Assyrian Academic Society Field Trip, April 1997 (Nissan 6747)

The Lutheran Theological Seminary of the University of Chicago kindly offered the Assyrian Academic Society a tour of their world renouned Syriac collection library.
The tour guide was Mr. Abdilmasih Saadi, a Syriac scholar soon to become an authority on Syriac works by the Assyrian fathers during the early stages of Christianity.
(Photos by:  Raman Michael)

Assyrian visitors viewing some of the manuscripts on microfiche.  The manuscripts were of 10th century Mesopotamia 

"Ths small room holds the largest collection of  the modern Assyrian Legacy in the World....Period"  Saadi explained.

Over 200,000 unknown Syriac manuscirpts are housed here in these small white boxes in microfishe format for the world to study and redeiscover.  In addition to the 200,000 manuscripts there are those which are well known pieces to the Syriac scholars available from various regions of Assyria.  For example, several papers in the field often state that of the works of Moshe Bar Kepha (9th century) none have survivied.  In this room we have discovered that there are 14 books by the above mentioned.  One of these books is 300 pages!   These manuscripts were compiled by the late Professor Voobus who gathered them from monasteries in various regions of Assyria including Southern Turkey (Mardin, Tur Abdin), North East Syria, Northern Iraq (Arbail), and Baghdad. 

 
Some of the colour manuscripts in the collection

The poor condition of many of the microfishe samples as they were found by Abdilmasih Saadi

Numerous months were invested in categorizing and rediscovering this treasure of Syriac History to bring the project to its current stage.

Saadi believes that within this small room lies material that would keep Syriac scholars occupied for many years and more importantly will redefine the general view of Assyrian Christianity.  These volumes will have a tremendous impact on the traditional thought  regarding "Syriac Speaking people"

"Within this collection may lie another Bardaisan.  If we find such work, then we have something to give the world that will be immensely appreciated forever"  Saadi Added.

He also displayed a new discovery of writings of Youkhana Bar Pankayeh (7th century Assyria) that he stumbled upon while  skimming through the 200,000 manuscripts.

At the display station displaying a 7th century Youkhana Bar Pankayeh manuscript

In addition to the biblical material, the collection contains many non-religious writings including charms, medical texts, poetry, etc.  He informed the group of one particular  7th century manuscript which discusses the peoples concern with changing the new year from the common first of April (Kha B'nessan) to a different date which was never celebrated in the past.

Saadi expressed his intrests in accepting volunteers to assist the school in further developing the collection.  He also mentioned that he plans to continue the work of Voobus by collecting additional Syriac material.  Voobus mentioned in his papers that often he was turned back from the monestaries or was allowed only limited access to the archives.  Abdilmasih on the other hand is an Assyrian who is welcomed at these monestaries as a native of  the homeland.  He assured the group that he would have greater access to the archives.   Dr. Norman Sulkha who was one of the visitors expressed interest in volunteering to accompany Saadi on a trip to Turkey to visit such monestaries and assist him in his studies.

At the end of the trip, the group discussed the possibility of  electronically scanning and perhaps publishing these documents to encourage further studies in the Syriac field.  In addition, having an electronic copy of the material would insure its safety against damage  or theft.