SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hesekê– Til Cuma "Helemon" village of Til Temir district is one of the most beautiful villages lying on the banks of the Khabur River. According to the surveys, the population of the village before 2011 was over 3,000, 400 families. The people living in the village are also known as “People of China” because they look different from the people living in the 33 Assyrian villages. When clashes began to break out in Syria, many people left the village and the population of the village decreased. The attacks of ISIS affected the Assyrian people the most and the second migration wave began in the villages.

The Mart Schmoni Church makes the village even more remarkable with its historical and sacred features. 76-year-old Meryem Xano, who lives in the village, told us the story of the church.

People don’t hold mass rituals due to Covid-19

The Assyrian people in the village hold religious services, rites, ceremonies, and related celebrations in the Mart Schmoni Church. “We haven’t held a mass ritual for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason, we have held our religious ceremonies in the Virgin Mary Church of Til Temir.

Story of Mart Schmoni

Meryem Xano told us the story of Mart Schmoni; “Mart Schmoni was originally a Jewish woman and she had seven children. A king named Antyokos decided to force Mart Schmoni and her seven children to eat pork, which is a sin for Christians. Mart Schmoni refused and didn’t bow despite paying heavy prices. Mart Schmoni accepted all torture against herself and her children because her religion, Christianism, was important for her. Her children were cut into pieces and boiled. But she never gave up and bowed down.”

A festival in memory of Mart Schmoni

The Assyrian people in the village celebrate Mart Schmoni Day between March 15 and May 3 every day to commemorate her and her seven children. “On that day, we cook dishes such as stuffed meatballs, stuffed leaves, and meat. Some people say Mart Schmoni shows herself on the wall of the church during the festival and only believers can see her,” Meryem Xano said.

“We prefer an honorable death to dishonorable life”

Meryem Xano thinks what is happening now is similar to what happened to Mart Schmoni and her seven children. “It is like history repeating itself. They cut her children into pieces to make Mart Schmoni bow to them. But she never bowed to them. The Turkish state practices this now. What King Antyokos did at that time is done by the Turkish state now. We will not bow to the Turkish state like Mart Schmoni. They (the Turkish army) attack not only the Christian people but also the Kurdish, Arab, and other peoples. We will not accept this. We prefer an honorable death to dishonorable life.”