An Assyrian-American family recently donated a collection of rare books and historical materials to the Assyrian Cultural Foundation (ACF), including a historic Church of the East Takhsa d’Raza–the Order of the Liturgy–which the family believes may be nearly 400 years old.
According to the DeKasha family, the Takhsa was brought to the United States in 1928 by their great-grandfather, Kasha Eshaya, when the family immigrated from the village of Mazra’a in the Hakkari region. It remained in the family and was passed down through generations, preserving a tangible connection to their ancestral village, priestly lineage, and Assyrian Christian heritage.
The exact age and provenance of the manuscript have yet to be confirmed. Future research, dating, and authentication will be important in determining when and where the Takhsa was produced and in documenting the journey it took from the Assyrian communities of Hakkari to the United States, the ACF says in post on social media about the donation.
The manuscript will now be preserved at the Ashurbanipal Library, the research and archival library of the Chicago based Assyrian Cultural Foundation. Named after Ashurbanipal, the renowned Assyrian king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire who established one of the ancient world’s most important collections of written texts at Nineveh, the library reflects a longstanding Assyrian tradition of preserving and transmitting knowledge.
Today, the Ashurbanipal Library serves as an important repository for Assyrian books, manuscripts, publications, historical documents, photographs, and other materials documenting the history, culture, language, and heritage of the Assyrian people. Collections such as the DeKasha family donation help preserve not only written history, but also the personal stories and family connections that give those materials meaning.
The preservation of manuscripts such as the Takhsa d’Raza is particularly significant. Church of the East liturgical manuscripts represent an important part of the written heritage of Assyrian Christian communities. Beyond their religious function, they can provide valuable insight into the communities, scribal traditions, languages, and historical circumstances in which they were produced and preserved.
In recognition of the family's contribution, the Assyrian Cultural Foundation presented the DeKasha family with a Certificate of Appreciation for entrusting these materials to the Ashurbanipal Library.
