Recent remarks attributed to a senior Assyrian bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church regarding the Assyrian Empire have sparked widespread criticism and debate among Assyrians worldwide.
The Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah, Mar Yousif Mirkis, reportedly described the Assyrian Empire as the “most disgusting empire” and cast doubt on the coherence of the biblical narrative of the Prophet Jonah in the Old Testament during a sermon. These remarks, which were later echoed by Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, prompted strong reactions from scholars, clergy, and members of the Assyrian public.
In response, Assyrian scholar Dr Efrem Yildiz, Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Studies at the University of Salamanca in Spain, issued a detailed open letter challenging the statements and questioning the role of church leadership in shaping national identity.
Dr Yildiz, himself a member of the Chaldean church and originally from the village of Herbole in the Assyrian region of Bohtan in southeastern Turkey, expressed deep concern over what he described as rhetoric that undermines the historical and national identity of the Assyrian people. He argued that such discourse reflects not only historical misinterpretation but also longstanding internal ecclesiastical tensions that have weakened Assyrian unity. According to Yildiz, the primary responsibility of church leaders should be to foster spiritual guidance, unity, and mutual respect rather than division.
In his response, Yildiz emphasised that Assyrian identity cannot be erased through political or ecclesiastical agendas. He highlighted the significant contributions of Assyrians to human civilisation alongside other ancient peoples, including Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. He rejected attempts to portray Assyrians as uniquely violent or negative, noting that conquest and empire-building were characteristic of most ancient civilisations.
This perspective was echoed by non-Assyrians such as Iraqi antiquities expert, Amir Abdul Razak, who expressed outrage at the bishop’s remarks in a social media post, stating that even in times of war, the Assyrians were a people of art, culture, and literature, who built advanced irrigation systems, dams, and infrastructure, laying foundations of civilisation that extended far beyond warfare.
Yildiz also criticised the use of religious platforms to promote divisive narratives, arguing that Christian leadership should reflect the teachings of Christ; love, unity, and reconciliation, rather than diminishing the rich history of the Assyrian people. He further questioned why biblical references affirming the Assyrians were overlooked while rhetoric diminishing their contributions was amplified.
The controversy also drew responses from clergy of the Assyrian Church of the East. The Bishop of Melbourne and New Zealand, Mar Benyamin Elya, criticised the remarks, writing on social media: “My brotherly advice is to do what is pleasing to God and not to distort His Word to fit a political agenda or to please earthly superiors. Do not deny your own Assyrian DNA.”
Division and self-hating Assyrians
The debate has prompted broader questions within Assyrian communities regarding the motivations behind such statements and the wider consequences of internal division. Many observers note that the division of the Assyrian people has never occurred in a political vacuum. They argue that when Assyrians are divided over their name, history, and identity, their collective strength is diminished and their claims to their ancestral homeland are weakened. In a region shaped by competing national projects, it is difficult to ignore the reality that Assyrian fragmentation ultimately advantages those who seek to consolidate control over Assyrian lands and marginalise Assyrian political aspirations.
While some clerics in the Syriac Orthodox Church and Chaldean Catholic Church have a history of being self-hating Assyrians, there are many examples of leading church leaders who expressed pride in their Assyrian identity. The late Mar Raphael Bidawid, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church from 1989 to 2003 is such an example. In a 2003 interview, Patriarch Bidawid stated: “The name ‘Chaldean’ does not represent an ethnicity… We must separate ethnicity from religion… I am Chaldean in sect, but ethnically, I am Assyrian.” In a separate interview with the Assyrian Star, he further affirmed: “Before I became a priest I was an Assyrian, before I became a bishop I was an Assyrian, I am an Assyrian today, tomorrow, forever, and I am proud of it.”
