In reply to message #2
Shlama Akhi, ">I have a book >by Nelson entitled the New >Christian dictionary and it says >that the assyrian Church is >not nor ever was Nestorian >and that they believe in >the trinity just like the >west, is that true? Those are 2 different issues - but yes, that is true. The CoE has always been a 'trinitarian' Church. It has never been a 'Nestorian' Church, not even Nestorius was a 'Nestorian' (in the classical sense of the term.) >Are >there a lot of celebrate >clergy in the COEganization especially >here in the states?
Our priests are not celebate, unless they chose to be. Some do, but the vast majority are married. It's their personal choice. Usually, Bishops and Patriarchs are selected from celibate priests, but that has not always been enforced. We have had married bishops and even married Patriarchs. >How >do your people respond to >the preservation of your language >and culture in a nation >where Aramaic is uhnherd of >and all the children are >basically instructed in English alone?
Basically, this has been handled by the Church - which offers schooling for our children, much in the same way our brethren the Jews have preserved their language and culture within the Synagogue setting (and Yeshivas.) Usually, English is forbidden in the home, where only Aramaic is allowed. We were constantly told to speak (Assyrian) Aramaic by parents, relatives, clergy, etc. I was born in the U.S., but did not speak a word of English until I started school. This helped me in learning both languages fluently. We are trying to open up independent schools now, with some success in Iraq and in Australia. >What is your wife's feelings >about your culture and the >children you both have learning >Aramaic and their Assyrian roots >like music, foods, literture,and ect.?
I am fortunate that my wife is more interested in the language and culture than I am! She speaks Aramaic (somewhat) fluently, and she can read/write it (Estrangelo and Swadaya scripts). She plans to teach our children both languages side-by-side. >Are there many people in >the priesthood in the COE >and is the interest still >alive? Yes, there are currently no shortage of priests here in the west, although in the east (depending on which country) we are very persecuted, and the various governments have strong restrictions on building of churches, ordination of priests, etc. >How many of your >people through intermarriage have given >up their culture and gave >into the presure of joining >other churches western as opposed >to their own and what >problems does this cause effect? Too many. One thing that can be said about persecution - it tends to preserve and to make the people stick together more. As more and more of our people are driven from their homelands and finding freedom and economic benefits in the west, they tend to lose touch with their community, language and their customs. Mar Dinkha, our Patriarch, has said many times that the "Great Melting Pot" is at the same time our saviour and our greatest threat. Fk^rwbw 0ml4
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