon as once more depart Erbil, Royel advised Al-Monitor the patriarchy will stay in its present location.
“We all know {that a} majority of the Assyrian individuals are within the West now, there are possibly 90% to 95% of the Assyrians reside in North America, in Europe, Australia,” he stated. “However nonetheless, the church has determined to maintain the patriarchal seat in Iraq as a result of that’s its historic middle. It’s making the assertion that our roots are right here, within the cradle of civilization in historic Mesopotamia.”
The ACOE originated within the first century AD with Saint Thomas, one of many unique twelve disciples. Since 1450, ACOE patriarchs have come from one household, the Mar Shimuns. The dying of Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun in 1975 ushered in an election course of. Every new patriarch is now elected amongst bishops in a closed door assembly.
In February of final 12 months, ACOE Patriarch Mar Gewargis Sliwa introduced his intention to resign attributable to well being causes. A particular session was convened to arrange an election, but it surely was postponed as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
