Back to Collection
BJ.01.01 HARRAK

The Assyrian Church of Mār Mattai, inside the church on the plaster , Sarsink

Sarsink › Dehōk
Date
1955
Language
Syriac
Ruler
King Fayṣal the Second; Prince ‛Abd-al-Īlāh (regent)
No image available
Transcription
ܐܫܬܟܠܠwas completedverbroot ܟܠܠ ܗܝܟܠܐchurchnounalso templeroot ܗܝܟܠ ܗܢܐthis (m.)demonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܕܡܪܝof Saintnounroot ܡܪܐ ܡܬܝMattīproper-noun ܛܘܒ݂ܢܐ.
ܒܫܢܬin the yearphraseroot ܫܢ ܐܨܢܗ1955numeral ܠܡܪܢ.of our Lordnounroot ܡܪ ܒܡܡܠܟ݂ܢܘܬܗ ܕܓܐܝܐof the gloriousadjectiveroot ܓܐܐ ܡܠܟܐthe kingnounroot ܡܠܟ ܦܝܨܠFaysalproper-noun
ܬܪܝܢܐ.the Secondnumeralroot ܬܪܝܢ ܘܥܡand withprepositionroot ܥܡ ܚܠܗhis maternal unclenounroot ܚܠ ܐܡܝܪܐthe Prince (Amir)nounroot ܐܡܪ ܥܒܕܐܠܐܗ‛Abd-al-Īlāhproper-noun ܢܛܝܪ̈ܐmay they be protectedverbroot ܢܛܪ ܒܡܪܝܐ:in the Lordnounroot ܡܪ
ܒܝܨܝܦܘܬܗthrough his diligencenounroot ܝܨܦ ܕܡܚܝܠܐof the feebleadjectiveroot ܡܚܠ ܩܫܝܫܐthe priestnounroot ܩܫ ܥܒ݂ܕܝܫܘܥ ܕܒܝܬof the house ofnounroot ܒܝܬ
ܒܢܝܡܝܢBiniamīn (Benjamin)proper-noun ܕܚܛܝܒܢ.of Kaṭībanproper-noun ܘܒ݂ܢ̈ܦܩܬ݂ܐ ܕܡܗܝ̈ܡܢܐof the faithfulnounroot ܐܡܢ ܒܢܝ̈ ܐܫܝܬ݂ܐ
ܘܫܪܟܐ܆and the restnounroot ܫܪܟ ܕܐܫܬܬܐܣܢwho have settledverbroot ܐܣܐ ܒܩܪܝܬܐin the villagenounroot ܩܪܐ ܗܕܐthis (f.)demonstrativeroot ܗܢܐ ܐܨܟܒ.1922numeral 1922܀

Hover a word for its meaning. Glosses draw on Amir Harrak’s translations and the SEDRA 3 Syriac lexicon (Beth Mardutho), used for academic purposes.

English Translation

(1-3) This church of the blessed Mār Mattai was completed in the year 1955 of our Lord, during the reign of King Fayṣal the Second the glorious, (ruling) with his maternal uncle the Prince ‛Abd-al-Īlāh—may they be protected by the Lord, (4-6), through the diligence of the feeble Priest ‛Abd-Īšō‛ of the Biniamīn family of Kaṭīban, and the monetary contribution of the faithful citizens of ‛Āšītā and the rest (of us) who have settled in this village (in) 1922 (English: 1922).
Ba
(1) A. In silence and fear (2) may you stand to pray (3) etc.
Bb (above the cross)
Urgent warning.
Bb
(1) B. Speedy prayer (2) is an insult to the Lord (3) of the world.
C
Mūšē Ṣ. B.’.

Context
Location Detail Inside the church on the plaster.
Ruler King Fayṣal the Second; Prince ‛Abd-al-Īlāh (regent)
People & Roles
Rulers King Fayṣal II of Iraq; Prince ‛Abd-al-Īlāh, regent
Builders Rebuilding/renovation of the church commemorated
Professions Mūšē the writer (signature)
Benefactors Faithful citizens of ‛Āšītā who contributed
Families & Tribes Biniamīn family of Kaṭīban
Ecclesiastical Titles Priest ‛Abd-Īšō‛
Religion & Practice
Prayer Instructions on praying in silence and fear; rebuke of speedy prayer
Churches & Shrines Named After Church of Mār Mattai (St Mathew) completed 1955
Material & Physical
Cross Stylized cross with words above it
Currency Monetary contribution of the faithful citizens
History & Context
Countries & Cities (Foreign) Kaṭīban; ‛Āšītā
Personal Names
Fayṣal the Second ‛Abd-al-Īlāh Priest ‛Abd-Īšō‛ Mūšē Ṣ. B.
References
Harrak 2010, p.558-559
Support the Archive

Help Preserve
Endangered Inscriptions

Many of the sites documented in this archive have since been damaged or destroyed. Your support enables ongoing fieldwork, digitization, and scholarly publication.

Donate to the Project Contact the Team
Full image