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The Martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher: A Historical Reading of the Bassan and Tel Mishar Massacres
| Main Figure | Archbishop Addai Scher, Chaldean scholar and historian |
|---|---|
| Date of Event | 1915, late Ottoman period |
| Geographical Location | Siirt Vilayet, Bassan region and the village of Tel Mishar |
| Parties Involved | Ottoman forces, local tribal militias |
| Related Outcomes | Execution of the archbishop; extermination of approximately 200 families in Tel Mishar |
Introduction
This research article examines the historical circumstances surrounding the martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher, along with the systematic extermination campaigns that targeted Christians in the villages of Bassan and Tel Mishar at the hands of Ottoman forces and allied tribal groups. Archbishop Addai Scher was one of the most prominent religious and scholarly figures of his time, leaving behind a significant academic legacy.
This article relies on a cross-comparative methodology involving memoirs, eyewitness testimonies, and oral narratives in order to illuminate the complexities of the political and tribal landscape, while drawing on documented sources to understand the consequences of this dark period within the broader context of massacres against Christians.
Historical Background and Tribal Conflict
The campaigns of extermination against Christian communities escalated during the late Ottoman period, turning the archbishop into an explicit target of the authorities. Sources indicate that the archbishop attempted to survive by taking refuge in the mountains, where he sought protection from a local leader named “Osman Agha.”
Osman Agha showed commitment to protecting him, but complex tribal dynamics undermined these efforts. A rival family, represented by “Ismail Agha” and his two sons “Aqid” and “Rasul,” exploited the situation to settle political and tribal scores. In accordance with central orders calling for targeted persecution, “Aqid Agha” quickly informed the Ottoman authorities in the Vilayet of Siirt, which then sent a military detachment to arrest the archbishop.
Details of the Arrest and the Moral Position before the Martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher
Historical testimonies document an exceptional stance taken by the archbishop when Ottoman forces raided the residence of “Osman Agha.” Instead of hiding and exposing his hosts to abuse, he courageously surrendered himself, saying: “I am the one you are looking for; do not beat these innocent people.”
This was followed by a pivotal conversation between the archbishop and an educated Ottoman officer who spoke French. The officer offered to spare the archbishop’s life on the condition that he convert to Islam, an offer he firmly rejected. The archbishop justified his refusal through his spiritual responsibility toward his community and faith, preferring death over abandoning his principles.
Historical Accounts of the Martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher
The historical narratives documenting the archbishop’s final moments branch into several versions. They may be summarized and cross-examined to form a comprehensive picture of the event, as shown in the table below:
| Account | Sources Relied Upon | Details of the Event |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Clash | Father Jacques Rhétoré, citing Father Paulus Pero and Chorepiscopus Philips Shoriz | An armed clash occurred between Ottoman security forces and the archbishop’s guards affiliated with Osman Agha. After the ammunition ran out, the archbishop was captured and shot dead. |
| March of Torture | Edmond Laso and the survivor Esther | The archbishop was subjected to physical and psychological torture, including the tearing out of his beard and beating with rifle butts. He was then taken on foot to the village of Tel Mishar and later to the area of “al-Ain,” where he was executed. |
| Betrayal of Military Orders | Oral accounts of Osman Agha, transmitted by Abdo Bazer | The officer agreed to the archbishop’s request to be executed by gunfire without torture and to be allowed to pray. A soldier disobeyed the orders and stabbed the archbishop. The account also includes the appearance of a “metaphysical light” descending upon the body. |
The Bassan and Tel Mishar Massacres
The catastrophe did not stop with the assassination of the archbishop himself, but extended into mass killings. Historical documents point to a series of horrific events in the region:
- The figure known as “Rasul Agha,” together with gendarmerie detachments, burned the village of Tel Mishar.
- Approximately 200 Chaldean families from the unarmed population were exterminated.
- Yazidi and Christian inhabitants who had taken refuge under the protection of sympathetic tribal leaders were eliminated.
- All properties and lands belonging to the victims were systematically confiscated.
Conclusion
A cross-reading of documents and memoirs demonstrates that the martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher was not an isolated individual event, but a systematic act of elimination in which imperial orders intersected with tribal complicity. Although the details of his death vary between accounts of armed clash and torture, all narratives agree on his unwavering steadfastness and his sacrifice to save others.
The Bassan and Tel Mishar massacres also stand as evidence of the brutality of the genocide that struck minorities during that period, requiring continued research and documentation within studies of genocides in the Ottoman period.
References
- Courtois, Sébastien de (2004). The Forgotten Genocide: Eastern Christians, The Last Arameans. Gorgias Press, pp. 157-159.
- Gaunt, David (2006). Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I. Gorgias Press, pp. 254-257.
- Lalish Journal (2015). Documented testimonies indicating the martyrdom of Archbishop Addai Scher. Lalish Academic Journal, Issue 44, p. 150.
- Naayem, Joseph (1920). Shall This Nation Die?. Chaldean Rescue, pp. 154-155.
- Rhétoré, Jacques (2005). Les chrétiens aux bêtes! Souvenirs de la guerre sainte proclamée par Turks contre les chrétiens en 1915. Éditions du Cerf, pp. 82-85.
- Yacoub, Joseph (2016). Year of the Sword: The Assyrian Christian Genocide, A History. Oxford University Press, pp. 128-129.