11-24-2003, 02:15 AM
Shlama Akhi Keith,
The Assyrians are a historically significant part of the Church of the East, though they were only one ethnic group among many others within the Church. They converted to Christianity in the 1st-century A.D. They live today in what's known as "northern Iraq", ancient Assyria.
Prior to their conversion to Christianity, they had experienced a gradual conversion to Judaism. This began with the preaching of the prophet Jonah, and culminated during the reign of Queen Helena of Adiabene.
The "Rogation of the Ninevites" - the fast proclaimed by the king in response to Jonah's preaching (Jonah 3:5-10) has been kept continuously for almost 2,900 years by the Assyrians. The Church of the East adopted this ancient pre-Christian fast into their liturgical cycle. It is celebrated during the month of Shuwat (February.)
I'm an Assyrian-American. All of my grandparents emigrated to Syria and Lebanon from various villages around the ruins of Nineveh after the genocide of 1915-1918.
From Syria and Lebanon, they found their way to Greece, and from there to the U.S. I am the 1st-generation born here in the states. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->
The Assyrians are a historically significant part of the Church of the East, though they were only one ethnic group among many others within the Church. They converted to Christianity in the 1st-century A.D. They live today in what's known as "northern Iraq", ancient Assyria.
Prior to their conversion to Christianity, they had experienced a gradual conversion to Judaism. This began with the preaching of the prophet Jonah, and culminated during the reign of Queen Helena of Adiabene.
The "Rogation of the Ninevites" - the fast proclaimed by the king in response to Jonah's preaching (Jonah 3:5-10) has been kept continuously for almost 2,900 years by the Assyrians. The Church of the East adopted this ancient pre-Christian fast into their liturgical cycle. It is celebrated during the month of Shuwat (February.)
I'm an Assyrian-American. All of my grandparents emigrated to Syria and Lebanon from various villages around the ruins of Nineveh after the genocide of 1915-1918.
From Syria and Lebanon, they found their way to Greece, and from there to the U.S. I am the 1st-generation born here in the states. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->
+Shamasha Paul bar-Shimun de'Beth-Younan